Healthcare Scientist Practitioner, Band 5- Chemical Pathology

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work closely under the management of the Healthcare Scientist Team.

Key working relationships will exist between the post holder and all members of the Chemical Pathology staff across both sites.

The post holder will also be dealing with a variety of key personnel including clinicians, GPs, nursing staff, other hospital and primary care staff, supplier representatives, and engineers.

The post holder will have good working relationships with all members of the Chemical Pathology staff and Clinical Trials Staff who are in regular communication with the department.

Responsibility for ensuring all tests are performed according to established laboratory standard operating procedures and within agreed turnaround times.

To ensure the quality of the analytical service is maintained to UKAS ISO 15189:2022 standards.

Responsibility for ensuring safe use of expensive and complex equipment by undertaking regular in house maintenance and maintaining appropriate records.

To prepare samples for analysis on a range of different analytical platforms. This may include barcode labelling, centrifugation, preparation of aliquots, and measurement of sample volume.

To comply with quality control procedures and utilise the data to ensure accuracy of patient results.

Responsible for initiating repeat analysis where the validity and accuracy of the results are in doubt.

To partake and support the variety of clinical trials that the department supports.

To assess and check the validity and accuracy of any results produced by MLAs, Trainees & Associate Practitioners and to authorise their work.

To supervise Trainee Biomedical Scientists, Associate Practitioners and Medical Laboratory Assistants.

Ensure good communications in order to create an efficient well motivated group of staff.

To assist with the induction of new staff.

To act as mentor for new members of staff, as required

To liaise directly with all service users to ensure there are no unnecessary delays within the results process and to provide information as requested.

Responsibility for the use of all reagents and consumables in a cost efficient way.

Regularly review the appropriate usage of all materials.

As commensurate with the access level of BMS band 5 perform routine tasks on the laboratory computer system.

To contribute to the performance of all routine housekeeping tasks on the laboratory computer system.

Use Microsoft office to produce standard operating procedures and other bench based record sheets etc.

Use statistical packages to run correlations for new methodologies or equipment.

Perform daily temperature checks on fridges & freezers.

To assist in the management of waste within the department.

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

To be involved with the training of Trainee Biomedical Scientists, Associate Practitioners and Medical Laboratory Assistants. To include the preparation and presentation of tutorials.

Uses Q Pulse to record activities and issues such as NCRs, audits, document control.

To keep abreast of developments in the discipline.

As resources allow - to undertake formal courses of study e.g. Specialist Diploma

Daily pressures and stresses of processing a high workload with frequent interruptions using sophisticated equipment to obtain accurate timely results.

Full participation in the 24 hour shift pattern is expected. This includes working at both sites, sometimes as a lone worker and under taking all shifts on a rotational basis.

With reference to work undertaken, especially outside routine hours, provide advice to users of the service.

Responsible for the initiation of repeat analyses, troubleshooting and adherence to the IQC policy in the absence of a Team Leader.

Attend relevant training courses and user group meetings.

Attend laboratory meetings (including educational meetings) whenever possible but to the minimum attendance standard set by the department.

Ensure all competencies are kept up-to-date.

To fully participate in CPD tasks required by the Dept. e.g. Monthly QC Conundrum

Ensure Health and Safety (including Clinical Governance and Management of Risk) standards are maintained in order to create a safe environment for staff to work in.

To participate in an annual appraisal and development review meeting.

To comply with the Trust no smoking policy.

To comply with the Trusts policies with regard to kindness and respect.

Requirement to work with absolute accuracy and speed during periods of prolonged concentration. Handle potentially infectious blood and bodily fluids, faeces etc. with unpleasant smells/odours together with the risk associated in handling hazardous chemicals.

Working in hot conditions with protective clothing, coats, gloves and goggles.

Working on contaminated equipment or work areas.

Potential of sharps injury.

Constant background noise from equipment.

Make frequent repetitive movements.

Requirement for a considerable amount of manual dexterity in processing paediatric samples and maintaining equipment.

Maintenance often involves use of delicate instruments whilst working on highly sensitive and complex analytical equipment where accuracy of setup is crucial to the delivery of correct results.

Limited amount of lifting, bending but a considerable amount of standing.

Frequent long periods of use of a VDU

Please see attached full job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• United Kingdom recognized degree in relevant IBMS accredited Biomedical Science (or actively working towards completion (within final 12 months)
• Must be HCPC registered as a Biomedical Scientist or have completed their registration portfolio (pending verification)
• Good basic education (please specify detail around Math's and English qualifications)

Desirable

• Additional relevant degrees e.g. MSc
• Additional relevant qualification from IBMS or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Practical experience of working with manual and automated systems in a modern NHS Chemical Pathology Laboratory
• Demonstrate evidence of previous leadership experience

Desirable

• Experience of working with Roche 6000 and 8000 analytical lines

Knowledge/ Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate IT literacy working with Intersystems TCLE or other relevant LIMS, Sunrise EPR, Word, Excel, Outlook. Demonstrate evidence of CPD
• Experience of large complex automated Pathology equipment (preferably tracked analytical systems)
• Demonstrate knowledge of working within established QMS processes e.g. Q-Pulse, Audits, Non-Conformances, error-logging
• Able to effectively and appropriately escalate concerns to appropriate individuals/teams to reduce risk & promote safety

Desirable

• Any specialist Training in Chemical Pathology e.g. Equipment manufacturer's courses or middleware training

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Must be able to fully participate in all rostered shifts.
• Demonstrate well rounded personality, calm disposition and good attitude to work, flexible working practice and ability to adapt to constant change which driven by the service needs.
• Able physically to perform the role - requires ability to lift, bend and be flexible when undertaking maintenance tasks - demonstrate a good health record. Good manual dexterity to undertake maintenance tasks.
• Awareness of personal and professional limitations, demonstrate an ability to seek advice and support when appropriate

Desirable

• Experience of working as a lone practitioner (either as a BMS or in a recognised and appropriate laboratory role)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN

Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)