Associate Practitioner

at  The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Associate Practitioner, with good interpersonal skills and a committed team worker to join the Cellular Pathology department, located at the Chelsea site of The Royal Marsden Hospital. The major focus of the role will be in performing essential technical duties for the department, responsibility for specimen processing, data entry of requests, section cutting, assisting with automated immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridisation, maintenance tasks and supporting scientists in providing a reliable and accurate diagnostic service. There will also be a rotation into the Cytology Laboratory.
The post-holder will perform a wide variety of tasks within Cytopathology department to support scientific staff in the examination of biological samples. These will include, amongst others, specimen reception and processing, data entry of requests, equipment maintenance and liaison with other hospital staff.
The post holder will work to a high standard following defined departmental protocols and as directed by Lab manager and/or senior scientific staff to assist in the production of accurate and quality analytical results necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
The post holder will be responsible for carrying out scientific analytical work on clinical samples within the Cytology Department at Chelsea, providing a diagnostic service both for the Trust’s clinicians and also for those in the national and international community seeking second opinion, in conformance with the Cancer Plan.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals – one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey – as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That’s why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification

• Sample reception: receipt and checking of samples against request forms, liaising with ward staff where there are doubts. Checking samples are in correct containers and adequate & appropriate for test requested. Discard of leaking / damaged samples and those out of conformance with Trust policy and requesting repeat samples (under guidance from senior staff).
• Data entry: logging incoming specimen requests and reference laboratory results on to the HIS and the departmental database
• To carry out routine preparation of smears and cytospins from fluids.
• To carry out staining of prepared and pre-prepared smears and cytospins.
• To carry out routine laboratory tasks such as preparation of solutions, storage of reagents and chemicals.
• Decontamination of laboratory working areas and equipment as per SOPs.
• Maintain a tidy and clean workspace and according to H&S regulations.
• Accurate data input and clerical work.
• Organise and store samples, requests and other materials as directed by supervisors, including logging samples in and out of the lab, packaging and organising transportation.
• Store, maintain and supply working stocks of reagents consumables & stationery.
• Assist with the routine maintenance and use of laboratory equipment.

The post holder may also to ask to assist in the Histopathology Dept with duties including

• Sample reception: receipt and checking of samples against request forms, liaising with ward staff where there are doubts. Checking samples are in correct containers and adequate & appropriate for test requested. Discard of leaking / damaged samples and those out of conformance with Trust policy and requesting repeat samples (under guidance from senior staff).
• Data entry: logging incoming specimen requests and reference laboratory results on to the HIS and the departmental database
• To carry out routine preparation of smears and cytospins from fluids.
• To carry out staining of prepared and pre-prepared smears and cytospins.
• To carry out routine laboratory tasks such as preparation of solutions, storage of reagents and chemicals.
• Decontamination of laboratory working areas and equipment as per SOPs.
• Maintain a tidy and clean workspace and according to H&S regulations.
• Accurate data input and clerical work.
• Organise and store samples, requests and other materials as directed by supervisors, including logging samples in and out of the lab, packaging and organising transportation.
• Store, maintain and supply working stocks of reagents consumables & stationery.
• Assist with the routine maintenance and use of laboratory equipment