Job summary
We are looking for enthusiastic people with previous experience working in an NHS histopathology laboratory as a band 2 or band 3 biomedical support worker to work as an Associate Practitioner in the specialist bone and sarcoma histopathology laboratory at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.
The post holder will undertake the required duties to support the histology team in the processing of tissue samples for microscopical diagnosis. The role will performing the pre-analytical processing of samples received and may assist with supervising and training of new biomedical support workers. You will undertake manual and automated processes requiring a high level of manual dexterity and concentration.
To be considered for the post applicants should hold , as a minimum, one of the following: a science foundation degree, Diploma in Laboratory Science or equivalent.
The laboratory core hours are Monday to Friday, there is some flexibility with working patterns.
Main duties of the job
To work as a Non-Registered Laboratory Scientist assisting in the provision of an efficient and smooth running diagnostic Histopathology service.
Participating in all laboratory support tasks as required to ensure patient samples are processed quickly, accurately and safely.
- tissue embedding
- cutting tissue sections (microtomy)
- assisting during tissue dissection
- specimen reception
- digital scanning of slides
- general laboratory duties - maintaining tissue processors, staining machines, stock levels,
- maintaining block and slide files
- collating slides for MDTs and limited clerical tasks
About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice
Specimen reception Histology
- Work with fresh and formalin-fixed tissue samples, paying particular regard to the potential microbiological hazards posed by fresh tissue and the chemical hazard posed by formalin.
- Match samples with request forms and input patient and test information into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail. This information is of a complex and sensitive nature
- Following appropriate training, assist Consultant Histopathologists with complex cut ups, exercising a degree of decision making.
- Assist with photography of diagnostic cases when required
- Under guidance, set up processing machines and commence overnight cycles
Main Laboratory - Histology
- Perform a variety of manual laboratory procedures within the laboratories such as smear preparations, centrifugation, tissue embedding techniques, and microtomy, H&E staining, and some basic special stains
- Ensure the use of appropriate control materials
- Undertake specialist procedures to ensure that Human Tissue Act (HTA) guidelines are maintained
- Assist in the maintenance and integrity of the departmental archive of diagnostic blocks and slides. Again, ensuring HTA requirements are maintained and displaying a high level of numerical accuracy.
- Under supervision, despatch biological samples to referral centres, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail. Ensure despatch complies with current local and national guidelines for transport of dangerous/infectious material
Professional development and Education
- Participate in the supervision and training of Trainee BMSs, support staff, scientific and clinical staff where required.
- Maintain knowledge as appropriate
- Exercise a degree of autonomy within established limits and through guidance from qualified staff
- Attend regular appraisal in accordance with the Trust Policy.
- Develop an awareness of the requirements of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety Policies, reporting problems, errors or breaches via the appropriate mechanisms.
- Practice at the level of professional, ethical and legal codes of the Trusts protocols and guidelines and be responsible for developing own practice.
- Develop proficiency in all departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as required to assist in the assessment, planning and prioritisation of tasks.
- Ensure that the main lab workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Ensure that personal performance complies with United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and other professional standards.
Role Responsibilities
- Abide by current policies and procedures defined by the OUHNHS Trust and/or the Directorate Clinical Governance / Risk Management team
- Be aware of the inherent hazards of the work and to take appropriate precautions at all times, reporting to the Head Biomedical Scientist or Safety Officer any accident or potential hazards.
- Comply with the requirement to practice within the data protection and confidentiality guidelines
- Comply with the requirements of internal and external/national quality assurance and control schemes; reporting problems, errors or breaches in procedures via the appropriate mechanisms.
- Display and maintain a high level of IT skills in order to record data, including clinical request information and laboratory data, manually onto the laboratory computer system or produce documents using word processors, for a variety of purposes
- Participate proactively in the maintenance of an efficient and cohesive service by the assessment of the quality and priority of work. This will involve planning and organising of the workday on an ongoing basis with cross cover provided for periods of absence and will require the ability to work flexibly performing multiple tasks.
- Treat everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect, be they visitors, local colleagues or the wider population.
- Communicate effectively and professionally using the appropriate mechanism (email, face to face meetings etc), following agreed protocols (telephone and visitor SOPs for example) and work to promote effective team working.
- Ensure efficient use and maintenance of resources; be aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates, thus ensuring the viability of the reagents.
- Ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner; assessing samples for urgency and ensuring samples meet acceptance criteria for testing, and deal with any non-compliance in accordance with departmental protocols.
- Ensure equipment is in full working order, assisting with troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on highly complex, expensive automated systems.
- Ensure appropriate records are kept, and liaise with senior staff and service engineers where appropriate.
