Job overview
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM STAFF CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY SWANSEA BAY UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an individual to join the Point of Care Testing Team within the Laboratory Medicine Service of Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB). SBUHB Laboratory Medicine Service formed in 2012 from the merger of Laboratory Haematology and Clinical Biochemistry and operates as a Swansea Bay region hub and spoke network. The service currently covers the areas and populations served by four main hospital sites i.e. Morriston Hospital, Singleton Hospital, Neath Port Talbot Hospital and the Princess of Wales Hospital. Service provision for the latter is subject to current discussions relating to a Health Board boundary change.
POCT is firmly embedded within SBUHB and includes testing to monitor: blood gas, glucose, ketones, D-Dimer, INR, pregnancy testing, urinalysis, haemoglobin, FBC and A1c. The post holder will be offered the opportunity to effectively train and support users on all pieces of equipment used within the HB and will be expected to contribute to the continuous improvement and development of the POCT service.
The Laboratory Medicine Service is progressive and well equipped and is ISO 15189 accredited. The next steps for the service would be to move towards attaining accreditation of the service to ISO 15189:2022 and as a member of the POCT Team you will be actively involved in this process.
Main duties of the job
The Point of Care Testing (POCT) Associate Practitioner will provide support for all Health Board staff and areas that undertake point of care testing. This support involves training users, monitoring performance of external quality assurance and internal quality control and troubleshooting device and user problems. The POCT Associate Practitioner is an integral part of the team that is responsible for the implementation, compliance and maintenance of the HB’s POCT Policy, that ensures standards are monitored and regulatory and accreditation requirements are met, so that patient safety is assured.
The POCT Associate Practitioner will assist the POCT Team in the provision of high quality results produced at the point of clinical care. You will assist with the management of all POCT devices across SBUHB, including associated training and competency assessments to ensure they are operated in compliance with associated policies. The department is soon to be based at Neath Port Talbot Hospital although covers four main hospital sites, a number of smaller hospital and some community locations, so the ability to work and travel across-sites is an essential element of the role.
Working for our organisation
We believe staff are our best asset and we want you to be happy and confident about starting your career here in Swansea Bay University Health Board.
As one of the biggest healthcare groups in the UK we can offer a wealth of professional training and development opportunities in an innovative, forward-thinking organisation.
You might be a nurse or doctor, maybe you specialise in a health science/therapy or can offer skills in one of our support services - we have a job for you.
There are also apprenticeships, work placements and volunteering roles available.
We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from everyone whatever their sex; religion or belief; race; age; sexual orientation; gender identity or, whether they are pregnant or have recently been on maternity leave, married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled.
Our values - Caring For Each Other, Working Together and Always Improving, show that our commitment to equality is at the heart of everything we do.
If you want excellent career and training opportunities while living on the doorstep of some of Europe's most spectacular scenery, with all the benefits of a thriving and cosmopolitan city - look no further.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Person specification
Qualifications & Knowledge
Essential criteria
1. Evidence of academic achievement such as HNC, NVQ4, BTEC or equivalent experience
2. Knowledge of Laboratory procedures
3. Knowledge Laboratory H&S
4. Experience of Microsoft Office
Desirable criteria
5. Suitable qualification in Information Technology (eg. CLAIT/ECDL) Knowledge of POCT equipment
6. Knowledge of POCT equipment
7. Knowledge of POCT software
Experience
Essential criteria
8. Previous NHS experience
9. Previous experience of working in a laboratory environment.
10. Previous healthcare experience
Desirable criteria
11. Previous experience and knowledge of working with Point of Care Testing (POCT) instrumentation
12. Previous experience of assisting with or performing training sessions
Swansea Bay University Health Board is committed to supporting its staff and processes to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing service users experience. In our commitment to increase the number of staff able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we would particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
Equality remains at the centre of the Health Boards policy-making, service delivery and employment practices. We value the diversity of our staff and welcome applications from people from protected groups under the Equality Act 2010, this specifically includes age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/reassignment, race, religion, disability, pregnancy and maternity and marriage and civil partnership.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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.
Welsh language skills are desirable