Job responsibilities
Staff:
1. The post holder will play a key role in the day-to-day scientific and
technical operations in the department without direct supervision
and within defined limits by following departmental SOPs.
2. Support the role of the Senior colleagues, and provide cover in their
absence.
3. The post holder will support to train and develop all subordinate staff
and new staff during day-to-day operations within the department
according to local policies and procedures as directed by senior staff.
4. Carrying out support staff competency assessments to meet ISO
15189 requirements.
5. To maintain, and comply with the requirements of HCPC registration.
6. To ensure efficient planning and prioritisation of individual workload.
7. To supervise subordinate staff as necessary.
8. The post holder will play a key role in the handling of patient tissue
samples and recording associated clinical details as delegated by the
Consultant Histopathologist.
9. To assist in the testing and evaluation of new methodologies and
instrumentation and to contribute to the review process of SOPs
under the direction of senior staff and according to PCI policies.
10. To assist in research activity, service development and clinical audit
undertaken by the department.
Laboratory
1. All aspects of patient tissue sample reception including interpretation
of anatomical site and clinical details, assigning case numbers and
preparing samples for dissection according to Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs).
2. Close co-operation and communication with Consultant
Histopathologists and other technical staff during assistance at
dissection of tissue samples. This will include decision making and
technical advice to clinicians and other service users on the suitability
of tissue samples for subsequent processing for histological
examination.
3. Carries out all tasks necessary to effectively process and embed, in
paraffin wax, all tissue samples taken for diagnostic analysis including
changing processing reagents and programming and calibration of
specialist tissue processor equipment. Appropriate anatomical
orientation of tissue sample during embedding.
4. Production of high quality sections of tissue samples on slides utilising
high precision microtomes and attention to detail for the purpose of
microscopical diagnosis.
5. Performs staining or dying of slides of patient tissue material utilising
complex chemical procedures through the use of SOPs for the
purpose of rendering these suitable for microscopy and subsequent
tissue diagnosis.
6. Carry out all procedures necessary for the effective demonstration
and visualisation of antigen sites and tumour markers through the
use of Immunocytochemical diagnostic techniques. Post holders will
have a thorough technical and theoretical knowledge of the use of
primary antibodies used in these investigations.
7. When necessary the post holder will be expected to replenish stock
supplies of reagents, chemicals, stains and dyes used within the
laboratory for specimen processing and analyses.
8. To maintain / repair specialist equipment to correct loss of
performance. To ensure staff undertake routine operative
maintenance, corrective maintenance and troubleshooting.
Quality
1. Responsibility for ensuring the standard of their individual work
meets with Internal Quality Control values of the department.
(Technical validation).
2. The post holder will take part in the preparatory work and
assessment of sample material sent as part of the National External
Quality Assessment Scheme. This may involve communicating and
commenting on proposed changes for service improvement.
3. To ensure, by periodic testing, that all specialist equipment is
functioning efficiently through good housekeeping, troubleshooting
and preventive maintenance including reagent changes.
Communicate errors or faults to senior staff. Is familiar with
contingencies in the event of equipment or system failure.
4. To maintain a high standard of professional competence and skill in
the performance of all tests and investigations carried out on that
bench.
5. To initiate preventive/corrective action or investigate with senior
staff when the quality control procedures indicate loss of
performance.
6. To ensure important or unusual results are drawn to the attention of
senior staff and to report and record incidents, complaints and
anomalies as soon as possible using the resources of the Quality
management system.
7. Maintenance of the requirements of the Quality Management
System including raising non conformities when there are failures of
expected levels of performance.
8. To ensure the agreed quality standards of service are maintained.
9. To participate in the regular review and update of SOPs. Suggest
changes to work practices within the section and assist
implementation.
10. Carry out method validation and verification procedures.
11. To ensure that records are kept up-to-date and stored safely to
ensure compliance with good work practices required for the
standards of ISO 15189:2012.
IT
1. To comply with policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing
and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
2. To use the Laboratory Information System (LIMS) according to the
authorised protocols.
3. Check, and correct if necessary, information input by other laboratory
staff.
4. To use PCI IT systems as appropriate, following PCI policies, guidelines
and procedures.
