West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 4 - Assistant Practitioner, UK NEQAS

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

UK National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS) is an impartial, independent, and self-financing expert centre for the provision of external quality assessment (EQA) for all aspects of automated cell counting, morphology and inherited red cell disorders. UK NEQAS Haematology delivers a diverse and extensive programme of EQA services and advice to over 1400 participating laboratories in the UK and worldwide.

The Haematology and Blood Transfusion services are operated by West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and are based in newly refurbished premises on the Croxley Business Park, Watford. The Business Park has regular lunchtime activities, an on-site gym, childcare facilities and a free shuttle bus from the local stations.

The Haematology team consists of 12 staff who work within a larger unit of approximately 30 that include the Blood Transfusion Laboratory Practice (BTLP), Receipt & Dispatch (R&D), Administration, and IT teams.

The normal hours for this post are 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30

Main duties of the job

We are seeking an enthusiastic and versatile individual to join the UK NEQAS Haematology scientific team. Reporting directly to the Senior EQA Scientist, you will ensure that the UK NEQAS Haematology programme of services is delivered in a timely, cost-effective and professional manner.

After a period of training the post holder will carry out office and laboratory work, ranging from data entry and dealing with enquiries to the preparation of survey material and the analysis of blood samples on a variety of automated Haematology analysers, bottling of survey material using an automated bottling machine as well as the preparation of paperwork to accompany the survey material and packing the material for distribution to the participating medical laboratories and testing sites. The post holder will also assist with the receipt and dispatch of goods.

This is a unique opportunity for an individual who is keen to learn new technical skills alongside using and developing your practical, analytical, organisational, communication and interpersonal skills. You should be able to adapt to changes at short notice in a dynamic environment and have an ability to work to deadlines. If you have good attention to detail, can follow instructions and enjoy working collaboratively within a team we would like to hear from you.

About us

There has never been a more exciting time to join West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust! Major redevelopment works are due for completion by 2025 or soon after. These will be most dramatic at Watford General Hospital where up to 90% of buildings will be new.

The trust has recently gained 'teaching hospital' status which reflects the dedicated work of many teams and individuals who have set the standard for delivering high quality training, learning and education at all levels of the workforce.

We encourage and welcome people with disabilities. If you need help, please ask.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Details

Date posted

26 July 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,405 to £28,976 a year pa incl. HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

360-C-4794

Job locations

Watford General Hospital

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB


Job description

Job responsibilities

The main tasks and overview of responsibilities include:

  • Working with a variety of blood products to assist in the preparation of Haematology survey material.
  • Assisting in the laboratory testing of exercise material for Haematology programmes that includes analysis of blood samples on the Sysmex XN10, Benson Viscometer, BioRad Variant II and Flow cytometer along with the preparation of blood films.
  • Bottling of survey material including operating and maintaining an automated bottling machine.
  • Preparation of paperwork to accompany the survey material prepared for distribution to the participating medical laboratories and testing sites.
  • Assisting with the receipt and dispatch of goods and survey material.
  • Enters and/or verifies participant generated data for analysis.
  • Undertakes automated and manual bottling of whole blood, red cells and plasma to include checking the material, vial labels and completing the associated paperwork, as required.
  • Monitors stocks of laboratory reagents and consumables.
  • Tests new survey material or equipment; maintains written and electronic records of results.

Contributes to the investigation of quality incidents, suggesting appropriate changes to practice.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The main tasks and overview of responsibilities include:

  • Working with a variety of blood products to assist in the preparation of Haematology survey material.
  • Assisting in the laboratory testing of exercise material for Haematology programmes that includes analysis of blood samples on the Sysmex XN10, Benson Viscometer, BioRad Variant II and Flow cytometer along with the preparation of blood films.
  • Bottling of survey material including operating and maintaining an automated bottling machine.
  • Preparation of paperwork to accompany the survey material prepared for distribution to the participating medical laboratories and testing sites.
  • Assisting with the receipt and dispatch of goods and survey material.
  • Enters and/or verifies participant generated data for analysis.
  • Undertakes automated and manual bottling of whole blood, red cells and plasma to include checking the material, vial labels and completing the associated paperwork, as required.
  • Monitors stocks of laboratory reagents and consumables.
  • Tests new survey material or equipment; maintains written and electronic records of results.

Contributes to the investigation of quality incidents, suggesting appropriate changes to practice.

Person Specification

overall score based on p/spec

Essential

  • 0 - does not meet the person specification 1 - reserved meets some person specification requirements 2 - Meets all person specification requirements
Person Specification

overall score based on p/spec

Essential

  • 0 - does not meet the person specification 1 - reserved meets some person specification requirements 2 - Meets all person specification requirements

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Watford General Hospital

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB


Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Watford General Hospital

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB


Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Haematology Service Manager

Yvonne Hector

y.hector@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

26 July 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,405 to £28,976 a year pa incl. HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

360-C-4794

Job locations

Watford General Hospital

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB


Supporting documents

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