Associate Practitioners are important members of a scientific team and will always ensure that the workflow and turnaround of samples is adequately maintained. Associate Practitioners are able after training to perform the less complex analytical tests within the department. The post holder will be expected to take a full part in any weekend/out of hours service agreed by the Trust including a 24 hour shift system.
KEY DUTIES
1. Under the supervision of a trained Biomedical Scientist, carry out microbiological work on specimens from patients with known or suspected infections. This work is undertaken in accordance with appropriate training and ability to demonstrate competence in handling clinical samples.
2. Participate in training and development. Each individual is encouraged to supply suggestions for new techniques and technology and use their initiative in the improvement of the department.
3. Provide and sustain a high-quality service and to be involved in the maintenance of quality goals.
4. Receive, sort, identify and label specimens as per Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs).
5. Identify to Senior/Qualified staff any specimens and/or requests, which may cause problems (e.g. Health and Safety, inadequate identification and/or sample quality).
6. Prepare specimens for dispatch to other laboratories; when appropriate complete request forms and/or organise transport as required.
7. Report to a senior BMS any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure.
8. Undertake routine operative maintenance on laboratory instruments.
9. Ensure all clinical material is stored and disposed of according to departmental policies.
10. Assist in clinical and non-clinical audits, trials and research projects as directed by department management.
11. Undertake simple manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations on a rotational basis through all sections within the department as required.
12. Use equipment in accordance with departmental policies and suppliers’ instructions.
13. Plan and organise a workload which can be varied and complex. This involves completion of ongoing work, together with new work, which can be interspersed with urgent specimens.
14. Measure and monitor the accuracy and precision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
15. Carry out corrective action or inform senior staff when the quality control procedures indicate loss of performance.
16. Prepare reagents required for analysers and manual laboratory investigations and to record reagent batch numbers and maintain a reagent audit trail.
17. Record and monitor data from non-analytical equipment e.g., water purity from water systems, decontamination records for centrifuges, fridge and freezer temperatures etc.
18. Follow protocols to process departmental workload including MRSA Testing, Sensitivity Testing, and Performing Molecular Diagnostic Tests.
COMMUNICATION
1. Receive telephone calls and action as appropriate.
2. Contact service users in case of any problems with received samples.
3. Communicate results verbally to persons authorised to receive them in a clear and concise manner following appropriate policies and procedures.
4. Provide advice and information to laboratory, ward, GP staff and patients regarding samples and sample handling.
5. Book patients for Infertility Investigations, requiring tact and sensitivity.
6. Actively participate in departmental meetings, team briefings, educational and audit meetings as appropriate.
OTHER DUTIES
1. Maintain appropriate stock levels within the section following appropriate policies and procedures under the direction of the section leader.
2. Ensure that equipment is used in accordance with departmental policies and suppliers instructions and is maintained correctly.
3. Participate in the internal and external safety audits as appropriate.
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Keep the workplace and work benches clean and tidy.
2. Maintain good working relations with all members of staff and to promote effective teamwork.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good working practices required by UKAS ISO: 15189.
2. Comply with good laboratory practices required for the standards of UKAS ISO: 15189 including Health and Safety.
3. Organise workload to ensure that reporting of results is carried out in a timely fashion.
4. Advise the Senior Biomedical Scientists when stocks of reagents and consumables are approaching minimum stock levels or take appropriate action.
RESEARCH & AUDIT
1. Participate in departmental clinical trials, audit, research and development programmes.
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