Medical Laboratory Assistant

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust; Slough; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working patterns

Job summary

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a capable candidate for the Microbiology Specimen Reception at Wexham Park Hospital. You will handle the receipt, sorting and basic processing of samples, with strong attention to detail and excellent typing. A friendly, team-oriented approach is essential.

Visa sponsorship is not offered for this role; candidates must have right to work in the UK for the full contract duration. Training will be provided.

Qualifications

• Excellent typing skills and eye for detail are essential.
• Ability to work well in a team and communicate clearly.
• Interest in laboratory work with willingness to undertake training.

Responsibilities

• Receive, sort and prepare patient samples and bodily fluids.
• Handle clerical duties and input data into the Pathology computer system.
• Maintain professional communication with staff and visitors to the lab.
• Support efficient, accurate turnaround of pathology samples.

Skills

Typing skills

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Team player

Education

GCSEs incl Maths, English and two Sciences

Tools

Pathology computer system

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic individual with excellent interpersonal skills to become part of our team within the Wexham Park Hospital Microbiology Specimen Reception Department.

Excellent typing skills, an eye for detail and a positive approach are absolutely essential.

Please note: this role is not suitable for recent graduates looking for progression into the Biomedical Scientist role.

Main duties of the job

• You will need to be organised, yet flexible and a good team player, yet comfortable working on your own; in addition to a friendly and approachable personality.
• Your role will be varied with duties including the receipt, sorting and preparation of patient samples, bodily fluids and other general laboratory and clerical duties.

PURPOSE OF JOB:

• To work with other members of staff to provide an efficient and effective service to all users of the Pathology department.
• To ensure the rapid and timely turnaround of Pathology samples by receiving, labelling and entering onto the Pathology computer system.
• The Pathology Laboratory is situated in Wexham Park Hospital and part of Berkshire Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS) which is a successful and progressive merged pathology network which is a contractual joint venture between Ashford & St Peter's, Frimley Health, Royal Berkshire and Royal Surrey County Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts.
• It provides services to NHS Acute Trusts, CCGs, academic centers, and the private healthcare sector undertaking approximately 20 million tests per year serving a population of 2 million.
• We provide a service 7 days a week.

About us

Visa Sponsorship:This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the contract.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme.

We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

Frimley Health Trust benefits on Vimeo

Job responsibilities

• To maintain good communication with the Specimen Reception Team Leader in order to minimise errors and maximise efficiency through agreed priorities and to achieve the aim of completing all work within the working day.
• To maintain a close working relationship with senior laboratory staff.
• To assist in the electronic production and distribution of Pathology reports by post or fax.
• To deal with telephone enquires directed to Specimen Reception to give Pathology results for Microbiology, where appropriate and to re-direct calls to the various laboratories.
• Verbal contact with external laboratories on those tests not performed in-house.
• To inform relevant requesting Consultants, Doctors or nursing staff over the phone and face-to-face when incorrect sample or information is received.
• To provide information to all users on the appropriate specimen collection procedure, under the guidelines of the Pathology Handbook.
• To receive all visitors to the laboratory in a professional and courteous manner.

For a full list of responsibilities and tasks associated with this role, please refer to the job description/person specification attached to this vacancy.

Qualifications

• GCSE's (or equivalent) at grade A* to C to include Mathematics, English Language and two relevant Science subjects.
• Interest in working to higher level of qualification.
• Willing to undergo relevant training.

Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to develop knowledge and understanding of microbiology techniques sufficient to undertake specimen processing and reception.
• Able to understand and follow Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ability to follow laboratory H&S practice.
• Understands the need to work to deadlines and can do so.
• Ability to communicate clearly.
• Ability to write clearly.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Possess basic IT skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Understanding of need for service quality
• Understanding that work relates directly to patient care.
• Observant of detail, ability to make basic judgement decisions.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and organise daily work.
• Confidence within the parameters of the role.

Experience

• Experience of perform technically challenging procedures where applicable.
• Some experience of diagnostic microbiology.
• Experience of team working.
• Experience of working in a relevant routine laboratory.

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.