We are looking for a Healthcare Scientist Support Worker to join our team. You will be working with us to provide a service to cancer patients to ensure that they receive their results in a timely manner. You will be working across all areas of clerical and administrative, scientific and technical to support the molecular pathology service.
Will include Saturday working
The successful candidate will be involved in a range of tasks including receiving specimens and booking them into the laboratory information system.
You will be carrying out tissue and slide preparation techniques and supporting the scientists and medical staff in all areas of the laboratory. You will also be working across the clerical and administrative area to support the team as required.
You will need to be able to understand and convey detailed information in a professional helpful manner. You will be working within a team and have an ability to prioritise workload and work well under pressure.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has a staff of around 9000 and is dedicated to providing the Best Care for Everyone.
The Cellular Pathology Department is based within the Pathology Department at Cheltenham General Hospital and is one of the biggest within the South West.
We have a team of medical staff, scientists and support staff working in a busy environment and are focused on providing a high quality efficient service.
The successful candidate will, amongst other duties, be required to:
Check that the correct sample type has been received, correct sample labelling and suitability for diagnostic investigations, in accordance with Pathology laboratory policies and standard operating procedures (SOP); to take appropriate action for non-compliances
Recognise, prioritise and fast-track urgent samples to ensure minimal delay to patient treatment and waiting times
To ensure that tissue taken is secured and safe for processing – many samples are unrepeatable
To input test requests, including tests, patient demographics, requesting clinician and location for report onto laboratory computer system in a timely fashion in order to maintain efficient workflow and laboratory turnaround times and taking into account the urgency of the request
To carry out embedding of paraffin wax processed tissue blocks under indirect supervision of an HPC registered Healthcare Scientist
To carry out paraffin block tissue sectioning using a microtome under indirect supervision of an HPC registered Healthcare Scientist
To perform regular maintenance of equipment, including instrument set up and shutdown, weekly/monthly maintenance and to keep accurate maintenance records
To act as the first point of contact for the Molecular Pathology Section dealing with diverse and complex telephone and email enquiries from a variety of sources in a professional and polite manner and act appropriately upon information given. (This may range from requests for histology tests, requests for results, to being the first point of contact for complaints).
To receive and action requests for genomic testing on Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tissue. To log all requests in the department databases and Laboratory Information Systems (LIMS).
To assist with associated paperwork and digitisation of the Cellular Pathology and Molecular Pathology services.
To support the tracking of cancer patients through Cellular Pathology and Genomics testing to ensure timely access to clinical care.
To support the development of improvements to working practises and processes and contribute to service review as required

Please refer the Job description for details