Job summary
2 x 37.5 hours per week. Current operating hours at Southport and Ormskirk sites are Sunday - Saturday 8.00am - midnight, including bank holidays. There is a concurrent on-call rota covering the Ormskirk site from midnight - 7.30am Sunday - Saturday. The post holder will be expected to rotate across these shifts, in the first instance covering mainly Tuesdays - Saturdays inclusive. The department is moving towards becoming operational 24/7 which will include night shift work.
The primary role of the post is to receive samples for laboratory testing to check that all details of the request forms and samples match and to enter and receive them into our laboratory information system. It also includes the pre-analytical preparation required for analysis and ready to be processed on the analysers.
This role is primarily based at Southport Hospital.
Interview date - TBC
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised, methodical and highly motivated individual. The responsibilities of this job are to perform basic clerical and reception duties within the laboratory, receive and log specimens into the department and record tests requested on the laboratory computer system.
Working independently although under the technical supervision of a qualified Biomedical Scientist, to undertake pre-analytical preparation of specimens received and to act as the first point of reference for enquiries into the department.
This will involve working closely with Consultant and junior medical staff, General Practitioners, Laboratory and other hospital/professional staff both in this organisation and outside agencies and assisting patients with general enquiries both on the telephone and face to face.
You will be required to participate in the bank holiday, evening and weekend work rotas as required.
Please note, previous candidates need not apply.
This vacancy may close early if enough applications are received.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our Services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Technical
- Duties may vary slightly from site to site so may or may not be applicable on all sites.
- Receive and barcode all samples and request forms as appropriate
- Enter Patient and Sample details into Laboratory Information System. Data entry of all patient identifiable information, clinical details and request details for all disciplines with the exception of Blood Transfusion into the Pathology (Telepath) system (accuracy is vitally important).
- Sort and deliver bar-coded samples/requests to appropriate department in a timely manner
- Receive requests into Telepath via the order communications systems
- Process samples through pre-analytical stages such as centrifugation, aliquoting into additional tubes, removal of clots and loading onto the analytical track to be analysed.
- Numbering, Telepath entry and loading of Blood Cultures onto the analyser in Microbiology
- Take and communicate as required all telephone enquires
- Prioritise urgent samples for fast tracking
- Process add-on Requests
- To use the Patient Administration System and other systems to check patient details.
- To carry out LIMS housekeeping manual patient merges in Haematology, Biochemistry and Microbiology once patient information has been checked in the above systems and to notify Blood Transfusion of any mismatches.
- Pneumatic Air Tube- Pathology Reception is responsible for receiving fault calls regarding the air tube that must be dealt with immediately as per policy.
- Purge air tube system and clear simple faults as required
- Report ongoing faults to Facilities Maintenance
- Respond to telephone enquiries from service users, patients, relatives, and departmental colleagues with correct use of telephone and the giving out authorised results from Telepath as required.
- Use of fax, photocopier, according to the manufacturers instructions, as required.
- Understand and follow storage and stock rotation requirements of relevant stock in various storerooms.
- Distribution of GP orders (including blood forms) to surgeries in a timely manner.
- To ensure that all reports are sorted and distributed to the relevant bodies through internal and external posting systems in a timely and efficient manner.
- Accurate filing and retrieval of reports. Scanning of request forms.
- To work closely with all departments within the Pathology Directorate to ensure that a timely accurate service is delivered.
- To provide cross cover for colleagues as and when required.
- Night rota staff will work in Microbiology including processing Blood Cultures to the point of loading and starting the analyser.
- Any other duties deemed necessary to ensure the smooth running of the department commensurate with the grade.
Workflow Management
- Timely data entry of requests to facilitate maximum efficiency of turnaround times of results.
- Collect samples from wards/departments/Phlebotomists to meet required turnaround times when required by supervisor/manager.
- To maintain good working relations with all members of staff and to promote effective teamwork.
- To promote an efficient, courteous telephone manner to our service users.
- To actively participate in departmental meetings.
- Ensure risks to service such as faulty equipment or unexpected staff shortages are reported to the supervisors or manager as soon as possible.
- Replenish stock of blood bottles as required and prepare and despatch orders to community locations.
- Receive visitors to the laboratory as necessary
- Flexibility in helping to cover holiday/sickness absence.
- Participate in departmental meetings as required.
- To advise the Supervisor or Biomedical Scientists when consumables are approaching minimum stock levels, or take appropriate action
- Tidy Reception area when appropriate
- Decontaminate all work areas following Standard Operating Procedure.
- Health and Safety
- Adhere to Trust and departmental Health & Safety protocols and Fire regulations.
- Identify risks, and to be aware of risk assessments affecting the workplace. Report clinical incidents to the Blood Sciences Service Lead. Report any defects or required maintenance in building /services to the Blood Sciences Service Lead.
- Adhere to current Control of Substances Hazardous to Health legislation (COSHH). Ensuring the preparation, safe handling, storage, and disposal of reagents is carried out in accordance with departmental policy and COSHH legislation regarding hazardous materials and chemicals.
- Communication
- Communicate any relevant information to laboratory colleagues within the section and inform effectively at hand over.
- Actively participate in departmental meetings, team briefings, educational and audit meetings as appropriate.
- Ensure effective communication is maintained within the department.
