Job summary

The Clinical ChemistryLaboratories at Nottingham University Hospitals are looking for enthusiastic candidates to join the team in the role of associate practitioners.

Associate practitioners are high level support staff who work with biomedical scientists to ensure effective service delivery on a rotational basis, duties include data entry, equipment maintenance and processing of blood samples.

Previous laboratory experience would be an advantage however full training will be given.

The role is trustwide, working on both the Nottingham City Hospital Campus and The Queens Medical Centre Campus with a shift roster including early morning, evening and weekend/bank holiday commitment.

Main duties of the job

In addition to the below summary you need to familiarise yourself with full Job Description and Person Specification documents attached to this advert.

As an Associate Practitioner, the post holder will be a member of the departmental team and assist inthe delivery of a quality driven, cost effective, patient focused service consistent with the NottinghamUniversity Hospitals Trust's post holders' main role is to provide technical support to State Registered Biomedical Scientistsin carrying out the analysis of pathological samples using various technologies and to present theresults for validation or authorisation as appropriate.

About us

Every day, our teams at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) make a difference. We save lives, we improve lives and we usher in new life. We are proud to play a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and our surrounding communities.

With more than 19,000 colleagues, we are the largest employer in Nottinghamshire and one of the biggest and busiest NHS Trusts in the country, serving more than residents of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and a further four million people across the East Midlands and beyond

NUH NHS Trust is a large, teaching hospital comprising two sites, the Queens Medical Centre and the City Hospital. Associate practitioners work alongside biomedical scientists in laboratories at both sites on a rotational basis. The Biochemistry team contributes to the development of laboratory services which are patient focussed. These include both 24/7 acute, highly automated functions and specialist services embracing Trisomy Screening, Myeloma monitoring, Inborn Errors of Metabolism investigation and Immunosuppressant drug monitoring.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The list of duties will include:

Technical/Scientific: undertake routine and non-routine tests or activities as identified by individual laboratories, up to but not including the point of validation, with exception of auto-authorised procedures. Work to standard operating procedures. Use scientific knowledge to recognise incorrect results and take action to correct errors. Be able to perform laboratory tests requiring a high degree of manual dexterity.

Equipment maintenance: Responsible for monitoring and performing daily, weekly and monthly maintenance of centrifuges, automated analysers and other laboratory equipment, ensuring that logs are completed by all staff. Check the safety and functioning of all equipment perform simple troubleshooting and report malfunctions to BMS staff.

Stock Control: Maintain sufficient stocks of reagents, supplies etc. for the day-to-day operation of the laboratory. Maintain stock control records and order more stock where a system has been set up for this. Liaise with Clinical Pathology and Pathology stores staff to ensure deliveries are correct and received on time.

Information and IT: Ensure that the Standard Operating Procedures for own work area are kept up to date and displayed appropriately. Assist in proposing, developing and implementing new procedures. Use word processing and spreadsheet packages to produce draft SOPs, audit reports and laboratory data.

Planning: Plan and organise own workload and may be required to assign work to Medical Laboratory Assistants.

Supervisory: Participate in the training of new Medical Laboratory Assistants and Associate Practitioners. Supervise Medical Laboratory Assistants and less experienced staff, allocating work, training, etc.

Audit: Perform audits as required by Senior BMS staff or the Laboratory Manager.

Quality: Perform quality control as appropriate and report any out of consensus results to BMS staff.

Perform other technical duties as required within post-holders training and competence.

To perform any other duties required by the Laboratory Manager or Head of Department commensurate with grade.

Training relevant to this post, including safety aspects in the handling of biological material, will be given.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

At least 12 months UK hospital laboratory experience covering duties explained in JD Word processing, spreadsheets and laboratory information system experience. Aware of Health and Safety and confidentiality issues

Desirable

Experience of working in a clinical laboratory

Qualifications

Essential

Appropriate Level 5 Qualification or equivalent Foundation degree or equivalent in Biomedical Science or BSc (Hons) degree in a relevant science subject. IBMS Certificate of achievement Level 2 (Higher)

Desirable

Keyboard or IT qualification

Skills

Essential

Written work legible. Can communicate clearly verbally by phone and face to face. Can use tact and persuasive skills Evidence of working and integrating as part of a team Can work accurately and methodically following verbal and written instructions

Desirable

Knowledge and understanding of clinical laboratory tests and medical terminology