Job overview
An opportunity has arisen for a Medical Laboratory Assistant to join the Toxicology Laboratory based at the Hub in Blackfriars. This role offers the chance to develop your skills within a highly specialised service supporting therapeutic drug monitoring and testing for drugs of abuse.
The successful candidate will be an integral member of the team, providing a high-quality support service to Biomedical Scientists and Clinical Scientists. Duties will include sample receipting, sorting and processing of specimens, form scanning, filing, and other routine laboratory tasks essential to the smooth running of the department. The post-holder will also be responsible for maintaining confidential patient records and always adhering to laboratory quality standards and health and safety policies.
This role provides excellent exposure to a complex and fast-paced clinical environment, making it well suited to individuals seeking either a lateral move to broaden their experience or a developmental step to enhance their skills within Pathology services. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team and will be expected to communicate effectively with staff across all levels within the Trust.
The post-holder must be able to work accurately under pressure, manage and prioritise their workload, and demonstrate the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. There will also be opportunities to contribute to service improvement by identifying and suggesting changes to working practices that enhance efficiency and productivity.
In return, this post offers valuable experience within a specialist area of laboratory medicine, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to contribute directly to a service that supports patient care.
Main duties of the job
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, stock management, respond to customer service queries giving validated laboratory results or providing an update on the progress of a sample 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 and semi-automated platforms.
The post holder will primarily work on the Reception bench at the Hub for Toxicology however there maybe a requirement to work closely with other MLAs in the other sections of Reference Services departments.
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
Your development and learning:
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The ACCE competencies 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.
Who are we:
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.
Purpose of the Job:
This role supports the delivery of biomedical investigations as part of the laboratory and/or Central Specimen Reception team in Synnovis. Reporting to the Senior Specialist BMS or designated role in Central Specimen Reception, you will hold a variety of responsibilities to
ensure the successful delivery of pathology services, in line with our corporate objectives.
What you will do:
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.
Key responsibilities
• Perform cleaning activities in the laboratory and prepare laboratory equipment for use.
• Perform daily checks on laboratory areas as directed and complete all required paperwork
• Perform environmental monitoring and waste management activities in a safe way, as required.
• Support and train colleagues in your area as required.
• Support with specimen reception and referrals processing, as required.
• Use departmental resources efficiently and apply good stock management of reagents, consumables and stationery. Receipt and unpack new deliveries and advise/order when approaching minimum stock levels.
• Report and record all incidents and adverse events under the direction of the senior members of staff.
• Participate in quality management activities including inspections and audits, as required.
• Use Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to accurately record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent, long periods of concentration, whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and following IG guidelines.
• Organise day-to-day tasks, identifying and prioritising urgent work to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work is delivered to the highest standards possible.
• Escalate to senior member of staff, as necessary.
• Safely handle, use and dispose of biological specimens including infectious material or hazardous chemicals according to laboratory and health and safety protocols.
• Understand hazards and risks of working in a laboratory and use adequate precautions and personal protective equipment at all times.
• Answer the telephone, deal with calls politely and professionally, escalating requests when necessary to appropriate senior staff or other departments.
• Adhere to the laboratory SOPs and work with the team to review working practice to maintain a high quality and safe service.
• Perform specimen reception duties including checking details, receiving and logging patient requests on to the LIMS.
• Process referral specimens, receive samples dispatched from other laboratories and prepare samples for despatch to other laboratories or hospitals.
• Prepare specimens and perform manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations within training parameters and where appropriate under supervision.
• Undertake preventative maintenance and basic troubleshooting on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations.
• Process samples under supervision for clinical trials and research and development
• projects as and when required.
• File samples following appropriate protocols and keep records as required.
• Prepare, store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations.
• Maintain knowledge and skills as identified by line manager. Undertake periodic laboratory training and competence assessment.
The Hub
The hub is an eight-storey building, and we are working across 10 floors including the ground and lower ground floors. Synnovis’ corporate function operates from the hub on the 8th floor, above the laboratories underneath. This is a total net internal area of almost 10,000m squared across the 10 floors.
Based in Blackfriars, it’s less than a 5-minute walk from Southwark Tube or Blackfriars station and nestled closely to a vast array of entertainment and fabulous places to dine, relax and meet people.
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.
For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.
All employees are entitled to:
• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Ground breaking personal development opportunities
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
1. Good all round education to GCSE standard including English and Maths at grade 4/C or equivalent or L2 Healthcare Science apprenticeship
Desirable criteria
2. A Level / BTEC in Science (or equivalent or higher)
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Working as part of a team
4. Experience of working with computer applications such as Microsoft Office / Google docs, data entry
5. Experience of working accurately with an attention to detail
Desirable criteria
6. Experience of working in a pathology laboratory environment
7. Handling of biological specimens
8. Customer service
Skill, Knowledge and Ability
Essential criteria
9. Good written and verbal communication skills
10. Numerate and literate
11. Organised and methodical
12. Ability to operate the use of precision instrument and equipment
13. Able to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
14. Ability to lift, move and manipulate stock specimens etc
15. Willingness and ability to learn complex operating procedures and follow guidelines
Desirable criteria
16. Awareness of the role of medical laboratories
17. Awareness of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
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:
18. Contributory pension scheme
19. Generous annual leave entitlement
20. 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.