- Maintain good working relations with all members of staff and promote effective teamwork.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
Technical
- Duties may vary slightly from site to site so may or may not be applicable on all sites.
- Receive and barcode all samples and request forms as appropriate
- Enter Patient and Sample details into Laboratory Information System. Data entry of all patient identifiable information, clinical details and request details for all disciplines with the exception of Blood Transfusion into the Pathology (Telepath) system (accuracy is vitally important).
- Sort and deliver bar-coded samples/requests to appropriate department in a timely manner
- Receive requests into Telepath via the order communications systems
- Process samples through pre-analytical stages such as centrifugation, aliquoting into additional tubes, removal of clots and loading onto the analytical track to be analysed.
- Numbering, Telepath entry and loading of Blood Cultures onto the analyser in Microbiology
- Take and communicate as required all telephone enquires
- Prioritise urgent samples for fast tracking
- Process add-on Requests
- To use the Patient Administration System and other systems to check patient details.
- To carry out LIMS housekeeping manual patient merges in Haematology, Biochemistry and Microbiology once patient information has been checked in the above systems and to notify Blood Transfusion of any mismatches.
- Pneumatic Air Tube- Pathology Reception is responsible for receiving fault calls regarding the air tube that must be dealt with immediately as per policy.
- Purge air tube system and clear simple faults as required
- Report ongoing faults to Facilities Maintenance
- Respond to telephone enquiries from service users, patients, relatives, and departmental colleagues with correct use of telephone and the giving out authorised results from Telepath as required.
- Use of fax, photocopier, according to the manufacturers instructions, as required.
- Understand and follow storage and stock rotation requirements of relevant stock in various storerooms.
- Distribution of GP orders (including blood forms) to surgeries in a timely manner.
- To ensure that all reports are sorted and distributed to the relevant bodies through internal and external posting systems in a timely and efficient manner.
- Accurate filing and retrieval of reports. Scanning of request forms.
- To work closely with all departments within the Pathology Directorate to ensure that a timely accurate service is delivered.
- To provide cross cover for colleagues as and when required.
- Night rota staff will work in Microbiology including processing Blood Cultures to the point of loading and starting the analyser.
- Any other duties deemed necessary to ensure the smooth running of the department commensurate with the grade.
Workflow Management
- Timely data entry of requests to facilitate maximum efficiency of turnaround times of results.
- Collect samples from wards/departments/Phlebotomists to meet required turnaround times when required by supervisor/manager.
- To maintain good working relations with all members of staff and to promote effective teamwork.
- To promote an efficient, courteous telephone manner to our service users.
- To actively participate in departmental meetings.
- Ensure risks to service such as faulty equipment or unexpected staff shortages are reported to the supervisors or manager as soon as possible.
- Replenish stock of blood bottles as required and prepare and despatch orders to community locations.
- Receive visitors to the laboratory as necessary
- Flexibility in helping to cover holiday/sickness absence.
- Participate in departmental meetings as required.
- To advise the Supervisor or Biomedical Scientists when consumables are approaching minimum stock levels, or take appropriate action
- Tidy Reception area when appropriate
- Decontaminate all work areas following Standard Operating Procedure.
- Health and Safety
- Adhere to Trust and departmental Health & Safety protocols and Fire regulations.
- Identify risks, and to be aware of risk assessments affecting the workplace. Report clinical incidents to the Blood Sciences Service Lead. Report any defects or required maintenance in building /services to the Blood Sciences Service Lead.
- Adhere to current Control of Substances Hazardous to Health legislation (COSHH). Ensuring the preparation, safe handling, storage, and disposal of reagents is carried out in accordance with departmental policy and COSHH legislation regarding hazardous materials and chemicals.
- Communication
- Communicate any relevant information to laboratory colleagues within the section and inform effectively at hand over.
- Actively participate in departmental meetings, team briefings, educational and audit meetings as appropriate.
- Ensure effective communication is maintained within the department.
- Maintain good working relations with all members of staff and promote effective teamwork.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level in English and Maths or equivalent qualification/experience
- RSA ll or equivalent qualification/experience
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Working in a laboratory environment
- Computer data input skills
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Follow standard operating procedures
- Able to prioritise urgent samples, previous samples and sort for distribution in a timely manner
- Ability to work with indirect supervision
- Understands the requirement for patient confidentiality
- Ability to work in a team working environment
Desirable
- Previous NHS experience
- Willing and able to learn new skills
Skills
Essential
- Flexibility - willingness to alter hours to suit workload needs
- Completion of tasks to point of handover
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to handle plasma/serum and other bodily fluids as per protocol
- Good interpersonal skills
- To remain calm and co-operative under pressure
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level in English and Maths or equivalent qualification/experience
- RSA ll or equivalent qualification/experience
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Working in a laboratory environment
- Computer data input skills
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Follow standard operating procedures
- Able to prioritise urgent samples, previous samples and sort for distribution in a timely manner
- Ability to work with indirect supervision
- Understands the requirement for patient confidentiality
- Ability to work in a team working environment
Desirable
- Previous NHS experience
- Willing and able to learn new skills
Skills
Essential
- Flexibility - willingness to alter hours to suit workload needs
- Completion of tasks to point of handover
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to handle plasma/serum and other bodily fluids as per protocol
- Good interpersonal skills
- To remain calm and co-operative under pressure
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.
