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Job summary

Main area
Microbiology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week (Working pattern 7.5 hour days (Mon, Tues, Wed; Thur or Fri. Bank Holidays and Weekends on a rota))
Job ref
388-7001591-HS
Employer
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Microbiology Torbay Hospital
Town
Torquay
Salary
£24,071 - £25,674 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
20/03/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust logo

Medical Laboratory Assistant - Microbiology

NHS AfC: Band 3

Job overview

Your role will be ensuring that all procedures are undertaken according to laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) work and the policies and procedures of the department.Ìý

You will work with other Support Staff to carry out the receipt, numbering, data entry, processing and preparation of specimens (urine, swabs, faeces, sputa and other body fluids and tissues) to aid the diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease working within the main Microbiology and patient testing laboratories.

The microbiology department comprises of four disciplines or sections: Bacteriology, Serology, Mycology and Molecular and handles approx. 366,000 specimens per year, of which 146,000 are covid samples.Ìý Service delivery is 24/7.

This post is for 30 hours per week. Working Monday - Wed, and either Thursday or Friday. There is also a weekend and bank holiday rota.

Ìý

Main duties of the job

  • Ensuring that all procedures are undertaken according to laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) work and the policies and procedures of the department.
  • To support the scientificÌý and technical work of qualified staff in the Microbiology main and near patient testing laboratoriesÌý
  • Also responsible for setting up and processing of specified ELISA & Molecular Assays on automated equipment and for setting up antibiotic sensitivity tests under supervision of BMS.

Working for our organisation

The microbiology department comprises of four disciplines or sections: Bacteriology, Serology, Mycology and Molecular and handles approx. 366,000 specimens per year, of which 146,000 are covid samples.Ìý Service delivery is 24/7.

Torbay Hospital Ìýprovides acute care for the local community and has several community hospitals, and is a hot-spot for those who are considering living by the sea or within half an hour of Dartmoor National Park and an hour to Exmoor National Park. Meanwhile, Plymouth and Exeter are also both within a short drive to enjoy the culture, maritime history and shopping experiences.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

ÌýPlease refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.

Service Delivery

· To work under the supervision of a Biomedical Scientist within departmentally

agreed policies relating to data entry and specimen handling and preparation,

ensuring that sufficient attention is paid to detail for the work being

undertaken

· Assist in training of new or less experienced support staff and to act as their

mentor

· To rotate through assigned sections of the department as required

· Expected to plan and prioritise own workload

· Must adhere to SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures)

· After training perform test procedures as required

· To undertake data entry of patient and diagnostic information using the Trust

and laboratory IT systems

· To attend laboratory meetings when appropriate

· To help to promote a favourable departmental image by dealing courteously

and effectively with members of the public and with all other staff

· Bench housekeeping and monitoring of certain equipment (e.g. fridges,

freezers, incubators)

Respond to telephone enquiries from staff in both primary and secondary care · Clerical duties as directed (filing, photocopying, labels etc.) · To take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including full participation in appraisal, supervision and action · To undergo all training as required for the above duties and any others that may be specific to individual departments

Technical

· Sort specimens on arrival in the laboratory

· Primary technical processing of samples including inoculating culture plates, setting up smears for microscopy, staining of smears etc

· To use laboratory equipment under supervision and ensure it is maintained correctly

· To operate certain analysers within the department under supervision of

Biomedical Scientist staff (value up to £75K)

· Responsible for setting up and processing of specified ELISA & Molecular

Assays on automated equipment

· Responsible for setting up antibiotic sensitivity tests under supervision of

BMS

Governance & Quality

· To comply with quality standards determined by UKAS including provision of support for audit programmes as identified

· To work within Quality Management System, departmentally agreed policies and SOP’s

· To report any deficiencies in Quality promptly to the Quality Lead and/or

Quality Manager

· To verify that full patient details are provided and that they correlate between sample and request

· To verify that correct samples are received for the tests requested

· Ensure compliance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines for self and others, by taking action/alerting senior management team if practice appears to contravene policy, or if concerned about any aspect of patient care

· To ensure that laboratory equipment used is maintained properly

· Conducts basic audits as directed by senior staff, e.g. recording origins of

all unlabelled or inadequately labelled samples or leaking specimens

· Expected to comment on and suggest changes to working practices in their

area which would improve service and benefit the team

· Responsible for completing documents in accordance with ISO 15189

requirements

· Responsible for maintaining competency in all laboratory sections

· Responsible for reading and acknowledging SOPs appropriate to job role

· Responsible for attending and taking part in section team meetings

· Must participate in annual review (appraisal) and keep mandatory training

up to date

Stock, Equipment and Other Resources

· To ensure sufficient stocks are available to maintain service delivery

· Deal with deliveries as appropriate, including unpacking and storing in

appropriate areas, e.g. fridge, freezer, room temp. Disposing of delivery

wrapping appropriately

· Responsible for good stock rotation

· Record batch numbers of each delivery of goods for quality and audit

purposes

· Assist with replenishment of in-use consumables for use of all staff on a

daily basis

· Responsible for informing the associate practitioner when stock required.

· Responsible for stock-taking media supplies

· When required place orders for reagents and consumables using Trust and

Manage Service provider systems

H&S / Risk

· Responsible ensuring a safe working environment, according to Laboratory Health and Safety Manual

· To undergo all mandatory training as required by the Trust

· To undergo all training as required for the above duties and any others that

may be specific to individual departments

· Responsible for safe disposal of certain items of infectious waste, e.g. old

samples, waste bins

· Responsible for safe packaging of samples for referral to other laboratories, in accordance with legal requirements for transport of biohazardous samples

Ìý

Ìý

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of the Data Protection Act
  • Understanding of Health & Safety in the workplace
  • Understanding of Standard Operating Procedures
Desirable criteria
  • Science Background
  • Experience of Excel spreadsheets
  • Experience working in a Microbiology Laboratory
  • Use of beaker LIMS (laboratory information management system)

Qualifications and training

Essential criteria
  • Strong interest in science (at least 1 GCSE in a science subject) OR previous laboratory experience
  • GCSE English
  • GCSE Maths
Desirable criteria
  • A level in a science subject
  • Knowledge across range of laboratory procedures acquired through training to NVQ3 level or equivalent

Specific Skills

Essential criteria
  • IT skills - Must be computer literate in order to enter patient data and check on results when answering telephone queries
  • Ability to work as part of a small, cohesive team
  • Good communication skills, as taking and understanding instructions is a critical part of this job

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Cheryl Bailiss
Job title
Deputy Laboratory Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01803 656895