Job overview
This advert is for a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the Biochemical Sciences Department.
The successful candidate will be a key member of the team providing results used to screen, diagnosis and monitor a variety of diseases. They will provide a high quality, proactive and dynamic support service to Biomedical Scientists and Clinical Scientists. This includes a wide range of duties: receipt and sending of patient specimens as well as many other laboratory based tasks.
The post-holder will maintain confidential files relating to staff and patients and will also be expected to work in accordance with laboratory quality and health and safety policies. The successful candidate will work closely with Clinical Scientists, Biomedical Scientists and Laboratory Assistants and must be able to reliably and efficiently communicate with all grades of staff in Pathology and other departments within the Trust involved in the provision of the clinical service.
The post-holder will be expected to work as part of a team and work accurately under pressure. They will also be expected to manage and priorities their workload, act on their own initiative, work without supervision, and to suggest changes in their day-to-day working practice that could impact favourably on their productivity and contribution to the department.
Main duties of the job
Join Our Team as a Medical Laboratory Assistant – Purine Research Laboratory
Are you passionate about science and making a difference in patient care? The Biochemical Sciences Department is a UKAS-accredited and training-recognised laboratory, home to a dedicated team of 60 scientists and support staff. We operate across three specialist labs: Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Purines Research, and Newborn Screening for South East Thames.
We’re currently looking for a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join our Purine Research Laboratory. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a collaborative and innovative team.
As a Medical Laboratory Assistant the post holder is responsible for receiving and sorting patient specimens, logging patient data onto the laboratory computer system, tracking specimens between hospital sites, operating under supervision analytical equipment, preparing reagents and patient samples following prescribed protocols, giving validated laboratory results by telephone. The post holder will undertake scientific techniques such as pipetting and will use analytical equipment such as centrifuges, plate shakers and semi-automated platforms.
The post holder will be a key staff member in the laboratory team assisting the Biomedical Scientists with day to day management of patient samples and reagents as well as involvement in quality audits and other quality management based activities.
Working for our organisation
Our Department focuses on not only maintaining excellent standards, but also striving to improve our standards and ways of working, all with the patient in mind; this might include introducing a new piece of cutting edge equipment or streamlining a current process with an innovative IT procedure.
Your development and learning
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.
Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These may include,
but are not limited to:
·Handle and manage samples, in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and assessed competencies.
·Perform tasks and operate laboratory equipment within all safety standards and according to local SOPs relevant to your area.
·Prepare solutions, reagents etc, utilising a variety of laboratory equipment to carry out investigations.
·Ensure all laboratory consumables and equipment are maintained in line with SOPs and health and safety guidelines.
·Complete data entry that is accurate, reliable, delivered on time and in accordance with Information Governance (IG) procedures.
·Provide administrative support to all areas of the laboratory, as appropriate and dependent on experience and training.
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites,Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.
The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Women’s Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy’s site.
You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Good all-round education to A-Level standard
Desirable criteria
2. BSc in life Sciences
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Working as part of a team
4. Previous experience working in a laboratory environment
Desirable criteria
5. Previous experience of working in a clinical chemistry laboratory
6. Previous experience of working with quality management systems
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
7. Good communication and interpersonal skills
8. Good written and verbal communication skills
9. Ability to operate the use of precision instrument and equipment
10. Numerate and literate
11. Able to strictly follow laboratory procedure and prepared to work with biological materials
Desirable criteria
12. Awareness of H&S legislation
13. Awareness of the role of medical laboratories
Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.
Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.
For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.
All employees are entitled to:
14. Contributory pension scheme
15. Generous annual leave entitlement
16. Ground breaking development
opportunities
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.