Healthcare Scientist Support Worker - Blood Transfusion

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust; Dartford; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is seeking a Healthcare Science Support Worker to support Biomedical Scientists and provide essential administrative assistance in processing patient specimens.

Role includes preparing, loading, and maintaining analysers, handling stock and reagents, and liaising with clinical staff by phone. A 24/7 out-of-hours shift pattern is expected within a diverse, inclusive NHS team.

Qualifications

• Supports Biomedical Scientists and provides administrative assistance
• Loads and processes patient specimens according to SOPs
• Maintains daily stocks and liaises with clinical staff over the phone

Responsibilities

• Identify and load patient samples and begin analytical test procedures
• Perform daily tasks on checklists and maintain equipment maintenance
• Monitor stock levels weekly and reorder reagents and consumables
• Liaise with clinical staff by phone as required
• Participation in 24/7 out of hours shift cover is expected

Skills

Administrative support

Communication skills

Data entry

Telephone handling

Job description

Please note - THIS POST IS ONLY OPEN TO KENT AND MEDWAY PATHOLOGY NETWORK STAFF (I.E. THOSE EMPLOYED BY DARTFORD AND GRAVESHAM NHS TRUST, MEDWAY NHS TRUST, EAST KENT HOSPITALS NHS TRUST, MAIDSTONE AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS NHS TRUST). ANY APPLICATIONS FROM PEOPLE NOT EMPLOYED BY THE NETWORK WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

The role of the Healthcare Science Support Worker (HSSW) is primarily to support the department's Biomedical Scientists (BMS) and provide administrative assistance in the processing of patient specimens. This will primarily include: preparing specimens, processing specimens, loading analysers, running and maintaining analysers and dealing with phone calls. Additional responsibilities within this role include blood transfusion traceability.

Participation in the 24/7 out of hours shift cover system is expected.

Main duties of the job

• To identify and load patient samples and begin analytical test procedure according to SOPs.
• To perform daily tasks recorded on checklists. Including daily, weekly and monthly maintenance on all analytical and non-analytical tasks within the laboratory.
• To maintain and check the daily stocks of reagents, kits and consumables required for the analytical equipment and load reagents on to analysers.
• To monitor all stock levels within the department on a weekly basis and advise BMS staff if supplies fall below minimum stock levels.
• To liaise with clinical staff over the phone

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer, creating a workplace where everyone can thrive regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or experience. We value different perspectives and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds to help us reflect the communities we serve and deliver the best possible care.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. As a Disability Confident employer, we offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria in the person specification.

Our Continuous Quality Improvement approach drives ongoing improvements to our services and helps us maintain high standards of patient care.

As an NHS employee, you may work with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage staff to keep up to date with COVID-19 and annual flu vaccinations to help protect patients, colleagues, and themselves, supporting our commitment to providing safe, high-quality care.