Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant Pathology,WRH

at  Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Post Title: Medical Laboratory Assistant Pay Band: 3 Hours: Full-time 37.5hrs worked Monday to Sunday. This will include 24/7 working as part of a shift pattern Part-time pro rata according to contract of employment. This will include 24/7 working as part of a shift pattern Location/ Department: Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, Reports to: Pre Analytics Manager Blood Sciences and above through the laboratory structure Key Duties: To accurately enter patient and request data onto the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), making appropriate amendments as required, so as to enable the performance of appropriate or indicated investigation(s) of biological specimens, and the issue of reports to the source of the request, within identified timescales. A high degree of accuracy is required to ensure correct and complete clinical information is recorded so a correct interpretation of results can be made.
To be proficient in all aspects of the routine use of the LIMS, in accordance with departmental procedures. To train, instruct and assess the competence of other members of staff, of whatever grade, in the correct use of the LIMS, as directed. Assessment of competence will be achieved through the use of exercises developed by the post holder and approved by the Pre-Analytical Manager. To undertake annual Personal Development Reviews of Band 2 staff in accordance with trust policy.
Daily supervise and deploy MLA staff as is required, including staff rotas. Ensures that all MLA duties are performed in a timely manner in accordance with departmental quality standards including SOPs Supervises and receives stock delivered to the department ensuring storage is in accordance with departmental procedures Ensures regular stock inventories are carried out by MLA staff and a senior BMS is informed of supply deficiency Responsible of upkeep of stock in specimen reception area and perform general housekeeping duties. Carries out audits as required through quality management system and completes non-conformance records and submits to the senior BMS/Quality Lead. To store and archive reports of investigations in accordance with departmental procedures.
To regularly review lists of Incomplete requests for investigations sent to other laboratories, and to take appropriate action to ensure the receipt of results within identified timescales so that patient treatment is not adversely affected. To bring to the attention of senior Biomedical Scientists any difficulties experienced in obtaining an appropriate response from the referral laboratory. To respond to telephone calls from medical and nursing staff within the hospital, or staff from surgeries and clinics, so that requests for results, additional/urgent investigations and technical advice are dealt with to the satisfaction of the caller, in accordance with departmental procedures and within limits of knowledge and capability, referring calls to qualified / senior staff as appropriate. To give out authorised results only, but only to appropriate staff as identified in the departmental Telephoning of Results procedure.
To refer requests for technical advice to qualified Biomedical Scientists, as appropriate; to refer requests for clinical advice to Clinical Scientists / Consultants, as appropriate this is to ensure correct information is relayed to service users. To respond to any complaints that arise courteously, referring complainants to appropriate senior staff in all instances. To assist in the resolution of any discrepancies relating to reports issued by the department, addressing issues such as the sending of reports to incorrect locations, patients being unknown to staff at a given location or the inclusion of inaccurate / incomplete clinical details. In addition, to maintain appropriate and auditable records of all such occurences.
To co-ordinate and participate in the scanning of request forms so that electronic images are readily available for the technical validation / clinical interpretation of results. To ensure the document scanner is maintained fit for use at all times and to work in conjunction with senior BMS staff to ensure that any malfunctions are addressed and rectified promptly. To ensure request forms, and any other documents containing confidential information, are retained and discarded in accordance with Trust and departmental procedures. To be familiar and practise in accordance with Data Protection regulations.
To assist senior staff within the department with general office and laboratory duties. To take receipt of incoming mail and distribute throughout the department. To work in accordance with and maintain adherence to the safety standards outlined in the departmental Health and Safety Policy, thereby ensuring that the laboratory complies with regulatory requirements and is a safe, secure, clean and tidy working environment. To read, understand and practise in accordance with departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all relevant tasks performed within the laboratory so as to ensure that such tasks are performed in a manner consistent with departmental policies.
To respond appropriately to requests for laboratory consumables from wards, clinics and GP surgeries. To develop an understanding of the function and use of Information Technology and electronic communications. This includes the use of word processing packages, spreadsheets, databases and electronic communications. To work under the direct and indirect supervision of qualified staff within the department.
To participate in mandatory training thus enabling the Trust to satisfy its regulatory requirements as an employer. To participate in and contribute to regular general departmental meetings that involve all staff to ensure that clear lines of communication are established and maintained To produce notes of the general departmental staff meetings, for authorisation by the Pre-Analytical Manager, within identified timescales. To participate in and contribute to regular Senior MLA meetings to help with departmental training, forward planning to ensure quality service provision, adequate staffing levels and to deal with any staffing issues. To assist the Pre-Analytics Manager in maintaining ESR records To assist the Pre-Analytical Manager with weekly rotas.
To work in conjunction with all other staff, as directed, to achieve and maintain UKAS accreditation status. To participate in departmental Quality Management activities in a manner commensurate with the post. To be familiar with the Pathology Directorate Quality Policy and to ensure its consistent application to all departmental activities. To work under the direction of the departmental Quality Manager and/or Quality Leads in ensuring the effective implementation of the departmental Quality Management System (QMS).
To maintain familiarity and practise in accordance with the SOPs for all relevant laboratory procedures. To participate in departmental quality improvement initiatives. To participate in scheduled audit activities. The programme of activities shall include horizontal, vertical and examination audits, in addition to internal audit of the QMS.
To identify and alert senior staff to any non-conformances to optimal / required practice To participate in the implementation and review of appropriate remedial, corrective and/or preventative measures in response to reported non-conformances. To participate in training activities so that own competence to practise in the laboratory is demonstrably maintained through on-going assessment, as appropriate. To participate in the maintaining of records, for all staff of whatever grade, which indicate both training received and the outcome of any assessment(s) of competence, for all relevant laboratory procedures. To participate in training activities so that own competence to practice in the laboratory is demonstrably maintained through ongoing assessment, as appropriate.
Duties associated within front Pathology Specimen Reception. To receive all patients and visitors to Pathology, promptly and with sympathy, politeness and courtesy. To assist with general clerical work as directed in the Pathology office or Specimen reception. To deal with telephone enquiries from doctors, nurses and other ward staff and for arrangement of tests with patients.
The transfer of more involved queries to more senior laboratory staff. Issue various specimen containers to porters, ward staff and patients when requested. Package samples and arrange for them to be sent by taxi, courier or post as instructed. Put out items to be picked up by the courier for delivery to other hospitals or GP surgeries as required.
To ensure that levels of stocks kept in specimen reception are adequate. Duties associated within the blood sciences department The reception of all patient samples into the laboratory checking, barcoding and use of Beckman DXA pre analytical automation for processing samples for analysis The fast tracking of all urgent sample through the pre-analytical section to enable fast turnaround times to be maintained. Patient and sample data entry into the laboratory computer system to the required set standard Use of Beckman DXA Perform daily/weekly maintenance Prepare all racks at the start of the day Check and load all consumables during the day Load patient samples Check all alarms / errors and correct as necessary Process any short samples and aliquots as necessary Stocktake all consumables and inform pre-analytics manager of any shortages Clean and disinfect pre-analytics work area, laboratory equipment including centrifuges and fume cupboards, on a regular basis according to maintenance logs. Support links Privacy policy Terms and conditions Accessibility Statement Cookies Help and guidance Crown copyrigh

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