Job summary
Applications are invited from qualified, enthusiastic and well-motivated Biomedical Scientists, holding a BSc in Biomedical Science and currently registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to join our Point of Care team in this UKAS and HCPC accredited laboratory.
The Northumbria Point of Care Testing service (POCT) provides clinical staff with rapid results at the patient bedside (the point of care). POCT is key service provision and is embedded in numerous patient pathways across the Trust where a rapid indication of patient status is clinically essential. The POCT service is based within the Clinical Chemistry Department and covers all NHFT sites, with responsibilities including user training and device management. The POCT service is a dynamic service, with projects including implementing a new data manager (AegisPOC) and new blood glucose meters in progress or due to commence this year.
The post will be based at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital but will need to travel to other sites within the Trust including North Tyneside and Wansbeck General Hospitals.
This post falls within the provisions of Agenda for Change Annex 20 - Development of Professional Roles, whereby upon completion of an agreed set of competencies you may move onto the next pay band without the need for an application for a post at a higher level.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will assist the POCT Co-ordinator to ensure that a high-quality service is provided and will be required to undertake duties on all hospital sites within the Trust as required.
About us
We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, in addition to our state-of-the-art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties:
- Work with POCT coordinator on procurement of new POCT devices (e.g. undertake evaluation and help write evaluation reports). Help develop, implement and maintain standards of practice, policy and procedure for POCT (e.g. writing and review of SOPs via Q-pulse as directed by the POCT coordinator).
- To operate and maintain equipment according to departmental and manufacturers protocols and procedures.
- To ensure compliance with the Trust POCT Policy and UKAS accreditation ISO standards for POCT are met.
- To be familiar with, and proficient in, the use of the information technology systems within the Department particularly with Excel and Outlook.
- To be familiar with, and proficient in, the use of POCT software systems such as POCcelerator, Cobas POC Infinity, Gem Web Plus, Nova Net and other manufacturer specific software for the management of POCT devices (operator management, training, system configuration, troubleshooting).
- Build good working relationships with company reps, trainers, ward staff and engineers.
- To participate in departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the Department and to the POCT service users.
- To assist in planning ones own work and that of the POCT Biomedical Support Worker staff within the team.
- To carry out first line equipment installation/implementation/training and/or validation/verification and method troubleshooting, advise POCT Co-ordinator of situations requiring further action, and work with service engineers on fault resolution which may include dismantling instruments to carry out initial repairs and evaluate efficacy of repairs.
- Work with ward staff to support their POCT needs e.g. training, troubleshooting, need for devices, communication of the benefits and limitations of POCT equipment
- To be aware of possible causes of erroneous results which may arise from instrument/method failure or pre-analytical variables and to investigate QC failure in an effort to resolve the problem.
- To be able to report, analyse, review and interpret External Quality Assessment data, particularly those for POCT methods. To be able to troubleshoot poor EQA returns including both technical and operator related problems. To report EQA performance at the weekly team meeting.
- To undertake technical validation of the results from POCT equipment to ensure accuracy and precision as specified by protocols and quality procedures.
- To report to the POCT Co-ordinator any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure.
- To have in depth understanding of pathology tests and their clinical interpretation particularly in the fields of Respiratory and Diabetes management.
- To use professional judgement in reviewing clinically abnormal results. The post holder should be able to effectively communicate this to a range of health care professionals and grades.
- To use departmental resources efficiently and manage stock levels of reagents and consumables to ensure continuation of service.
- To participate in training junior doctors, and other members of staff in the safe and effective use of POCT devices
- Ensure appropriate and effective test repertoire in conjunction with POCT coordinator, and advise POCT users on appropriateness and limitations of POCT.
- Travel to all Trust Acute and Community sites to support POCT users, training, perform audits, troubleshoot devices etc
- Monitor test workload and analyser usage in relation to stock control
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties:
- Work with POCT coordinator on procurement of new POCT devices (e.g. undertake evaluation and help write evaluation reports). Help develop, implement and maintain standards of practice, policy and procedure for POCT (e.g. writing and review of SOPs via Q-pulse as directed by the POCT coordinator).
- To operate and maintain equipment according to departmental and manufacturers protocols and procedures.
- To ensure compliance with the Trust POCT Policy and UKAS accreditation ISO standards for POCT are met.
- To be familiar with, and proficient in, the use of the information technology systems within the Department particularly with Excel and Outlook.
- To be familiar with, and proficient in, the use of POCT software systems such as POCcelerator, Cobas POC Infinity, Gem Web Plus, Nova Net and other manufacturer specific software for the management of POCT devices (operator management, training, system configuration, troubleshooting).
- Build good working relationships with company reps, trainers, ward staff and engineers.
- To participate in departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the Department and to the POCT service users.
- To assist in planning ones own work and that of the POCT Biomedical Support Worker staff within the team.
- To carry out first line equipment installation/implementation/training and/or validation/verification and method troubleshooting, advise POCT Co-ordinator of situations requiring further action, and work with service engineers on fault resolution which may include dismantling instruments to carry out initial repairs and evaluate efficacy of repairs.
- Work with ward staff to support their POCT needs e.g. training, troubleshooting, need for devices, communication of the benefits and limitations of POCT equipment
- To be aware of possible causes of erroneous results which may arise from instrument/method failure or pre-analytical variables and to investigate QC failure in an effort to resolve the problem.
- To be able to report, analyse, review and interpret External Quality Assessment data, particularly those for POCT methods. To be able to troubleshoot poor EQA returns including both technical and operator related problems. To report EQA performance at the weekly team meeting.
- To undertake technical validation of the results from POCT equipment to ensure accuracy and precision as specified by protocols and quality procedures.
- To report to the POCT Co-ordinator any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure.
- To have in depth understanding of pathology tests and their clinical interpretation particularly in the fields of Respiratory and Diabetes management.
- To use professional judgement in reviewing clinically abnormal results. The post holder should be able to effectively communicate this to a range of health care professionals and grades.
- To use departmental resources efficiently and manage stock levels of reagents and consumables to ensure continuation of service.
- To participate in training junior doctors, and other members of staff in the safe and effective use of POCT devices
- Ensure appropriate and effective test repertoire in conjunction with POCT coordinator, and advise POCT users on appropriateness and limitations of POCT.
- Travel to all Trust Acute and Community sites to support POCT users, training, perform audits, troubleshoot devices etc
- Monitor test workload and analyser usage in relation to stock control
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
- Health Professions Council State Registered Biomedical Scientist
Desirable
- Studying for MSc Biomedical Sciences
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
- Health Professions Council State Registered Biomedical Scientist
Desirable
- Studying for MSc Biomedical Sciences
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
