Band 4 Associate Practitioner in POCT

University Hospitals Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits as an Associate Practitioner in the dynamic Point of Care Testing team at a leading NHS Foundation Trust. This full-time role involves working across multiple hospital sites, ensuring high-quality testing services for patients. You will collaborate with a committed team, maintain various medical instruments, and support clinical staff in analyzing biological specimens. The position offers a chance to develop professionally in a supportive environment that values inclusivity and staff well-being. If you're passionate about healthcare and thrive in a team-oriented setting, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Training and development opportunities

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• GCSE in English and Maths required, NVQ level 3 or equivalent preferred.
• Experience in clinical laboratories or Point of Care Testing is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide efficient Point of Care Testing services across multiple hospital sites.
• Maintain and manage various testing equipment and assist clinical staff.

Skills

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Manual Dexterity

Customer Care

Flexibility

Education

GCSE in English and Maths

NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Medical laboratory assistant competency portfolio

Tools

Blood Gas analysers

Full Blood Count analysers

Glucose & Ketone meters

INR & D-Dimer monitors

TEGs

HemoCue & HbA1c analysers

Pregnancy & Urinalysis readers

Flu/COVID-19 testing

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, highly motivated Associate practitioner to join the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB). This is a full-time permanent post, working 37.5 hours per week. The successful candidate will join our friendly and committed team at UHB who have expertise across a broad range of near patient testing and provide high quality of service to the hospitals and community. The post holder will be expected to work primarily between Monday to Friday and participate on Saturday, Sunday, or Bank Holiday sessions on a rotational basis. There is an enhanced pay for unsocial hours in line with Agenda for Change.

You will be part of the expanding Point of Care team which manages multiple instruments across multiple sites at UHB. This post will be suitable for a person who likes to get out and about the hospital sites to meet a variety of staff grades. A clean driving licence and access to a car is essential.

The team assist in maintaining and managing numerous pieces of equipment including Blood Gas analysers, Full Blood Count analysers, Glucose & Ketone meters, INR & D-Dimer monitors, TEGs, HemoCue & HbA1c analysers, Pregnancy & Urinalysis readers and Flu/ COVID-19 testing.

It is anticipated that the suitable candidate will have knowledge and understanding of Point of Care Testing and how this works within the NHS environment.

The successful candidate will be expected to work as part of the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team providing an efficient, cost effective and timely POCT service to equipment users. The post holder will perform a wide variety of tasks within the Point of Care department to support the clinical staff in the analysis of biological specimens. The post holder will also be expected to support breath test clinics.

The post holder will work independently but will follow the relevant standard operating procedures, ensure that they are implemented and adhered to as directed by the POCT Lead. There is a requirement to maintain accurate records of activities carried out and may be required to supervise, organise, train, and allocate work to less experienced staff. For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please carefully read the attached Job Description.

The post holder will be based at any of the hospital sites covered by University Hospitals Birmingham and will be expected to cover sites within the Community setting across Birmingham and Solihull. The post holder will be expected to travel to, and from these hospitals and institutions. There will be a requirement to work flexibly across the sites.

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:

1. Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can;
2. Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity; removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

University Hospitals Birmingham is a Smoke-Free premises hospital.

Person specification

Qualifications

1. Education to GCSE in English and Maths.
2. NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
3. Completion of a medical laboratory assistant competency portfolio or evidence of laboratory / POCT working and competency.

Experience

1. Awareness of National Health Service.
2. Awareness of the role of Medical Laboratories.
3. Awareness of Health and Safety issues.
4. Evidence of Supervisory Experience.
5. Understanding of the Biomedical Science role and evidence of knowledge.
6. Customer Care practices.
7. Experience of working in clinical laboratories / POCT.
8. Experience of laboratory techniques and automation.
9. Experience of dealing with the public or customer care.

Additional Criteria

1. Able to work as part of a team.
2. Good verbal and written communication.
3. Keyboard and mouse skills (word, excel).
4. Manual dexterity and hand -- eye co-ordination.
5. Plan and prioritise own duties.
6. Expected to participate in all out of hours periods as required by service provision.
7. Ability to handle blood and other bodily fluid samples.
8. Ability and flexibility to work on multiple sites as required including weekend working.
9. Able to demonstrate an understanding of a range of routine and more complex technical procedures.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

For help with your application, contact:

07350379642

Agenda for Change

Band

Band 4

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-Time, Flexible Working

Reference number

304-1091542

Job locations

Trustwide
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham
West Midlands
B15 2TH