Medical Laboratory Assistant HODS

Job content

Applications are invited for an experienced, suitably qualified individual with demonstrable laboratory experience in dealing with specimen handling/clerical skill to join a dynamic workforce in the Haemato-Oncology Diagnostic Service at the Royal Liverpool Hospital site of Liverpool Clinical Laboratories. You will be given appropriate cross training to be able to perform basic tasks across all disciplines, and will be expected to demonstrate competency across all areas as required.

This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to join a very busy department dedicated to providing the highest quality patient care.

The role will primarily support the delivery of Haemato-Oncology services to several external Trusts, and will involve preparation of materials for MDT, including receiving lists from external users, retrieval of materials from archive, transport of materials to off-site locations and receipt of returned materials, specimen handling and preparation, and basic sample processing using both manual and automated techniques. The service is well equipped with the latest clinical diagnostic technology, and processes around 6,000 samples per annum. Main duties will ensure the operational functionality of the laboratory areas, particularly supporting the MDT preparation including sample receipt and basic preparation. This will include calibrating, maintaining and operating complex analytical equipment and regularly reviewing internal quality control and external quality assurance data trends, taking action as appropriate. You will have experience of LIMS, other IT systems and you will have experience of Quality Management Systems. You should be able to demonstrate good interpersonal and communication skills; you will be expected to support the Senior staff / Biomedical Scientists responsible for the day-to-day organisation of the laboratory. You will be expected to maintain the required professional standards. Working as part of the team you will contribute to the provision and further development of a high-quality diagnostic service. The department is UKAS ISO 15189:2012 accredited.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.

The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.

To hear more about our achievements click here https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/media/13089/1606-annual-report-booklet_final.pdf

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Main Tasks:
Clerical

1. Entry and retrieval of confidential patient data using the specialist laboratory computer system
2. Answer telephone enquiries and deal with them appropriately.
3. Telephone urgent and routine results
4. Printing, sorting and dispatch of laboratory reports where electronic transmission is not available.
5. Delivery of laboratory reports when necessary
6. Input data into specialist systems e.g. HODS, telepath.
7. Support the scientific staff as required, including weekend working where appropriate.

Scientific and Technical

1. Carry out routine laboratory procedures.
2. Reception and primary treatment of potentially hazardous specimens e.g. centrifugation labelling and rejection of unsuitable samples.
3. Preparation of reagents for specialist analytical equipment.
4. Defrosting of fridges and freezers.
5. The receipt, recording and storage of specimens, including filing and retrieval of slides and blocks as required.
6. Carry out fridge alarm checks and check temperatures are within limits.
7. Provide Department specimen reception duties including repackaging of samples for transport to other specialist testing departments.
8. Perform simple tests used in monitoring various clinical conditions.
9. Manually manipulate blood/bone marrow specimens in preparing smears for microscopy examination, prepare tissue samples for processing, in accordance with departmental protocols.

Weekend service

1. Take responsibility for the Haemato-Oncology service for this Trust and supply a support service to other hospitals / other organizations within the region.
2. Prioritize work to help ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

Resources

1. Maintaining adequate stocks of consumables including updating of records
2. General cleaning and disinfection of laboratory surrounds and equipment.
3. Organise contents of deep freezers and fridges and check associated alarms
4. Receive and transport, on a regular basis, large items of consumables weighing in excess of 20kg to their relevant storage areas.

Communication and Relationships
1. Communicate with medical, nursing and laboratory staff to ensure the prompt provision of results to the requesting clinican/laboratory.
2. Liaise with scientific staff over problems concerning service provision
3. Ensure the safe transport of specimens between HODS laboratories by communication with scientific and scientific support staff at other hospitals e.g. Liverpool Women’s.

Health and Safety

1. Maintain proper health and safety standards at all times
2. The bagging and labelling of potentially infectious laboratory waste.
3. Attend appropriate Department health and safety training
4. Be aware of dealing with potentially infectious materials, awareness of Departmental and Trust health and safety policies.
5. Take appropriate remedial action in the event of spillage of hazardous chemicals or biological hazardous material
6. Ensure security of the premises at all times.
7. Be aware of procedures for working with hazardous chemicals, awareness of COSHH regulations, risk assessments and hazard data sheets

Training and Supervision

1. Take part in the MLA in-house training scheme appropriate to the laboratory where rostered to work.
2. Instruct new staff in procedures applicable to this post.

Through the course of employment staff may become aware of information concerning patients or other staff. All such information must be treated as confidential.

All staff participate in an annual performance review program where Personal Development Plans are agreed.

This is a multi-site Directorate. Duties could be carried out at any site.

Clinical Governance / Quality

The accurate entry and retrieval of confidential patient information using the specialised laboratory computer system, in accordance with Caldicott guidelines. Education and training development

1.Take part in the MLA in-house training scheme appropriate to the laboratory where rostered to work.

2.Demonstrate own duties to thers
1. Maintain compliance with departmental training and competency requirements

Book and attend required training including mandatory training

Equality and Diversity

It is the responsibility of every member of staff to understand our equality and diversity commitments and statutory obligations under current equality legislation (the Equality Act 2010) and to:

Act in ways that support equality and diversity and recognises the importance of people’s rights in accordance with legislation, policies, procedures and good practice.

Valuing people as individuals and treating everyone with dignity and respect, consideration and without prejudice, respecting diversity and recognising peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices in working with others and delivering appropriate services.

• Recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality under Trust policy.
• Be consciously aware of own behaviour and encourage the same levels of behaviour in colleagues.
• Acknowledge others’ different perspectives and recognise the diverse needs and experiences of everyone they come into contact with.
• With the support of managers develop an equality and diversity objective through the personal development review process.

Infection Prevention & Control

All staff will adhere to infection control policies and procedures at all times and carry out role specific duties as per roles and responsibilities.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality/Data Protection regarding all personal information and Trust activity must be maintained at all times (both in and out of working hours). All staff should ensure that they are familiar with and adhere to all Trust privacy, confidentiality and security policies and procedures. Any breach of confidentiality will be taken seriously and appropriate disciplinary action taken.

Freedom of Information

In accordance with Freedom of Information and other associated legislation, the Trust may be required to make public recorded information available upon a request, or do this as part of a publication scheme. Please note, that in your public role, your name or job role may be contained in a document that is published in accordance with such legislation.

Management of Risk & Health and Safety

1.Maintain proper health and safety standards at all times

2.The bagging and labelling of potentially infectious laboratory waste.

3.Attend appropriate Department health and safety training

4.Be aware of dealing with potentially infectious materials, awareness of Departmental and Trust health and safety policies.

5.Take appropriate remedial action in the event of spillage of hazardous chemicals or biological hazardous material

6.Ensure security of the premises at all times.