Job summary
Core Hours: Mon to Friday 12:00 to 17:30, Mon to Fri. Evening shifts 12:00 to 20:00. Flexibility may be required to work some weekends
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust provides healthcare services for a population of approximately 300,000. The Department provides a comprehensive service for the Trust and associated NHS organisations. The annual workload for Clinical Biochemistry is currently 450,000 requests (over 4 million tests), 60% originating from GPs. Clinical Biochemistry also supports the Trust's Research and Development Department in Clinical Trials
Clinical Biochemistry is fully equipped with Roche Cobas pre- analytical and analytical equipment, Sebia capillary electrophoresis and Sebia Tera 3s. The Department is also extensively involved with Point of Care with Nova and Werfen analysers. The Department uses the Laboratory Information System Epic Beaker.
A position now exists for a medical laboratory assistant (MLA) to support the Laboratory's Biomedical Scientists and its various services. The post involves processing, and preparing various sample types for analysis including blood, faeces, urine and CSF. Other processes carried out by our MLA team include: data entry, referral sample management, maintenance of pre-analytical equipment and R&D sample processing.
Main duties of the job
- To provide technical and complex clerical assistance within the Department, working alongside Biomedical Scientists in order to provide a high level service to assist clinicians in the accurate diagnosis and ongoing treatment of a patient's condition.
- Prepare blood, urine, faeces and fluid samples for analysis.
- Make and receive routine telephone calls to/from GP's, Medical, Nursing and other Healthcare Professional Staff.
- Provide routine, discipline specific, assistance to MLA's from other departments.
- Support evening and weekend/bank holiday rotas
About us
Clinical Biochemistry essential to the secondary and acute care pathways of the Trust. Team provides a 24/7 diagnostic service using a variety of automation and specialised techniques.
This is a challenging and varied role with opportunities for making a positive difference to patient outcomes via innovation and the application of science and technology.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communication and working relationships
- Deal with telephone enquiries from medical, nursing, and other healthcare professionals. Calls include requests for test results, queries regarding blood sample tube type for a large number of different tests, requests for emergency tests. Any more complex queries are referred to senior members of staff
- Regularly check the computer-generated outstanding work lists for missing results from reference laboratories and follow up with telephone calls to the relevant laboratory where necessary
- To liaise with courier companies by telephone or fax to arrange pick-ups and deliveries to reference laboratories
- Contribute to a team of medical laboratory assistants and biomedical scientists in provision of an analytical service to Primary and Secondary Care
- Planning and organisation
- Removal of blood, urine and faeces samples and request forms from their plastic bags and checking the corresponding data. The samples and request forms are then bar-coded prior to data entry. These samples come from the District General Hospital, General Practice, Community Hospitals and Clinics served by the Trust
- Perform data entry via Electronic Order Comms and typed data entry from request forms
- Check that the samples received are the correct type and sufficient for the tests requested
- When required perform duties on the Urgent Sample reception bench
- To assist, when required, with the reception, preparation, sorting, storing and transportation of samples from Clinical Trials and Research and Development projects undertaken within the Department. These projects may be for a fixed time period or ongoing.
- Assist with stock control and replenishment/preparation of consumables for use of all staff
- Work to deadlines and have an attention to detail
- Responsibility and accountability
- Accountable to the Associate Practitioner and other Biomedical Scientists up to the Head BMS and Head of Department
- Perform pre-analytical procedures on urine, faeces and other sample types according to lab SOPs
- To centrifuge samples at a set speed and time and aliquot where necessary by transferring serum or urine to labelled additional tubes using hand-held pipettes and complete the necessary documentation for special tests dispatched to other reference laboratories for analysis
- To package samples for dispatch to reference laboratories ensuring compliance with the postal regulations for pathological specimens. To bring to the attention of Senior staff all rejected samples due to inadequate patient details given or incorrect type of sample received for the test requested
- To operate Cobas 8100 pre-analytical equipment
- Monitoring and recording of the temperature of all refrigerators and freezers containing reagents and specimens, as required by UKAS, any malfunction to be notified to a senior member of staff
- To collate and enter a range of test results received from reference laboratories (approx. 100 per week) into the pathology computer system ready for authorisation by Biomedical Scientists or Clinical Biochemists
- Regularly check the computer-generated outstanding work lists for missing results from reference laboratories and follow up with telephone calls to the relevant laboratory where necessary
- Policy and service responsibility
- To participate in annual Individual Performance Review
- Maintain own competencies as described by Department Record of Training and Ongoing Assessment
- Undertake Good Clinical Practice and Dangerous Goods Training (Dry ICE)
- To work at all times in accordance with the principles of best practice, with reference to all relevant national and local policies and guidelines, especially for Health and Safety, COSHH, UKAS and Risk assessments
- Must participate on evening rotas (12:00 to 20:00) in support of Biomedical Scientists. May also be required to work on weekends
- Responsibility for finance, equipment and other resources
- Carry out routine maintenance of pre-analytical equipment
- Perform specific Clinical Biochemistry tests e.g. Blood Gases in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures under the supervision of Biomedical Scientists
- Use balances and scales for preparation of samples e.g. 24-hour urines
- Change consumables on water purification system
- Responsibility for supervision, leadership and management
- Assisting in the training and monitoring of new or less experienced Medical Laboratory assistant staff or trainee Biomedical Scientists
- Information technology and administrative duties
- To contribute to the updating of the Standard Operating Procedures and to suggest changes of practice that would enhance the efficient working of the Department
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Communication and working relationships
- Deal with telephone enquiries from medical, nursing, and other healthcare professionals. Calls include requests for test results, queries regarding blood sample tube type for a large number of different tests, requests for emergency tests. Any more complex queries are referred to senior members of staff
- Regularly check the computer-generated outstanding work lists for missing results from reference laboratories and follow up with telephone calls to the relevant laboratory where necessary
- To liaise with courier companies by telephone or fax to arrange pick-ups and deliveries to reference laboratories
- Contribute to a team of medical laboratory assistants and biomedical scientists in provision of an analytical service to Primary and Secondary Care
- Planning and organisation
- Removal of blood, urine and faeces samples and request forms from their plastic bags and checking the corresponding data. The samples and request forms are then bar-coded prior to data entry. These samples come from the District General Hospital, General Practice, Community Hospitals and Clinics served by the Trust
- Perform data entry via Electronic Order Comms and typed data entry from request forms
- Check that the samples received are the correct type and sufficient for the tests requested
- When required perform duties on the Urgent Sample reception bench
- To assist, when required, with the reception, preparation, sorting, storing and transportation of samples from Clinical Trials and Research and Development projects undertaken within the Department. These projects may be for a fixed time period or ongoing.
