Medical Laboratory Assistant - Microbiology

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.

Service Delivery

To work under the supervision of a Biomedical Scientist within departmentally

agreed policies relating to data entry and specimen handling and preparation,

ensuring that sufficient attention is paid to detail for the work being

undertaken

Assist in training of new or less experienced support staff and to act as their

mentor

To rotate through assigned sections of the department as required

Expected to plan and prioritise own workload

Must adhere to SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)

After training perform test procedures as required

To undertake data entry of patient and diagnostic information using the Trust

and laboratory IT systems

To attend laboratory meetings when appropriate

To help to promote a favourable departmental image by dealing courteously

and effectively with members of the public and with all other staff

Bench housekeeping and monitoring of certain equipment (e.g. fridges,

freezers, incubators)

Respond to telephone enquiries from staff in both primary and secondary care Clerical duties as directed (filing, photocopying, labels etc.) To take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including full participation in appraisal, supervision and action To undergo all training as required for the above duties and any others that may be specific to individual departments

Technical

Sort specimens on arrival in the laboratory

Primary technical processing of samples including inoculating culture plates, setting up smears for microscopy, staining of smears etc

To use laboratory equipment under supervision and ensure it is maintained correctly

To operate certain analysers within the department under supervision of

Biomedical Scientist staff (value up to £75K)

Responsible for setting up and processing of specified ELISA & Molecular

Assays on automated equipment

Responsible for setting up antibiotic sensitivity tests under supervision of

BMS

Governance & Quality

To comply with quality standards determined by UKAS including provision of support for audit programmes as identified

To work within Quality Management System, departmentally agreed policies and SOPs

To report any deficiencies in Quality promptly to the Quality Lead and/or

Quality Manager

To verify that full patient details are provided and that they correlate between sample and request

To verify that correct samples are received for the tests requested

Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action/alerting senior management team if practice appears to contravene policy, or if concerned about any aspect of patient care

To ensure that laboratory equipment used is maintained properly

Conducts basic audits as directed by senior staff, e.g. recording origins of

all unlabelled or inadequately labelled samples or leaking specimens

Expected to comment on and suggest changes to working practices in their

area which would improve service and benefit the team

Responsible for completing documents in accordance with ISO 15189

requirements

Responsible for maintaining competency in all laboratory sections

Responsible for reading and acknowledging SOPs appropriate to job role

Responsible for attending and taking part in section team meetings

Must participate in annual review (appraisal) and keep mandatory training

up to date

Stock, Equipment and Other Resources

To ensure sufficient stocks are available to maintain service delivery

Deal with deliveries as appropriate, including unpacking and storing in

appropriate areas, e.g. fridge, freezer, room temp. Disposing of delivery

wrapping appropriately

Responsible for good stock rotation

Record batch numbers of each delivery of goods for quality and audit

purposes

Assist with replenishment of in-use consumables for use of all staff on a

daily basis

Responsible for informing the associate practitioner when stock required.

Responsible for stock-taking media supplies

When required place orders for reagents and consumables using Trust and

Manage Service provider systems

H&S / Risk

Responsible ensuring a safe working environment, according to Laboratory Health and Safety Manual

To undergo all mandatory training as required by the Trust

To undergo all training as required for the above duties and any others that

may be specific to individual departments

Responsible for safe disposal of certain items of infectious waste, e.g. old

samples, waste bins

Responsible for safe packaging of samples for referral to other laboratories, in accordance with legal requirements for transport of biohazardous samples

Person Specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Understanding of the Data Protection Act
• Understanding of Health & Safety in the workplace
• Understanding of Standard Operating Procedures

Desirable

• Science Background
• Experience of Excel spreadsheets
• Experience working in a Microbiology Laboratory
• Use of beaker LIMS (laboratory information management system)

Qualifications and training

Essential

• Strong interest in science (at least 1 GCSE in a science subject) OR previous laboratory experience
• GCSE English
• GCSE Maths

Desirable

• A level in a science subject
• Knowledge across range of laboratory procedures acquired through training to NVQ3 level or equivalent

Specific Skills

Essential

• IT skills - Must be computer literate in order to enter patient data and check on results when answering telephone queries
• Ability to work as part of a small, cohesive team
• Good communication skills, as taking and understanding instructions is a critical part of this job

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Microbiology Torbay Hospital

Lawes Bridge

Torquay

TQ2 7AA

Employer's website

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