Main area Cellular Pathology Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Monday-Friday) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday-Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm) Job ref 388-7586977-PC&S
Employer Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Torbay Hospital Town Torquay Salary £24,937 - £26,598 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 12/01/2026 23:59
Medical Laboratory Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Job overview
An opportunity has arisen to join our friendly Cellular Pathology department at Torbay Hospital situated at the heart of the beautiful South Devon Coast. We are seeking to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced Medical Laboratory Assistant. While this post is originally a 12 month fixed-term contract, there may be the opportunity for an extension and/or the post becoming substantive.
The department handles around 21,000 diagnostic requests per year and performs a range of histological procedures. The department is critical to patient management by way of providing diagnosis for a range of different tissue samples. The department uses the Beaker LIMS system and the Roche Vantage Tracking system.
The successful candidate will need to be dedicated, dynamic, work well as part of a small, friendly team and show sound organisational skills. The primary role will be to provide technical and clerical assistance within the department.
The core hours of the department are 08:30 to 17:00 Monday to Friday.
Torbay Hospital is situated within the English Riviera, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is adjacent to some of the country’s best beaches and close to the Dartmoor National Park. To arrange an informal visit or discuss this post further, contact Matt Beasant (Pathology Operations Manager) by email: matthew.beasant@nhs.net, or by phone: 07353 899221.
Main duties of the job
* To support the scientific and technical work of qualified staff in the Cellular Pathology Department ensuring that all procedures are undertaken according to laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) work and the policies and procedures of the department.
* The post holder will work with other staff to carry out the receipt, numbering, data entry, processing and preparation of tissue specimens to aid the patient diagnosis and treatment. They will also work alongside Biomedical Scientists and Pathologists to accurately record dictation during the dissection process.
The Department of Cellular pathology has a total workload of 21,000 surgical requests annually. In addition, 100 frozen sections, 75 skin immunofluorescence and 11,000 immunocytochemistry tests are performed. Diagnostic Cytology receives 1,000 requests.
Looking after you is important to us.
We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.
If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.
You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.
Salary is not the only financial benefit
You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:
* National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
* Salary sacrifice options
* Car lease schemes.
* The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
* Cycle to work scheme
These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
General Laboratory duties:
* To prepare and sort specimen labels.
* To label specimens once stained and sort according to departmental SOPs.
* Removal of blocks from moulds, prioritising and sorting in to case order.
* Perform microtomy on a range of tissues.
* Prepare reagents according to departmental SOPs.
* Maintain equipment according to departmental SOPs.
* Inform senior staff of any deficiencies in stock or equipment.
* Perform slide and block filing.
* Retrieve and sort slides for Multi Discipline Team Meetings.
* Stain and coverslip slides according to departmental SOPs.
* Take digital photographs at dissection as required.
* Dispose of reagents according to departmental SOPs.
* Prepare staining machine for daily use.
* Clean glassware and plastics for reuse.
* Maintain and act upon error log entries.
* File specimens as appropriate
* Discard specimens as per SOPs
* File and retrieve slides for MDTs.
* Maintain laboratory environment in a clean and tidy state
* General office duties – providing cover as required, laminating, photocopying and filing.
* Inform senior staff of any consumable shortages or items running low.
* Enter data in to the pathology computer system
* Receive, check and number specimens
* Sort specimens according to SOPs for dissection and sample preparation.
* Inform senior staff of any discrepancies or samples that requires immediate attention.
* Prepare equipment for dissection.
* Record details from dissection (dictation) and record accurately.
* Prepare processing cassettes for each specimen according to departmental procedures.
* Enter details post dissection into pathology computer system.
* Ensure area is cleaned according to departmental SOPs.
* Monitor those specimens that require decalcification
* Organise safe disposal of samples on a weekly basis.
* Organise workload within the working day.
* Monitor those specimens in Carnoy’s solution.
Policy and service responsibility
* Participate in annual Individual Performance Review.
* Maintain own competencies as described by Department Record of Training and Ongoing Assessment.
* Work at all times in accordance with the principles of best practice, with reference to all relevant national and local policies and guidelines, especially for Health and Safety, COSHH, UKAS and Risk
Communication and Working Relationships
* Accountable to the Consultant Pathologist Head of Department and thence to the Clinical Director of Laboratory Medicine.
* Responsible to the Cellular Pathology Laboratory Manager through the Deputy Laboratory Manager.
* Good lines of communication should be encouraged between staff within the Pathology Department, colleagues employed in other Pathology laboratories and other members of Trust staff as appropriate.
* External communications between GP surgeries and other laboratories are also required.
* To liaise with courier companies by telephone or fax to arrange pick-ups and deliveries to reference laboratories.
* Contribute to a team of medical laboratory assistants and biomedical scientists in provision of an analytical service to Primary and Secondary Care.
Planning and Organisation
* Attendance / performance of mandatory training.
* Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of professional matters by attendance at meetings, conferences where possible.
* Participation in departmental audits as required.
* Staff are required to participate in joint annual review process.
* To always work in accordance with the principles of best practice, with reference to all relevant national and local policies and guidelines, especially for Health and Safety, COSHH and Risk assessments etc.
* To work individually, with Standard Operating Procedures, to produce results and utilise one’s own knowledge and experience. To seek advice from more qualified or experienced staff when own limits are reached.
Finance, equipment and other resources
* Carry out routine maintenance of pre-analytical equipment
Responsibility for supervision, leadership and management
* Assist in the training and monitoring of new or less experienced Medical Laboratory assistant staff
* Provide cover/deputise, within your own limits, for Senior staff in their absence and be prepared to work on your own when necessary.
Information technology and administrative duties
* To contribute to the updating of the Standard Operating Procedures and to suggest changes of practice that would enhance the efficient working of the Department.
Person specification
Qualifications and training
* GCSE and A Level qualifications
* Good numeracy and literacy
Knowledge and experience
* Knowledge of Histopathology techniques, including Health & Safety, legal and administrative requirements
* Good communication and interpersonal skills
* Previous experience in a medical background with knowledge of medical terminology
* Previous use of a LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System)
* Previous experience working in a Cellular Pathology laboratory
Specific skills
* Knowledge of basic laboratory skills
Requirements due to work environment/conditions
* Ability to stand by decisions made and admit errors
* Empathic/sympathetic approach
* Smart appearance
* Ability to work as a team member or an individual
* Ability to work under pressure and organise own workload
Physical skills
* Manual dexterity in use of microtomes and performance of specimen dissection
* Unavoidable exposure to potentially dangerous biological specimens (HIV, Hep B&C)
* Daily use of manual techniques involving the use of potentially hazardous chemicals and reagents
Physical effort
* Lifting or moving regularly required (handling of waste containment bins)
* Ability to handle stock of around 10kg per box of waste materials
Emotional effort
* Some sensitive tissues from miscarriages received
Mental effort
* Long periods of concentration when assisting with specimen dissection
You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.
If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a ‘Staff Carers’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
* We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
* Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
* Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role. Step into Health guidance can be found on our NHS Employers website.
* Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you check your email and Trac account regularly.
* Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band.
* If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
* It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.
The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity. No person (staff, patient or public) will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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