Medical Laboratory Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Technical

• To safely handle, use and dispose of blood or other body fluids or hazardous chemicals under supervision.
• Pre-analytical preparation of samples. This includes sorting, labelling and centrifuging according to departmental procedure.
• To perform automated laboratory investigations on patient samples.
• To store, prepare and use reagents required for laboratory investigations.
• To monitor and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, for example, specified analyser maintenance and basic troubleshooting.
• Ensure quality control measures are carried out to monitor analytical performance, take corrective action where applicable and report any failures to a senior member of staff.
• Participate in internal and external quality assurance programmes.
• To report to the section supervisor any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure.
• Undertake Blood Transfusion daily returns and audit each unit before returning to stock in line with BSQR on cold chain protocols.
• To monitor blood satellite fridges, conducting alarms tests, temperature checks and undertaking monthly cleaning.
• Monitoring and maintenance of blood stocks in accordance with protocols to assist in reducing and minimising wastage.
• To store samples following appropriate laboratory protocols and keep records as required.
• Process samples under supervision for clinical trials and research and developmental projects if and when required.
• Advise service users on sample preservation and transportation to laboratory.
• Use of the laboratory information system to log patient information, verify patient specimens and monitor stock of blood products.

Laboratory Informatics

• To comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
• To use the Laboratory Information System according to the authorised protocols.
• To maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.
• Fating of Transfusion traceability tags.

Administrative

• To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) and BSQR.
• Undertake work file management to ensure all results are reported with agreed turnaround time
• To use departmental resources efficiently and advise senior staff when stocks of reagents and consumables are approaching minimum stock levels.
• To participate in the data collection for the operation performance management system (OPMS)
• To assist investigations for missing traceability evidence of blood components and products.

General Duties

• To comply with the policies and procedures of Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust and Synnovis Pathology.
• To treat everyone associated with Guys & St Thomas Hospital NHS Trust and Synnovis Pathology with courtesy and respect.
• To maintain and promote the professional image of Blood Sciences, Synnovis Pathology and Guys & St Thomas Hospital NHS Trust.
• To maintain good work relations with all members of staff, and to promote effective teamwork.
• To comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure, confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information. To report any witnessed deficiency in health and safety and quality systems to line manager or the department lead.
• Keep appropriate records of all communications.
• To ensure compliance with all local and national standards of work practice (e.g. BSQR) and follow standard operating procedures and policies.
• Propose changes to Standard Operating Procedures to senior staff and aid in implementation of such changes, as and when required
• To maintain a clean and tidy work station, including; work benches, fridges, freezers, and store rooms/ areas.
• To comply with the training and competence policy and procedure
• To participate in and contribute to the Performance Planning and Review (PPR) process

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

Guys and St Thomas Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Womens Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Childrens Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guys site.

You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Good all-round education to GCSE standard including English and Maths at grade 4/C or equivalent or L2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship.

Desirable

• A Level / BTEC in Science (or equivalent or higher)

Experience

Essential

• Working as part of a team
• Working in a busy environment
• Experience of working with computer applications such as Microsoft Office / Google docs, data entry
• Experience of working accurately with an attention to detail

Desirable

• Experience of working in a pathology laboratory environment
• Handling of biological specimens
• Customer service

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Organised and methodical
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Ability to accurately follow written procedures
• Competent at problem solving and prioritising
• Able to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
• Ability to operate the use of precision instrument and equipment
• Numerate and literate
• Ability to lift, move and manipulate stock specimens etc.
• Willingness and ability to learn complex operating procedures and follow guidelines

Desirable

• Awareness of the role of medical laboratories
• Awareness of Good Laboratory Practice

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

Synnovis Analytics

Address

St. Thomas’ Hospital

Westminster Bridge Road

London

SE1 7EH

Employer's website

http://www.synnovis.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)