Main area Pathology Grade NHS AfC: Band 2 Contract 6 months (End date of Fixed Term - 30/09/2026) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 216-PL-DB7773217
Employer University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site University Hospital Plymouth Town PLYMOUTH Salary £24,465 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 24/03/2026 23:59
Assistant Technical Officer Band 2 - Haematology FTC
NHS AfC: Band 2
Overview
The receipt of samples, sample preparation, request data entry, presentation for analysis and dispatch to tertiary centres as appropriate.
To make and receive routine telephone calls to/from GP’s, medical, nursing and other healthcare staff.
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.
To prepare biological material collected from patients, including blood samples for analysis and analyse these following a Standard Operating Procedure.
Main duties of the job
* 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 service.
* 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.
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 manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. 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
1.Working with colleagues ensure the reception area delivers a timely processing of samples and test requests.
2.Following Standard Operating Procedures ensure that all send-away samples are packaged and despatched in compliance with special postal regulations.
3.Ensure senior staff, are made aware when stock levels are low.
4.Competent in the use of office equipment including computers, printers, fax machines and photocopiers.
5.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.
6.To operate complex laboratory analysers in order to carry out investigations
7.Will assist senior staff in the training of new staff.
8.Assist in the receipt, processing and storage of all samples derived from clinical trials including those for which the department derives income.
9.Remove samples and request forms from their plastic bags whilst checking the data on the sample matches that on the request form.
10.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.
11.To undertake work for which they have been trained, which may take up to 2 months shadowing a trained member of staff.
12.To have sufficient knowledge and competence to rotate through all sections of the laboratory as required.
13.Following SOPs record and inform requestors of rejected samples.
14.Prepare samples for analysis using techniques applicable to the areas of work – this may include attaching bar code labels, centrifugation, separation and prepare aliquots as required: Inoculate specimens on to prepared culture media or in to suitable test kits in accordance with SOPs using both manual and automated technology.
15.Book test requests into the laboratory computer system
16.To assist in the safe disposal of used specimens and waste products and the daily cleaning of laboratory work surfaces.
17.Assist in performing print runs of reports and their sorting for distribution as necessary. Assist in the maintenance of both hard copy and computer held reports.
18.To extract slides, reports and all necessary items for the multiple clinical and non-clinical meetings.
19.To participate it the collection, receipt and safe storage of reagents and other supplies.
20.To maintain an adequate supply of clean glassware, make up solutions and collect chemicals from the various stores as required.
21.Participate in the maintenance of the safe storage of diagnostic material.
22.To assist in the maintenance and compilation of workload statistics.
23.To assist with the issuing of consumables to service users as requested e.g. Slides for bone marrow collection.
24.Respond to telephone enquiries within the area of work from staff in both primary and secondary care, giving test results (subject to departmental telephone SOPs), advice on sample types required for a large range of tests, requests for add-on-tests and those for emergency requests.
25.Assist in the general running of specific analysers, equipment or tests.
26.Perform basic maintenance checks as directed.
27.To observe all departmental, Trust, national and European Health & Safety regulations relevant to the service, ensuring attendance at the annual departmental H&S update. In addition all staff must sign the departmental H&S policy to acknowledge understanding and compliance.
28.To continually update your knowledge and skills whilst documenting this in your Continual Professional Development folder.
29.To ensure contemporaneous completion of your induction and training records.
30.To follow Standard Operating Procedures at all times.
31.To attend meetings and training courses as necessary.
32.To attend Statutory and Essential Update Training annually.
33.To attend departmental briefings and/or acquaint yourself with the team brief posted on the departmental notice boards.
34.To assist in the maintenance and compilation of workload statistics.
35.To participate in an annual IPR and achieve any targets set at this time.
36.Participate in the 24/7 rotas for ATO and support staff
37.Whilst participating in this rota identify, prepare, and store patient samples in the relevant locations.
38.Ensure that samples received match work lists, the patient ID is correct before testing and there is sufficient sample to perform the assay.
39.To carry out other duties commensurate with the post.
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
* 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 to Grade C/Grade 4, or above in Maths & English or equivalent qualification, with demonstratable experience.
* • Appropriate NVQ –in laboratory based qualification
Aptitude and Abilities
* Excellent communication skills, being able to deal with staff and patients
* Ability to effectively organise and prioritise own work
* Maintain accuracy and precision, whilst working in a busy environment
* Clear Handwriting
* Manual dexterity, including fine manipulation for protracted periods of the day
* Good Telephone Manner
* Good interpersonal skills
* Proven working proven knowledge of PIMS
* Proven working knowledge of ISOFT iLab & iCM 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.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Name Syeda Miah Job title Associate Practitioner Email address syeda.miah1@nhs.net Telephone number 01752 433245 Additional information
Syeda Miah, telephone 01752 433245, email syeda.miah1@nhs.net
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