Job summary
An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Point of Care Testing (POCT) Practitioner to join a friendly and busy Point of Care Testing (POCT) Department at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH).
The WUTH Laboratory Medicine/Blood Sciences Point of Care Testing services is currently under preparation for accreditation using a wide range of IT-connected POCT devices/assays inside the hospital and at the community level. The WUTH POCT services is expanding rapidly using different POCT middleware for monitoring services and direct transmission of patients' results to hospital information service (Millennium) in real time.
Full training package including training on relevant POCT middleware will be provided to the successful candidate to ensure that she/he is competent and confident with all aspects of their daily tasks. As a POCT Practitioner and an active member of the POCT team, your role within the team is crucial to make the POCT practice secure, safe and efficient. You are providing analytical and technical support to different sites to ensure that all Trust POCT services including those at Arrowe Park Hospital & Clatterbridge Hospital as well as partner Trusts are running smoothly all the time. In addition, you will be assisting in POCT quality management system by assisting in external quality control schemes, staff training, stock checks, validation of new reagents, verification of the new POCT devices/assays and monitoring POCT daily performance.
Main duties of the job
The WUTH POCT Services is using a wide range of IT-connected devices including blood glucose, ketone, INR and creatinine/eGFR devices, Covid/Flu screening, blood gas/co-oximetry, coagulation, D Dimer, CRP and urine pregnancy.
As a member of POCT Team you will be:
- proficient in the use of IT-connected POCT devices, oversee their operation in the clinical area, ensuring that Standard Operating Procedures are followed.
- continuously monitoring the running POCT services to ensure POCT delivers high quality services based on recommended guidelines by the Government.
- involved in maintaining POCT devices according to the Trust policies, Providing technical support on a range of POCT equipment using own initiative/judgement in a number of different areas inside and outside the main hospital.
- reviewing/analysinge POCT devices calibration, Quality Control and Quality Assurance performance in a timely manner and deal with issues where applicable.
- contributing to training programme and monitoring users' performance and compliance as appropriate.
- receive, record, prioritise and manage telephone and personal enquiries, complaints, messages and information from staff, clinicians and external organisations on behalf of the POCT Lead.
About us
All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as "competent and caring staff" by our patients.
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents.
We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral's only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint.
We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide and our financial turnover is in excess of £337m.
The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Applications are invited from suitably experienced, enthusiastic and self- motivated individuals for this full-time position vacancy to join our friendly and dedicated Point of Care Testing team.
The postholder role includes:
- contributing to the provision of a continuous and comprehensive Point of Care Testing services on several sites at Primary and Secondary Care.
- monitor and maintain the smooth running POCT services, dealing with technical issues in all sites, performing stock checks and processing operators requests.
- receive, record, prioritise and manage telephone and personal enquiries, complaints, messages and information from Ward staff, Clinicians, Nurses, Midwives and external organisations on behalf of the POCT Lead and deal with enquiries in a sensitive and efficient manner.
- plan and organise the workloads which can be varied and complex. This involves completion of ongoing work, together with new work, which can be interspersed with urgent enquiries requiring immediate action.
- visiting different wards/sites for inspecting running POCT services and performing external quality assurance (EQA), all of which will help clinical staff to manage patients effectively.
- contributing to training programme and monitoring users performance and compliance.
- record and monitor data from non-analytical equipment e.g. decontamination records for POCT devices returned to manufactures for repair, temperature logs for fridges and freezers used for storage of consumables for Point of Care devices.
The WUTH POCT Services is currently using a wide range of IT-connected Point of Care Testing analysers including blood gas/coox analyses, blood glucose, ketone, creatinine/eGFR and PT-INR testing, POCT Covid-19/Flu/RSV screening, D-Dimer and CRP, blood coagulation analyses, POCT urine pregnancy and urine screening.
The IT connectivity of POCT devices enables transmission of POCT obtained results directly onto patients electronic records (EPR) in real-time. All operators using POCT devices on patients have been trained, are provided with a unique access code and follow the relevant POCT SOPs, local policies and recommended guidelines by DoH to ensure deliveries of high quality POCT services to patients.
Our laboratory is UKAS accredited to ISO:15189 and is approved for both pre-registration and specialist portfolio training by the IBMS.
Please see Job overview & attached Job description for further information about the Point of Care Testing (POCT) Practitioner position available with WUTH.
The successful candidate will work Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:30 and should have experience of working within hospital clinical laboratories preferably in POCT, familiar with electronic document management system, have good IT knowledge of Microsoft Office in particular Excel and is prepared to work out of the main hospital unsupervised when necessary. Full training for this position is provided.
If successful in this role, there is a requirement for you to have a standard/enhanced DBS. This will be paid for by the Trust and then deducted from your salary over a period of 3 month.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Applications are invited from suitably experienced, enthusiastic and self- motivated individuals for this full-time position vacancy to join our friendly and dedicated Point of Care Testing team.
The postholder role includes:
- contributing to the provision of a continuous and comprehensive Point of Care Testing services on several sites at Primary and Secondary Care.
- monitor and maintain the smooth running POCT services, dealing with technical issues in all sites, performing stock checks and processing operators requests.
- receive, record, prioritise and manage telephone and personal enquiries, complaints, messages and information from Ward staff, Clinicians, Nurses, Midwives and external organisations on behalf of the POCT Lead and deal with enquiries in a sensitive and efficient manner.
