Medical Laboratory Assistant

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Bury St Edmunds is seeking Medical Laboratory Assistants to prepare and process patient samples, maintain clinical records, and support new staff. Ideal candidates will have good communication and interpersonal skills, with a commitment to quality and safety in a laboratory setting. This role offers a salary of £24,937 to £26,598 per year, pro rata.

Qualifications

• Awareness of hospital laboratory work.
• Practical experience in Biomedical Science laboratory required.
• Previous relevant experience in the NHS preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform standard laboratory tests under supervision.
• Maintain clinical records and communicate test results.
• Clean and maintain laboratory equipment.

Skills

Good verbal and written communication skills

Demonstrable interpersonal skills

Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods

Manual dexterity

Education

GCSE Maths and English (A-C) or equivalent

Appropriate NVQ level 3/diploma

Tools

Pathology IT systems

Job description

Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) provide an essential role within all Pathology disciplines. This role involves the preparation and processing of patient samples. In addition, at WSFT we aim to embed quality within all Pathology teams and this will form a significant part of the MLA role.

Main duties of the job

Performs a range of routine and non-routine healthcare science activities under supervision, e.g. performs standard laboratory tests.

Maintains clinical records in relation to activities carried out.

Demonstrate own duties to new or less experienced employees.

To work flexibly in reflection of service needs this may include an extended working day and/or participation in delivery of a 24 hour, 7 days per week service.

The work of the service brings staff into constant contact with human body fluids, tissues and hazardous chemicals. This may include blood, pus, urine, faeces, and respiratory secretions.

Maintain and promote professional image of pathology department

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job responsibilities

Technical and scientific:

Under supervision, perform a range of manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations accurately and efficiently.

Responsible for sample receipt, numbering and data entry on to the computer system. Use own judgement to identify, action and report mislabelled or mislaid specimens, unsuitable sample or process failure.

Participate in the day to day management of stock control and usage.

Assist in the introduction of new techniques.

Clean and maintain equipment to achieve the optimum instrument performance and maintain a clean and safe working environment.

Report any equipment faults to a biomedical scientist.

Participate in processing samples for Research and Development, clinical trials and equipment testing.

Communication:

Communicates with colleagues and clinicians, e.g. provides test results by telephone as appropriate.

Undertake reception duties, including communication with patients.

Information resources:

Records test results/maintains integrity, accuracy of laboratory data, including data entered by self.

Be able to record test results on the computer and manual systems in accordance with agreed standard operating procedures.

To ensure patient confidentiality and conformance to Data Protection Act and Caldicott Guidelines.

Be able to use Laboratory Information system, email, internet and automated operating systems, and other software packages as required.

Follow policies and procedures ensuring that the quality management system is complied with.

Comment on proposals for change to appropriate policies and Standard Operating Procedures within own area.

Assist in audits and where appropriate, propose service improvements within own area.

Complete incident forms where appropriate.

Education, Training and Development:

Support less experienced and other staff where required and demonstrates own work.

Participates in appraisal process in line with current policies.

Responsible for personal education, training and competencies.

Leadership and line management responsibilities:

Expected to carry out own workload unsupervisedwith senior colleague/manager available if required.

Organises own work.

Organise and allocate work for less experienced staff when required.

Health and Safety:

Work in a safe manner, in accordance with Trust and laboratory safety policies, using protective equipment and other control measures required.

Work safely with corrosive, flammable and other hazardous chemicals and gases.

Use equipment in a safe and responsible manner.

Report accidents/incidents and near misses according to the laboratory/Trust protocol.

Your attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 which requires you to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by your acts and omissions at work; and co-operate with the Trust on any matters of health and safety.

Other responsibilities:

The post-holder will be expected to participate in the delivery of specific duties and/or specialised responsibilities in line with the banding of the post. Additional responsibilities will be assigned to the post holder depending on the needs of the service. These responsibilities will be agreed with the post holder, will be subject to regular review and may be amended at any time with the post holders agreement.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

• oGCSE Maths and English (A-C) or equivalent
• oAppropriate NVQ level 3/diploma

Experience & Knowledge

• oAwareness of the work performed in a hospital laboratory.
• oPractical experience of working in a Biomedical Science laboratory
• oKnowledge of Pathology IT systems
• oPrevious relevant experience of working in the NHS

Skills & Abilities

• oGood verbal and written communication skills.
• oDemonstrable interpersonal skills - can work as part of a team.
• oAbility to concentrate for prolonged periods of time.
• oManual dexterity appropriate to activities associated with post.

Personal Qualities

• oHigh level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• oStrives for excellence.
• oSelf-motivated.
• oAbility to be flexible and respond to the needs of the service.
• oAbility to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• oPuts the patient first in everything that is undertaken.
• oAwareness of self and impact on others.
• oAble to work with body fluids and hazardous materials.

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.

£24,937 to £26,598 a yearPer annum, pro rata