- Assist with stock control and replenishment/preparation of consumables for use of all staff
- Work to deadlines and have an attention to detail
- Responsibility and accountability
- Accountable to the Associate Practitioner and other Biomedical Scientists up to the Head BMS and Head of Department
- Perform pre-analytical procedures on urine, faeces and other sample types according to lab SOPs
- To centrifuge samples at a set speed and time and aliquot where necessary by transferring serum or urine to labelled additional tubes using hand-held pipettes and complete the necessary documentation for special tests dispatched to other reference laboratories for analysis
- To package samples for dispatch to reference laboratories ensuring compliance with the postal regulations for pathological specimens. To bring to the attention of Senior staff all rejected samples due to inadequate patient details given or incorrect type of sample received for the test requested
- To operate Cobas 8100 pre-analytical equipment
- Monitoring and recording of the temperature of all refrigerators and freezers containing reagents and specimens, as required by UKAS, any malfunction to be notified to a senior member of staff
- To collate and enter a range of test results received from reference laboratories (approx. 100 per week) into the pathology computer system ready for authorisation by Biomedical Scientists or Clinical Biochemists
- Regularly check the computer-generated outstanding work lists for missing results from reference laboratories and follow up with telephone calls to the relevant laboratory where necessary
- Policy and service responsibility
- To participate in annual Individual Performance Review
- Maintain own competencies as described by Department Record of Training and Ongoing Assessment
- Undertake Good Clinical Practice and Dangerous Goods Training (Dry ICE)
- To work at all times in accordance with the principles of best practice, with reference to all relevant national and local policies and guidelines, especially for Health and Safety, COSHH, UKAS and Risk assessments
- Must participate on evening rotas (12:00 to 20:00) in support of Biomedical Scientists. May also be required to work on weekends
- Responsibility for finance, equipment and other resources
- Carry out routine maintenance of pre-analytical equipment
- Perform specific Clinical Biochemistry tests e.g. Blood Gases in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures under the supervision of Biomedical Scientists
- Use balances and scales for preparation of samples e.g. 24-hour urines
- Change consumables on water purification system
- Responsibility for supervision, leadership and management
- Assisting in the training and monitoring of new or less experienced Medical Laboratory assistant staff or trainee Biomedical Scientists
- Information technology and administrative duties
- To contribute to the updating of the Standard Operating Procedures and to suggest changes of practice that would enhance the efficient working of the Department
Person Specification
Qualification and Training
Essential
- Good general education/A levels/NVQ level
Desirable
- Biomedical science or Biological science Degree
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of Computers/IT
- Knowledge of Health and Safety
- Ability to work as a member of a team or as an individual
- Good communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with both own co-workers and other, external health care professionals
- Good telephone manner
- Ability to work under pressure
Desirable
- Competent in the use of laboratory automation (e.g. preanalytical equipment).
- Working knowledge of Laboratory Information System (Epic Beaker), IHCS, and ICE to be able to enter patient data and give out results.
- Knowledge of electronic order communications.
Specific Skills
Essential
- Ability to work in Team
- Good communication/interpersonal skills
- Good telephone manner
- Ability to work under pressure
Requirements due to work/conditions
Essential
- Daily handling of biological samples requiring use of PPE
- Exposure to upleasant fluids, faeces, urine and CSF
- Handling of hazardous chemicals an reagents
Physical Skills
Essential
- Manual dexterity for analyzer maintenance
- Good hand-eye co-ordination required for manual techniques, handling of delicate precision equipment, e.g. hand-held pipettes, pipetting samples and reagents
Person Specification
Qualification and Training
Essential
- Good general education/A levels/NVQ level
Desirable
- Biomedical science or Biological science Degree
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of Computers/IT
- Knowledge of Health and Safety
- Ability to work as a member of a team or as an individual
- Good communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with both own co-workers and other, external health care professionals
- Good telephone manner
- Ability to work under pressure
Desirable
- Competent in the use of laboratory automation (e.g. preanalytical equipment).
- Working knowledge of Laboratory Information System (Epic Beaker), IHCS, and ICE to be able to enter patient data and give out results.
- Knowledge of electronic order communications.
Specific Skills
Essential
- Ability to work in Team
- Good communication/interpersonal skills
- Good telephone manner
- Ability to work under pressure
Requirements due to work/conditions
Essential
- Daily handling of biological samples requiring use of PPE
- Exposure to upleasant fluids, faeces, urine and CSF
- Handling of hazardous chemicals an reagents
Physical Skills
Essential
- Manual dexterity for analyzer maintenance
- Good hand-eye co-ordination required for manual techniques, handling of delicate precision equipment, e.g. hand-held pipettes, pipetting samples and reagents
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).
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).
