Routine Laboratory and Immunocytochemistry Assistant

NHS; Brighton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job description

Routine Laboratory and Immunocytochemistry Assistant

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

The Cellular Pathology laboratory at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton is looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated laboratory assistant to join our busy team.

The post holder will be responsible for specimen data entry, assisting the medical and scientific staff during specimen dissection and routine machine maintenance. They will also regularly rotate into the Immunocytochemistry and molecular department.

The successful applicant must be conscientious and enthusiastic and able to work well as part of a team and under pressure. Good hand-eye coordination, good keyboard skills and attention to detail are essential requirements.

Relevant experience would be an advantage but full training will be provided.

Candidates looking for a Trainee Biomedical Scientist position or a progressional career post need not apply.

Previous applicants need not apply.

This is a full-time position with working hours of Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for entering specimens onto the laboratory information system and for preparing samples for Cytology/Histology diagnosis. They will be required to assist at specimen dissection and perform routine machine maintenance in the cut-up and main lab areas.

The post holder will regularly rotate into the Immunocytochemistry department where they will be responsible for machine maintenance and reagent exchange, removal of waste reagents from the laboratory, data input of Immunocytochemistry requests and the sign-out of completed cases.

Whilst working in the Immunocytochemistry department, the post holder will be responsible for coordinating the molecular aspect of the service between the department and the Southeast Genomics Laboratory hub.

The post holder will also be required to perform the collation, send away and documentation of material to other hospitals and external organisations for second opinion, research, or external reporting.

This position will be based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, and the post-holder will be held accountable to the HR policies and procedures of UHSx.

Job responsibilities

• Follows standard operating procedures at all times.
• Participates in data entry for Cellular pathology samples.
• Participates in sample preparation.
• Understand the urgency of requests; prioritising work according to SOPs.
• Checks samples before processing for identification, status and suitability for diagnostic investigations, referring to a BMS when necessary.
• Prepare specimens, making decisions from a range of options on the type of process to be used e.g. fixation, wet preparations, referral to another area of Pathology if appropriate.
• Assist the Consultant Pathologist, Registrar or BMS at the specimen dissection bench, recording details and check specimen details.
• Undertake routine maintenance and troubleshooting on complex equipment to ensure correct functioning.
• Assist in the Immunocytochemistry department, responsible for machine maintenance and reagent exchange.
• Responsible for coordinating the molecular aspect of the service between the department and the Southeast Genomics Laboratory hub.
• Perform the collation, send away and documentation of material to other hospitals and external organisations.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE grade C or above in English and maths.
• NVQ3 or equivalent.

Experience

• Evidence within the application of the transferable skills they can bring to the role.
• Evidence of robust IT skills such as data inputting, Word, Excel.
• Previous pathology laboratory experience.
• Previous experience of working in an NHS environment.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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.

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)