Main area Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) - Automated Chemistry Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (9-1730 and to participate in rotational late shifts 1-9pm and 11-7pm, possibility of weekend shifts) Job ref 216-AH-C7237818
Employer University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site DCL Combined Lab, Derriford Hospital Town Plymouth Salary £24,169 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 15/07/2025 23:59
Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) - Automated Chemistry
NHS AfC: Band 2
Job overview
The post holder will work together with senior staff and support staff in all sections of the laboratory to produce a timely, high quality, accurate and cost effective services.
The post holder will support the timely processing of patient samples serving all those patients attending PHNT, PCTs representing 100 General Practices and specialist assays referred to us from other Trusts within the Peninsula.
Going forward as UHP Pathology department works to deliver its vision then there will be an expectation of interdepartmental working across various Pathology departments.
If you are shortlisted for interview, a laboratory tour is recommended. Please contact h.meager@nhs.net to organise.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
* To assist with the operation of the Automated Track and HbA1c analysers in the Biochemistry section. Including maintenance, troubleshooting and patient sample analysis.
* To partake in Automated Chemistry stock checks and reagent management.
* To replenish consumables in the Automated Chemistry Section
* To follow Standard Operating Procedures relating to each section/area.
* To be available for the 24/7 rota and EWD/Weekend rota in Reception/Automation.
* To prepare biological material collected from patients, including blood samples for analysis and analyse these following a Standard Operating Procedures.
* To assist Reception as and when required with the receipt of samples, sample preparation, requestdata entry and to make and receive telephone calls from other healthcare staff.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To carry out all morning maintenance on analysers/track.
- Process samples according to the most recent SOP in each section.
- Ensure all areas are tidy and clean.
- Keep all documents associated with each section up to date (Checklists and Q-Pulse).
- Working together with colleagues, ensure the reception area delivers a timely processing of samples and test requests by assisting when necessary.
- To perform Work File Enquiries in each section and collecting any outstanding samples for analysis.
- Ensure senior staff, are made aware when stock levels are low.
- To use office equipment including computers, printers, fax machines and photocopiers.
- To use the laboratory IT system to input results of tests and to deal with enquiries for results, and to use the Trust PIMS system in order to look up patient details.
- To operate complex laboratory analysers in order to carry out investigations
- Will assist senior staff in the training of new staff.
- Assist in the receipt, processing and storage of all samples derived from clinical trials including those for which the department derives income.
- Remove samples and request forms from their plastic bags whilst checking the data on the sample matches that on the request form.
- To bring to the attention of senior staff all rejected samples due to inadequate patient ID or incorrect sample type for the test requested, or to contact the necessary persons, in accordance with the SOP for the area, to resolve any non-compliance with policy.
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
* Proven understanding of need for patient confidentiality
* Proven knowledge of Health & Safety issues
* Use of IT equipment including a keyboard
* Proven knowledge of tests performed and sent away by the department
* Proven knowledge of all relevant Health & Safety legislation and its application to the Section
* Proven technical skills in a Pathology laboratory
Qualifications
* GCSE’s grades A-C/4-9 or above in Science, Maths & English or equivalent level of qualification/ equivalent demonstrable experience
* Good basic numeracy and literacy skills
* Appropriate NVQ –in either Business and Admin or laboratory based.
Apitude and Abilities
* Excellent communication skills, being able to deal with staff at all levels of the organisation and patients with tact and diplomacy
* Ability to effectively organise and prioritise own work
* Good interpersonal skills
* Working proven knowledge of PIMS
* Working proven knowledge of relevant laboratory information management systems
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included .
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.
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