Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for aBiomedical Support Worker (Higher Level) to join our professional and friendlyPoint of Care Team (POCT). Blood Sciences is part of one of the largestPathology departments in the UK, and offers a comprehensive POCT service toLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and also in the community. The POCT serviceprovides support for analytical testing at or near the site of patient care.

Main duties of the job

Thesuccessful candidate will report to the POCT Team Leaders and the POCTCoordinator/Specialist Biomedical Scientist, participate in all aspects of thePOCT service. This includes providing training, quality assurance andtroubleshooting support to POCT users, ensuring the delivery of high qualityresults in a POCT setting.

GCSEqualifications or equivalent (including Maths & English) are a requirementof this role. Prior experience of laboratory work, or of POCT services would bedesirable, but not essential as all required training will be provided. As aminimum, all applicants should have a good knowledge of POCT and the role ofthe POCT team, both within the hospital setting and in the community.

Weencourage all candidates to make contact with us to discuss the role(s) and wecan offer informal visits to our laboratories for interested candidates. Pleasecontact:

EmmaBaddams POCT Coordinator on or email

About us

TheBlood Sciences department at LTHT operates across two large university teachinghospitals in the Leeds Metropolitan area, along with Satellite units at ChapelAllerton, Seacroft and Wharfedale. POCT services are expanding all the time andwill continue to do so in line with wider NHS strategy. The POCT servicerecently moved into our new £30m Centre for Laboratory Medicine building (onthe St. Jamess University Hospital site), which offers a fantastic new workingenvironment for our staff. The POCT service currently supports 40 blood gasanalysers, around 300 glucose meters, 70 urinalysis analysers, and much more(including Flu and Covid analysers). The field of POCT is rapidly expanding,and currently includes tests within the Biochemistry, Haematology, andMicrobiology specialisms, with exciting new projects currently underway.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our processof redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. Assuch, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the rightto close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you doexperience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, pleasebear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact ifyou have any questions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

ThePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) service covers medical testing at or near the siteof patient care by specially trained healthcare professionals. The goal of POCTis to collect the specimen and obtain accurate results in a very short periodat or near the location of the patient.

POCTcan be carried out in a wide range of settings; in primary care, hospitals, thecommunity, and secondary care, supporting the delivery of the right care in theright place at the right time.

ThePOCT team is responsible for looking after point of care equipment across theTrust, providing routine maintenance and External Quality Assurance (EQA) forall POCT equipment within the hospital, as well as some community and satelliteunits. The POCT team is responsible for coordinating Internal Quality Control(IQC) for POCT equipment within the trust.

ThePOCT Higher Level Biomedical Support Worker is required:

To perform a range of routine andnon-routine tasks within POCT for example carrying out routine diagnostic testsor equipment support

activities

To follow set procedures for area ofwork; advice generally available from POCT Team Leader/POCT Co-ordinator

May be required to update informationsystems for example patient test requests, records

To work autonomously - the postholder participates in the maintenance, staff training and documentation ofPOCT equipment under the

guidance of the POCT TeamLeader/Co-ordinator

To work as directed with the clinicalend users to resolve errors and result discrepancies, and to provide feedbackboth to the POCT

team and Trust Managers - this mayinclude remote sites Chapel Allerton or Wharfedale.

To be involved in routine maintenanceand able to assess whether equipment is fit for purpose based on SOPs andpersonal findings

To achieve and maintain competency inrelevant technical and analytical aspects of service area.

For full details, please see the attached jobdescription.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE qualifications or equivalent (inc Maths & English) Good numeracy and communication skills

Desirable

Educated to A level standard, or equivalent

Other Criteria

Essential

Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary) Able to work independently in remote areas and unsupervised Able to travel between and off-sites (including community locations) Manual handling - able to lift and move weights of up to 30kg

Experience

Desirable

Experience of working in a laboratory Experience of working in a POCT setting Experience in an administration/co-ordination role Experience of delivering training to groups/clinical staff

Skills and Behaviours

Essential

Able to work autonomously and use own initiative Able to prioritise workload to meet set deadlines Committed to high quality patient service Supports learning and development of self and others An aptitude for using and testing technical equipment Ability to demonstrate equipment to others correctly for use Good organisational skills and communication skills

Desirable

Advanced knowledge or experience using Microsoft Excel Full driving license