Job overview
This is an opportunity to work within Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team as a Band 4 Associate Practitioner. The POCT service provides essential support across hospital sites and community locations within Buckinghamshire, delivering a high-quality and responsive service. This includes supporting POCT devices and providing training to service users. Devices include blood gas, glucose, ketone, urinalysis, CRP and pregnancy testing.
This role is suited to an individual who works effectively with clinical teams and has strong communication and interpersonal skills. Previous experience in POCT or pathology services is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate good organisational skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and remain effective under pressure. A commitment to maintaining professional standards and engagement in continuous professional development is essential.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will work as a member of the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team across all Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust sites, including Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Wycombe Hospital, Amersham Hospital, and associated community locations. The role is full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Main duties include:
1. Proficiency in the use of POCT devices used within the Trust, including blood gas analysers, glucose monitoring systems, pregnancy testing, and other relevant platforms
2. Supporting the POCT team in delivering a professional, high-quality service across clinical areas
3. Contributing to the efficient and effective operation of the POCT service
4. Monitoring user compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and escalating non-compliance to the POCT Lead BMS as appropriate
5. Troubleshooting routine device issues and escalating more complex faults to the POCT Lead BMS, or service engineers as required
6. Delivering training to clinical, nursing, and laboratory staff in the use of POCT equipment, ensuring adherence to Trust policies and procedures
7. Supporting the investigation of incidents and errors to promote service improvement where required
Please refer to the job description for the full list of duties
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Person specification
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria
8. Good general education standard
9. GCSE Maths, English and at least one science subject or equivalent
Skills, Abilities & Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. An understanding of Quality Control and Assurance.
11. Able to work as part of a team
12. Excellent verbal communication skills able to communicate technical matters with users at all levels of understanding
13. Excellent presentation skills
14. Ability to think logically and demonstrate good acumen to solve problems
15. Ability to carry out repairs and maintenance with specialist tools with the necessary dexterity and care
16. Concentration and attention to detail.
17. Good knowledge of Basic Microsoft packages.
18. Able to follow written methodologies or protocols
Desirable criteria
19. Ability to work under own initiative, prioritise work, and to achieve agreed schedules
Special Circumstances
Essential criteria
20. Ability to travel to locations throughout Buckinghamshire
Desirable criteria
21. Work internal rotation
22. Flexible working as required
Experience
Essential criteria
23. Work experience of working in a Biomedical laboratory
24. Work experience with POCT devices
25. Working knowledge of Biomedical techniques and practises
26. Evidence of continuing professional development.
27. Further technical training relevant to the role
28. Working as a member of a team
29. Experience with responding to frequent queries from service users by telephone, email and in person.
30. Able to handle working with body fluid samples
31. Experience of taking responsibility for own standards of work
32. Experience of using general office software packages
PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.
COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.
Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.
Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.
Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.
Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.
Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.
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