Job overview
Exciting Opportunity: Associate Practitioner – Point of Care Testing (6-month fixed term)
Are you someone who enjoys working with people and thrives in a role that offers variety and impact? Join our Point of Care Testing (POCT) Team as an Associate Practitioner, supporting both hospital-based and community healthcare settings.
In this role, you’ll play a key part in delivering high-quality diagnostic services. You will work with the POCT Team to assist with governance of the Trust point of care service at Kings College Hospital. This will involve writing documents such as SOPs and user guides as well as performing audits of equipment and service users. You will work within the POCT team to deliver training to Trust staff on the correct use of POCT instruments and interfaces. You’ll also carry out a range of protocol-driven tasks—some of which may be specialist or complex procedures. You will be familiar with interpretation of internal quality control (IQC) and external quality (EQA) assurance data and will assist service users in trouble shooting to improve performance.
You’ll work largely independently, collaborating with other healthcare professionals to support routine Secondary Care procedures in both Primary and Secondary Care environments.
Your primary base will be Denamrk Hill, Kings college Hospital, but you will be expected to work across all the KCH associated sites
Main duties of the job
Synnovis
Synnovis is a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose and is part of SYNLAB Group, Europe’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic services. Working in partnership with Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals, King’s College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital and local CCG networks, we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.
This role is based in Synnovis Analytics which is responsible for the provision of Pathology testing services to Synnovis’ patients and customers.
Job Summary
The Associate Practitioner will work within the Point of Care Testing (POCT) Team in both the hospital setting and out in the Community.
The post holder will assist the POCT co-ordinator in auditing both POCT equipment and users of the service. They will have responsibility for training Trust staff in the correct use of POCT instruments and the use of interfaces. In addition, they may perform a range of protocol driven tasks, some of which may be specialist or complex procedures. These tasks would historically have been performed by regulated practitioners (for example Biomedical Scientist) but due to technological advances and a narrower, more focused area of responsibility, can be performed by an unregistered associate under the supervision of a registered professional. The post holder will mainly be working with other healthcare professionals to support routine Secondary Care procedures in a Primary or Secondary Care setting.
As an Associate Practitioner in Point of Care, you will be expected to work primarily at Kings College Hospital’s Denamrk Hill site but will require working at across all associated KCH sites.
Key Relationships
Other healthcare professionals and point of care testing staff. Appropriate Line Managers and Clinical Scientists within Blood Sciences Department.
Working for our organisation
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
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Technical
1. To undertake routine operative and preventative maintenance on point of care testing instruments
2. Undertake first line calibration of analysers in POCT
3. Undertake basic troubleshooting of expensive analytical instruments and automated analysers in POCT.
4. Ensure quality control measures are carried out to monitor analytical performance, take corrective action where applicable and report any failures to a senior member of staff in POCT
5. Set up equipment for safe use by others.
6. Perform automated, semi-automated and manual processing of EQA specimens on a variety of analysers and/or POCT equipment.
7. Analyse and make judgments on straightforward scientific/technical issues, which may involve analysing a range of options
8. File samples following appropriate protocols and keep records as required
9. Attend and support clinics and satellite laboratories to support installation of equipment and instruct users in its correct use, as and when required in POCT
10. Support the POCT co-ordinator in any validation and verification of analysers.
2.1. Administrative
11. To follow the standard operating procedures and to participate in their regular review and update.
12. Assist in ensuring point of care testing record keeping is accurate and in compliance with good working practices as required for UKAS Accreditation.
13. To answer telephone and other enquires from health professionals and to act as the first line point of contact for problem related analysis in POCT
14. Ensure adequate stock management of reagents, consumables and stationery
15. Liaise with GP surgeries, hospital clinics and other departments as appropriate
16. Assist in buying process by logging, copying and filing delivery documents
17. To undertake work file management to ensure that all results are reported within the agreed turnaround time.
18. Assist in EQA schemes by distributing samples and collecting data. Collate and distribute results
3.2. Communication
19. Communicate effectively with staff, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication and specific clinical situations.
20. Communicate effectively with other team members
Acting as first reference point for dealing with complaints and queries
21. Communicating with Trust staff to ensure all training and POCT equipment enquiries are dealt with efficiently.
4.3. Supervisory
22. Implement new policies within the scope of Synnovis, Trust and community-based areas and propose changes to such policies as necessary
23. Be responsible for POCT training to KCH staff within the hospital and community setting, including undertaking workplace assessments
24. Provide training of POCT procedures to other healthcare professionals as directed by the Band 7 POCT Supervisor
25. Participate in audits of KCH hospitals and community-based process and procedures in POCT
26. Build and maintain working relations with all members of staff, and promote effective teamwork
5.4. Generic
Compliance with local and national policies for the safe secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information within the compliance of SOPs and the Synnovis quality management system.
Post holder to be able to organise own day to day duties with ability to identify/prioritise urgent tasks
Be proactive in escalating any possible issues that may impact on service delivery to senior colleagues back within Synnovis and KCH.
Work with community healthcare providers to give a high quality of care
To adhere to equality and fairness in working relations.
Provide practical training in procedures within own area for new staff.
To maintain and promote the professional image of Synnovis Pathology
Undertake a period of training and assessment of competence
Maintain knowledge and skills as identified by the appraisal cycle
To participate in an annual appraisal cycle.
Observe and adhere to local and national health and safety policies
Undertake required statutory and mandatory training as directed by line manager
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.
King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. King’s has various divisions including Neurosciences, Haematology, Cancer and Cardiovascular sciences, where there are unlimited opportunities to develop and perfect your career.
Over the last 170 years, King’s has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.
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, dependant on your availability and location.
For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.
All employees are entitled to:
All employees are entitled to:
27. Contributory pension scheme
28. Generous annual leave entitlement
29. Ground breaking personal development opportunities
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
30. Good all-round education to GCSE standard including English and Maths at grade 4/C or equivalent or L2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship
Desirable criteria
31. A Level / BTEC in Science or L3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship or L4 Healthcare Science Apprenticeship or equivalence experience
Experience
Essential criteria
32. Experience of working in a customer service based environment
33. Experience of technical trouble-shooting procedures
34. Experience of technical trouble-shooting procedures
Desirable criteria
35. Experience of working in a diagnostic speciality
36. Experience of supervising staff
37. Experience of Point of Care Testing
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
38. Accuracy and attention to detail
39. Accuracy and attention to detail
40. Numerate and able to undertake scientific calculations
41. Knowledge of relevant legislation policies and procedures
42. Understanding of the stock control and procurement processes
43. Knowledge of Health and Safety policies for hospital/health environments
44. Confident self-starter who is capable of working on their own initiative and un-supervised
45. Intermediate use of Microsoft Word and Excel
46. Good interpersonal and team working skills
47. Able to use own initiative and work independently
48. Good computer skills including the use of keyboard and mouse
Desirable criteria
49. Experience or interest in IT systems & networks
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:
50. Contributory pension scheme
51. Generous annual leave entitlement
52. 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.