- plan and organise the workloads which can be varied and complex. This involves completion of ongoing work, together with new work, which can be interspersed with urgent enquiries requiring immediate action.
- visiting different wards/sites for inspecting running POCT services and performing external quality assurance (EQA), all of which will help clinical staff to manage patients effectively.
- contributing to training programme and monitoring users performance and compliance.
- record and monitor data from non-analytical equipment e.g. decontamination records for POCT devices returned to manufactures for repair, temperature logs for fridges and freezers used for storage of consumables for Point of Care devices.
The WUTH POCT Services is currently using a wide range of IT-connected Point of Care Testing analysers including blood gas/coox analyses, blood glucose, ketone, creatinine/eGFR and PT-INR testing, POCT Covid-19/Flu/RSV screening, D-Dimer and CRP, blood coagulation analyses, POCT urine pregnancy and urine screening.
The IT connectivity of POCT devices enables transmission of POCT obtained results directly onto patients electronic records (EPR) in real-time. All operators using POCT devices on patients have been trained, are provided with a unique access code and follow the relevant POCT SOPs, local policies and recommended guidelines by DoH to ensure deliveries of high quality POCT services to patients.
Our laboratory is UKAS accredited to ISO:15189 and is approved for both pre-registration and specialist portfolio training by the IBMS.
Please see Job overview & attached Job description for further information about the Point of Care Testing (POCT) Practitioner position available with WUTH.
The successful candidate will work Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:30 and should have experience of working within hospital clinical laboratories preferably in POCT, familiar with electronic document management system, have good IT knowledge of Microsoft Office in particular Excel and is prepared to work out of the main hospital unsupervised when necessary. Full training for this position is provided.
If successful in this role, there is a requirement for you to have a standard/enhanced DBS. This will be paid for by the Trust and then deducted from your salary over a period of 3 month.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Essential
- Foundation degree in Healthcare Sciences or equivalent degrees
- Demonstrate significant experience working in a laboratory in clinical laboratory in a hospital setting
Desirable
- BSC biomedical Sciences or relevant subjects such as Biology, Chemistry or Pharmacy
- Working with POCT Team either in hospitals, universities or industries
- Experience of Working as part of POCT Team
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Reliability and responsibility
- Positive and caring attitude dealing with ward staff
- Self-awareness and self-management
- Motivation and enthusiasm
- Eager to learn and to build up required knowledge
- Working efficiently, contributing to Trust cost improvement programme, delivering cost-effective POCT services and avoiding waste of POCT resources
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Adopt a courteous, approachable and helpful manner when dealing with customers, staff and the public.
- Ability to receive and relay messages accurately.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team
- Ability to delegate appropriately
- Ability to encourage CPD and service development with blood sciences staff
- Good understanding and experience of laboratory audit procedure to comply with quality standards.
- Ability to undertake laboratory/POCT Audit.
- Ability to respond appropriately to emergency situations. The ability to be flexible in undertaking all duties demanded of the post.
- Ability and willingness to undergo further training and continual professional development.
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Essential
- Understanding of POCT different systems, technologies, POCT advantage & disadvantages
- Good ICT and keyboard skills particularly Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point)
Desirable
- Understanding statistics
- Writing scientific reports
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload and staff.
- Good time management skills.
- Ability to work competently unsupervised.
- Ability to manage difficult situations
- Understanding Healthcare Systems, Pathology & POCT
Desirable
- Ability to be flexible to work shift pattern if required by Trust POCT Services
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Honesty and integrity
- Willingness to undergo continued training and development
Person Specification
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Essential
- Foundation degree in Healthcare Sciences or equivalent degrees
- Demonstrate significant experience working in a laboratory in clinical laboratory in a hospital setting
Desirable
- BSC biomedical Sciences or relevant subjects such as Biology, Chemistry or Pharmacy
- Working with POCT Team either in hospitals, universities or industries
- Experience of Working as part of POCT Team
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Reliability and responsibility
- Positive and caring attitude dealing with ward staff
- Self-awareness and self-management
- Motivation and enthusiasm
- Eager to learn and to build up required knowledge
- Working efficiently, contributing to Trust cost improvement programme, delivering cost-effective POCT services and avoiding waste of POCT resources
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Adopt a courteous, approachable and helpful manner when dealing with customers, staff and the public.
- Ability to receive and relay messages accurately.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team
- Ability to delegate appropriately
- Ability to encourage CPD and service development with blood sciences staff
- Good understanding and experience of laboratory audit procedure to comply with quality standards.
- Ability to undertake laboratory/POCT Audit.
- Ability to respond appropriately to emergency situations. The ability to be flexible in undertaking all duties demanded of the post.
- Ability and willingness to undergo further training and continual professional development.
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Essential
- Understanding of POCT different systems, technologies, POCT advantage & disadvantages
- Good ICT and keyboard skills particularly Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point)
Desirable
- Understanding statistics
- Writing scientific reports
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload and staff.
- Good time management skills.
- Ability to work competently unsupervised.
- Ability to manage difficult situations
- Understanding Healthcare Systems, Pathology & POCT
Desirable
- Ability to be flexible to work shift pattern if required by Trust POCT Services
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Honesty and integrity
- Willingness to undergo continued training and development
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).