The work requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment, according to individual contract.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice
Specimen reception Histology
- Work with fresh and formalin-fixed tissue samples, paying particular regard to the potential microbiological hazards posed by fresh tissue and the chemical hazard posed by formalin.
- Match samples with request forms and input patient and test information into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail. This information is of a complex and sensitive nature
- Following appropriate training, assist Consultant Histopathologists with complex cut ups, exercising a degree of decision making.
- Assist with photography of diagnostic cases when required
- Under guidance, set up processing machines and commence overnight cycles
Main Laboratory - Histology
- Perform a variety of manual laboratory procedures within the laboratories such as smear preparations, centrifugation, tissue embedding techniques, and microtomy, H&E staining, and some basic special stains
- Ensure the use of appropriate control materials
- Undertake specialist procedures to ensure that Human Tissue Act (HTA) guidelines are maintained
- Assist in the maintenance and integrity of the departmental archive of diagnostic blocks and slides. Again, ensuring HTA requirements are maintained and displaying a high level of numerical accuracy.
- Under supervision, despatch biological samples to referral centres, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail. Ensure despatch complies with current local and national guidelines for transport of dangerous/infectious material
Professional development and Education
- Participate in the supervision and training of Trainee BMSs, support staff, scientific and clinical staff where required.
- Maintain knowledge as appropriate
- Exercise a degree of autonomy within established limits and through guidance from qualified staff
- Attend regular appraisal in accordance with the Trust Policy.
- Develop an awareness of the requirements of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety Policies, reporting problems, errors or breaches via the appropriate mechanisms.
- Practice at the level of professional, ethical and legal codes of the Trusts protocols and guidelines and be responsible for developing own practice.
- Develop proficiency in all departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as required to assist in the assessment, planning and prioritisation of tasks.
- Ensure that the main lab workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Ensure that personal performance complies with United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and other professional standards.
Role Responsibilities
- Abide by current policies and procedures defined by the OUHNHS Trust and/or the Directorate Clinical Governance / Risk Management team
- Be aware of the inherent hazards of the work and to take appropriate precautions at all times, reporting to the Head Biomedical Scientist or Safety Officer any accident or potential hazards.
- Comply with the requirement to practice within the data protection and confidentiality guidelines
- Comply with the requirements of internal and external/national quality assurance and control schemes; reporting problems, errors or breaches in procedures via the appropriate mechanisms.
- Display and maintain a high level of IT skills in order to record data, including clinical request information and laboratory data, manually onto the laboratory computer system or produce documents using word processors, for a variety of purposes
- Participate proactively in the maintenance of an efficient and cohesive service by the assessment of the quality and priority of work. This will involve planning and organising of the workday on an ongoing basis with cross cover provided for periods of absence and will require the ability to work flexibly performing multiple tasks.
- Treat everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect, be they visitors, local colleagues or the wider population.
- Communicate effectively and professionally using the appropriate mechanism (email, face to face meetings etc), following agreed protocols (telephone and visitor SOPs for example) and work to promote effective team working.
- Ensure efficient use and maintenance of resources; be aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates, thus ensuring the viability of the reagents.
- Ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner; assessing samples for urgency and ensuring samples meet acceptance criteria for testing, and deal with any non-compliance in accordance with departmental protocols.
- Ensure equipment is in full working order, assisting with troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on highly complex, expensive automated systems.
- Ensure appropriate records are kept, and liaise with senior staff and service engineers where appropriate.
The work requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment, according to individual contract.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation degree or Diploma in Laboratory Science or equivalent
Desirable
- ECDL or equivalent knowledge
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Previous experience in histology preferably in an NHS lab
- Aware of Health and Safety within a clinical laboratory environment
- Aware of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act
Desirable
- Aware of the role of laboratory medicine
- Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology
- Basic knowledge of histopathology
- Basic knowledge of chemistry
- Have experience in an NHS diagnostic lab
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Basic keyboard skills, e.g. Microsoft word, Excel
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Numerate
- Good communication and presentation skills
Personal qualities
Essential
- Quick to learn and comprehend
- Able to work on own and as team member
- Able to perform light physical work
- Capable of intense periods of concentration
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation degree or Diploma in Laboratory Science or equivalent
Desirable
- ECDL or equivalent knowledge
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Previous experience in histology preferably in an NHS lab
- Aware of Health and Safety within a clinical laboratory environment
- Aware of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act
Desirable
- Aware of the role of laboratory medicine
- Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology
- Basic knowledge of histopathology
- Basic knowledge of chemistry
- Have experience in an NHS diagnostic lab
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Basic keyboard skills, e.g. Microsoft word, Excel
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Numerate
- Good communication and presentation skills
Personal qualities
Essential
- Quick to learn and comprehend
- Able to work on own and as team member
- Able to perform light physical work
- Capable of intense periods of concentration
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.
