Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Specimen Reception

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK healthcare provider is seeking a Medical Laboratory Assistant to support various tasks in a laboratory. No degree is required as full training will be provided. The candidate should have experience in customer service, good attention to detail, and be flexible to work shifts. This role involves handling samples, liaising with external laboratories, and ensuring efficient workflow in a busy environment.

Qualifications

• Must be computer literate with good keyboard skills.
• Experience in healthcare provision or customer service required.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and non-routine tasks within Pathology.
• Check patient demographics and handle clinical samples.
• Organise and distribute Pathology paper reports.

Skills

Attention to detail

Computer literacy

Ability to multitask

Basic knowledge of biomedical procedures

Customer service experience

Education

GCSE's including English Language, Mathematics and a science subject

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Evidence of CPD

Job description

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Central Specimen Reception

We are seeking a reliable and detail-oriented Medical Laboratory Assistant to support our UKAS accredited department by carrying out a range of routine pre- and post-analytical tasks across various areas including the urgent bench, referrals, miscellaneous, Histology, and routine blood sciences.Full training will be provided, so no degree is required. The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in a customer service environment, be computer literate with good keyboard skills, and have strong attention to detail. Flexibility to work shifts in a 24/7 service is essential. This is an excellent opportunity to join a quality-driven team and contribute to vital healthcare services.

This position will not be supported for visa sponsorship. All applicants are expected to have valid right to work document to work in the UK when applying for this position.

Please note, this post may close earlier than the given closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will perform a range of routine and non-routine tasks within Pathology including, numbering up clinical samples, liaising with external laboratories to obtain outstanding referral results, entering patient results into the Laboratory system, advising patients and service users on appropriate tests, dealing with private patients invoicing and dealing with the sensitive disposal of foetal remains.

About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all of our staff are double vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and our patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Job responsibilities

Technical responsibilities:

Central Specimen Reception (CSR) includes pre and post analytical tasks and duties such as checking patient demographics, numbering up samples, operating centrifuges/analysers and prioritising workflow.

Handling and preparing miscellaneous, Immunology and referred samples and sending them onto the relevant departments/ external testing laboratories, storing and despatching samples as appropriate following UN3373 requirements.

Handling and preparing Histology specimens, checking patient/sample information ensuring that they meet requirements, entry to LIMS, packaging according to guidelines and departmental policy, and referring samples to the referral laboratory.

Dealing with problem samples including unsuitable samples and / or requests.

General tasks associated with the laboratories, Microbiology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Haematology and Blood Transfusion such as separating specimens, receiving supplies, monitoring of equipment, checking stock levels and informing senior members of staff when stocks are low, issuing sample containers to internal and external users and processing waste.

Work according to departmental standard operating procedures at all times.

Monitor stock levels within the department, ensuring acceptable levels, advising Central Specimen Reception (CSR) Supervisor if supplies fall below minimum levels and preparing Pathology stock orders for wards and departments within the hospital as well as GP surgeries.

Greet visitors and patients dealing with all general Pathology enquires where possible and re-directing queries to appropriate persons.

Obtaining outstanding results from external laboratories and reporting results onto the LIMS for authorisation.

Organise and distribute all Pathology paper reports and any other documentation required

Please see attached job description for further information

Person Specification

Education and Training

• GCSE's including English Language, Mathematics and a science subject
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent level plus theoretical or applied training to diploma equivalent level of experience
• Evidence of CPD
• IBMS support staff Certificate of Achievement Part I

Knowledge and Skills

• Computer literate and good keyboard skills
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to work accurately under pressure. e.g. work to tight deadlines
• Basic knowledge of biomedical procedures
• Processing biological specimens
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of CSR functions including send away testing services, Histology, clinical trials, referral reporting and private patients.
• Familiar with other IT database and laboratory IT systems.
• Initiative to identify non conformity in workplace and apply appropriate immediate actions

Experience

• Previous experience in healthcare provision or customer service.
• Achieving targets within a specified timeframe
• Practical knowledge of departmental equipment and methods within Pathology services and CSR.

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.