Pathology Healthcare Science Assistant

Job summary

At present, University Hospitals of North Midlands is unable to offer visa sponsorship for Band 2 to Band 4 roles, as these positions do not meet the minimum salary and skill thresholds required under UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations.

An exciting opportunity has arisen with the the North Midlands and Cheshire Pathology Service based within the Royal Stoke Clinical Trials Department.

The post holder will be required to perform a range of routine and non-routine tasks within Pathology following Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The tasks will include: sample receipt and preparation, operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment and updating of information systems. To work within the written Policies and Procedures of the Department especially in relation to Health and Safety and Quality.

To be an efficient and flexible member of the laboratory team assisting in the delivery of the service.ms

Main duties of the job

To support the day-to-day running of the Clinical Trials laboratory, with the support of the Clinical Trials Associate Practitioner and the Quality Operational Support Manager for Clinical Trials.

To perform a number of laboratory procedures/ activities.

Resolve relatively straightforward problems e.g. inappropriate and unlabelled samples according to the departmental SOPs, escalating to a more senior member of staff where appropriate.

To ensure adequate stock of all reagents and consumables are maintained, properly rotated to minimise waste and ensure service delivery.

To support in clerical tasks such as:

• o Request entry on the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
• o Monitor generic email inboxes and calendars
• o Assist with data collection for clinical trials as required
• o Telephone enquires
• To ensure that agreed data quality checks are carried out and, if discrepancies are found, to report or rectify them as appropriate

To communicate technical information (this may include test results where departmental policies allow) to clinicians and other colleagues ensuring that this is understood and transcribed correctly and record appropriately

Is aware of, understands and complies with the Pathology Quality Policy and supports the development and implementation of the Pathology Quality Management System (Q-pulse) the for Clinical Trials laboratory

About us

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details regarding this vacancy.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of education demonstrated by GCSE grades 4/C or above in Maths, English and a Science subject
• Basic level of theoretical technical knowledge of the role

Desirable

• Relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent.

Knowledge, skills, training and experience

Essential

• Basic analytical skills with an ability to work in a methodical and systematic way.
• Awareness of Health and Safety matters
• To have intermediate and accurate IT skills
• Ability to prioritise workload in response to service need
• Good oral and written communication skills

Desirable

• Experience of data entry
• Previous experience of working within a laboratory environment.
• Experience of working in the NHS

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Takes responsibility and is accountable for delivering to their agreed objectives
• Prepared to work flexibly including participating in weekend and other out of hours rotas as necessary
• Ability and willingness to fulfil the travel requirements of the post if relevant - primary place of work as per JD but on rare occasion may reasonably be asked to work at another site where the Trust has responsibility for Pathology services.