Associate Practitioner Haematology

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; United States; Remote; USD 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a 12-month fixed-term Associate Practitioner to join the Stem Cell Laboratory at Liverpool Clinical Laboratories. The role supports the NHSE commissioned CAR-T therapy service, including involvement in clinical trials and research projects within cellular therapy.

You will work in a GMP clean room, assist Biomedical Scientists, perform environmental monitoring and data collection on engraftment and cryopreservation, while maintaining

Qualifications

• 2 A Levels or BTEC in science subjects required.
• Experience in a clinical laboratory is essential.
• Knowledge of biomedical tests.
• Familiar with basic laboratory equipment.
• Health and safety awareness.

Responsibilities

• Assist with environmental monitoring of the GMP clean room.
• Operate highly complex automated analysers and perform QC.
• Conduct preventative maintenance and minor repairs under supervision of Biomedical Scientists.
• Undertake manual and semi-automated procedures.
• Gather data to monitor transplant engraftment.
• Maintain the liquid nitrogen facility and support stem cell harvests.
• Thaw stem cells for transplant within the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Skills

Biomedical tests

Lab equipment handling

Health and safety awareness

Numerate

Dexterous

Deadline driven

High standards

Education

2 A Levels/BTEC in science subjects

Tools

pH meter

Centrifuge

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a 12 month fixed term Associate Practitioner at Liverpool Clinical Laboratories to join the Stem Cell Laboratory. The Programme has implemented the NHSE commissioned CAR-T therapy service in the past two years. Working as part of the team you will contribute to the provision and further development of this high-quality service including the involvement in clinical trials and research projects within the rapidly expanding field of cellular therapy. The laboratory and designated aseptic suite are based in the CSSB facility at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and form an integral part of the regional Cellular Therapy Programme providing the stem cell transplant service to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Liverpool and Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

The post holder may, on occasions, be required to work outside of routine working hours to meet the demands of the service where necessary., The post holder will act as an Associate Practitioner within the Stem Cell Laboratory, providing essential support to state registered Biomedical Scientists. It is expected that the post holder will have previous experience working in a busy laboratory environment.

The role will include working effectively in a GMP grade clean room facility, and although previous experience of working in a cleanroom environment would be beneficial, full training will be given. They will be jointly responsible for the environmental monitoring of the cleanroom suite, assist with the operation of highly complex automated analysers including their quality control, preventative maintenance, minor repair, and undertake manual and semi- automated procedures under supervision from experienced Biomedical Scientists. The post holder will also perform general laboratory duties both with and without the direct supervision of BMS staff, including data gathering to monitor transplant engraftment and the routine maintenance of the liquid nitrogen facility. They will directly contribute to maintaining the requirements of the quality management system within the Laboratory. Following appropriate training, the post holder will collect stem cell harvests from the apheresis unit, and perform the thawing of stem cells for transplant within the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

The post holder will act as a Laboratory Support Technician within the Blood Sciences Group, providing essential support to state registered Biomedical Scientists, performing analytical procedures to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of patients. They will assist with the operation of highly complex automated analysers including their quality control, preventative maintenance, minor repair, and undertake manual and semi- automated procedures under supervision from experienced Biomedical Scientists. They will also perform general laboratory duties both with and without the direct supervision of BMS staff.

The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment. Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working. The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24. Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £25.70 (standard disclosure) or £46.70 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment. Bank posts require upfront payment. From April 2017, Skilled visa applicants and their adult dependant(s) will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in consecutively for 12 months or more in the past ten years. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa. This organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff must ensure they adhere to the organisations safeguarding children and adults' policy and comply with the Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Board procedures. Staff should be mindful of their responsibility to safeguard children and adults in any activity performed on behalf of the organisation in line with the requirements of statutory guidance and legislation. All employees (and volunteers)are expected maintain their safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action. As an organisation, we have adopted the Merseyside Domestic abuse workplace scheme which supports our staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse /any forms of sexual violence. If you have any personal requirements that will enable you to participate in our recruitment process please contact a member of the Recruitment Services by phone on 0151 706 4666 at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.

Our statement on modern slavery We have zero tolerance of slavery and human trafficking and are committed to maintaining and improving systems, processes and policies to avoid complicity in human rights violation and to prevent slavery and human trafficking in our supply chain. The Trust policies, procedures, governance and legal arrangements are robust, ensuring that proper checks and due diligence are applied in employment procedures to ensure compliance with this legislation. We also conform to the NHS employment check standards within our workforce recruitment and selection practices. This strategic approach incorporates analysis of the Trust's supply chains and its partners to assess risk exposure and management on modern slavery. Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.

Qualifications

• 2 A Levels/BTEC in science based subjects and demonstrable experience of working in a clinical laboratory
• Knowledge of biomedical tests
• Practical experience in a UK clinical laboratory
• Knowledge of medical terminologies
• Familiar with use of basic laboratory equipment eg. pH meter, centrifuge etc
• Health and safety awareness
• Understands the role of medical laboratories
• Be able to work to high standards
• meeting demanding deadlines
• Dexterous
• Numerate
• Diligent

Desirable criteria

• Use of keyboard
• IT Literate
• Hardworking
• Good communicator

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients. UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West. Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

Note: Under current Home Office Immigration Rules we are currently unable to offer right to work visa sponsorship for Band 2 and 3 roles with a salary of less than £25,000 pa as they do not meet the UK Visas & Immigration criteria.