Associate Practitioner - Point Of Care Testing

Buckinghamshire Healthcare Nhs Trust; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a Band 4 Associate Practitioner to join the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team. The role covers delivering testing services across hospital sites and community locations, supporting POCT devices, and providing training to service users.

The post requires effective collaboration with clinical teams, good communication, and the ability to work independently while maintaining professional standards and engaging in CPD. Full-time, 37.5 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Good general education standard.
• GCSE Maths, English and at least one science subject or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Proficiency in the use of POCT devices used within the Trust, including blood gas analysers, glucose monitoring systems, pregnancy testing, and other relevant platforms.
• Supporting the POCT team in delivering a professional, high-quality service across clinical areas.
• Contributing to the efficient and effective operation of the POCT service.
• Monitoring user compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and escalating non-compliance to the POCT Lead BMS as appropriate.
• Troubleshooting routine device issues and escalating more complex faults to the POCT Lead BMS, or service engineers as required.
• Delivering training to clinical, nursing, and laboratory staff in the use of POCT equipment, ensuring adherence to Trust policies and procedures.
• Supporting the investigation of incidents and errors to promote service improvement where required.

Skills

POCT devices

Communication

Teamwork

SOP adherence

Troubleshooting

Training others

Incident investigation

Quality Control

Organisational skills

Education

GCSE Maths, English & Science

Biomedical laboratory experience

CPD/Continual professional development

Tools

Blood gas analysers

Glucose monitoring systems

Urinalysis

Pregnancy testing

Job description

Job summary

This is an opportunity to work within Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team as a Band 4 Associate Practitioner. The POCT service provides essential support across hospital sites and community locations within Buckinghamshire, delivering a high-quality and responsive service. This includes supporting POCT devices and providing training to service users. Devices include blood gas, glucose, ketone, urinalysis, and pregnancy testing.

This role is suited to an individual who works effectively with clinical teams and has strong communication and interpersonal skills. Previous experience in POCT or pathology services is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate good organisational skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and remain effective under pressure. A commitment to maintaining professional standards and engagement in continuous professional development is essential.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work as a member of the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team across all Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust sites, including Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Wycombe Hospital, Amersham Hospital, and associated community locations. The role is full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

• Proficiency in the use of POCT devices used within the Trust, including blood gas analysers, glucose monitoring systems, pregnancy testing, and other relevant platforms
• Supporting the POCT team in delivering a professional, high-quality service across clinical areas
• Contributing to the efficient and effective operation of the POCT service
• Monitoring user compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and escalating non-compliance to the POCT Lead BMS as appropriate
• Troubleshooting routine device issues and escalating more complex faults to the POCT Lead BMS, or service engineers as required
• Delivering training to clinical, nursing, and laboratory staff in the use of POCT equipment, ensuring adherence to Trust policies and procedures
• Supporting the investigation of incidents and errors to promote service improvement where required

Please refer to the job description for the full list of duties.

About us

Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - https://bit.ly/3DNEQfD

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?o As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.o We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes. o We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?o We are committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.o As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.o Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.

What do we stand for?o Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.o Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.o Our CARE values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Job responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [e-mail] quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Good general education standard
• GCSE Maths, English and at least one science subject or equivalent

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Essential

• An understanding of Quality Control and Assurance.
• Able to work as part of a team
• Excellent verbal communication skills able to communicate technical matters with users at all levels of understanding
• Excellent presentation skills
• Ability to think logically and demonstrate good acumen to solve problems
• Ability to carry out repairs and maintenance with specialist tools with the necessary dexterity and care
• Concentration and attention to detail.
• Good knowledge of Basic Microsoft packages.
• Able to follow written methodologies or protocols

Desirable

• Ability to work under own initiative, prioritise work, and to achieve agreed schedules

Special Circumstances

Essential

• Ability to travel to locations throughout Buckinghamshire

Desirable

• Work internal rotation
• Flexible working as required

Experience

Essential

• Work experience of working in a Biomedical laboratory
• Work experience with POCT devices
• Working knowledge of Biomedical techniques and practises
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Further technical training relevant to the role
• Working as a member of a team
• Experience with responding to frequent queries from service users by telephone, email and in person.
• Able to handle working with body fluid samples
• Experience of taking responsibility for own standards of work
• Experience of using general office software packages

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.