Job overview
The place to work in pathology
We are looking for top talent to join the UK’s leading and fastest and growing pathology company – a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose.
Working in partnership with our service partners, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals, Princess Royal University Hospita (PRUH) and local CCG networks, we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology
Please note this is a shift system. Working through the night and at weekends is an integral part of these posts.
We are looking for Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) to join our team in this interesting and busy Blood transfusion laboratory.
Based in London, the post holder will operate in the busy Synnovis Laboratories at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. (Denmark Hill and PRUH) The Blood transfusion laboratory, one of busiest in the UK, performs blood group analysis and provides blood and blood products to support the varied services provided at King’s which includes the Foetal Medicine Unit, Liver Transplant Unit, a large obstetric department, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and a designated Major Trauma Centre. As a Blood Establishment we are regularly inspected by MHRA; UKAS accredited and IBMS approved for pre-registration and specialist training in Haematology with Hospital Transfusion Practice.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will under the management of Biomedical Scientists, participate in the provision of a high quality professional clinical technical out of hour’s service in the Blood Transfusion Laboratory.
Their role will be to assist Blood Transfusion Laboratory Biomedical Scientists in the provision of a comprehensive and appropriate clinical technical diagnostic service to users through the performance of a range of work procedures including, preparation, and maintenance, operation and quality assurance of Blood Transfusion Laboratory analysers.
The post holder must be an enthusiastic, flexible person who will be a very important part of our team. The post primarily involves working in a team of MLA’s and Associate Practitioners assisting the Biomedical Scientists to fulfill their daily workload. There will also be involvement in working with blood samples from patients and blood donor units. The successful applicant will be responsible for data collection, input and analysis, and will provide support to the Biomedical Scientist staff by assisting with automated blood sample analysis, data processing and blood stock management. It is an interesting, varied and responsible job working in an enjoyable environment.
The department is equipped with 2 Biorad IH-1000 and one IH-500. The Haemonectics BloodTrack system is utilised across the Kings site. LIMS is provided by WinPath, Clinisys system.
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
Organisational
1. Understand the management structure of the department and own role within the structure
2. Attendance at local and corporate induction sessions and Trust mandatory recall training
3. Aware of Synnovis policies and Departmental policies including sickness absence reporting, requesting annual leave and health and safety
Communication
1. Communicate any event which may cause a service delivery failure or other issues/problems that may affect the department to the Head Biomedical Scientist in the laboratory
2. Provide and receive information to and from work colleagues or users of the service, including direction of enquiries to the appropriate member of staff
3. Prioritise and plan own workload within a given time period and communicate own work priorities within the team. Demonstrate flexibility in carrying out own work priorities within the team context
4. Service issues reported to the appropriate Lead Biomedical Scientist for the laboratory
5. Deal with telephone enquiries from other pathology departments and users of the Pathology service.
6. To treat everyone associated with Synnovis with courtesy and respect
Technical
1. Participate in the provision of a comprehensive and appropriate diagnostic service to users through the collection, reception, booking in and preparation of samples for analysis, under the supervision of a Biomedical Scientist
2. Ensure fridge/freezer temperatures are monitored.
3. Prepare all reagents in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
4. Effective stock management. Completing Vanessa Blood Stock management data. Dealing with all deliveries both NHSBT and non-NHSBT.
5. Prepare and pack samples dispatched to other laboratories, stocking up satellite blood fridges.
6. Prepare and pack samples dispatched to other laboratories
7. Perform all work in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Health and Safety Regulations
8. Perform role as part of the team recognising others skills and priorities
9. Perform under the guidance of qualified Biomedical Scientists automated processing of samples as well as analyser maintenance.
10. Complete other appropriate duties as directed by the Lead Biomedical Scientist
Scientific
1. Develop an understanding of the scientific basis of laboratory work
Clinical
1. Understand the necessity for the accurate communication of complex information
2. Observe departmental Quality Control procedures and be involved in processing IQC material.
3. Participate in audit to highlight deficiencies in pre-examination, examination and post-examination process as required by Head Biomedical Scientist
Laboratory Informatics
1. Comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information
2. Be familiar with the Laboratory Information System (LIMS)
3. Records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency(MHRA) and Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) / UKAS ISO 15189.
4. Maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases
5. Effectively performing EU and Traceability duties-collection of tags, sending out pro-forma and Adverse incidence
Staff Management
1. Cooperate with trainers when learning new tasks and contribute to the basic training of others
2. Maintain good work relations with all members of staff, and promote effective teamwork recognising others skills and priorities.
Resource Management
1. Use departmental resources efficiently and advise Senior/Lead Biomedical Scientist when stocks of reagents and consumables are approaching minimum stock levels
2. Ensure all stock items including blood products are checked and topped up on a daily basis.
Risk Management
1. Work within the Department of Haematological Medicine Health and Safety Policy and Code of Practice and maintain Health and Safety Standards in the laboratory ensuring less experienced staff also conform to the regulations
2. Maintain laboratory equipment in a safe clean working condition
3. Maintain the laboratory and workbenches clean and tidy
4. Maintain awareness of hazards inherent in the laboratories and use adequate precautions at all times
5. Safely handle, use or dispose of blood, other body tissue, hazardous and or radioactive chemicals
6. Identify problems affecting own area of work and respond in an appropriate time and manner problems referred to line manager where appropriate
7. Report to the Health and Safety Officer deficiencies in the laboratory and/or any incident which involves injury or potential injury to hospital staff and visitors or which could affect patient welfare in any way
8. Maintain awareness of the local fire rules in the case of fire or suspected fire and report potential problems to the local Fire Marshall
9. To report any Adverse Incident on the Trust’s DATIX system
10. Attend Trust training for Health and Safety and Manual Handling or complete the online module
General
1. To comply with the policies and procedures of King’s College Hospital NHS Trust and Synnovis
2. To keep the workplace and workbenches clean and tidy
3. To maintain good work relations with all members of staff, and to promote effective teamwork
4. To treat everyone associated with King’s College Hospital NHS Trust and Synnovis with courtesy and respect
5. To observe national and local guidance on patient and commercial confidentiality
6. Keep appropriate records of all communications
7. To comply with the training and competence policy and procedure
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 Southeast 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.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Good all round education to GCSE standard
Desirable criteria
2. Biomedical Science BSc
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Previous hospital or laboratory experience
4. Previous computer experience of Microsoft Office
Desirable criteria
5. Previous customer facing role
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
6. Good communication skills
7. Ability to work without close supervision
8. Ability to work to deadlines
9. Ability to play close attention to detail
10. Ability to follow written procedures
11. Excellent time keeping
Desirable criteria
12. Aware of the role 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:
13. Contributory pension scheme
14. Generous annual leave entitlement
15. 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.