This is an exciting opportunity to join Great Western Hospital as a Biomedical Support Worker.
You will part of the Cellular Pathology team involved in the technical preparation of specimens and performing defined procedures in accordance with standard operating procedures. This will include all aspects of the routine service provided by the department.
1. Reception of specimens. Reception includes collection of specimens from pathology reception, data matching between specimen containers and request forms, coding samples, sorting into the correct work stream, and identification of specimens which must be rejected. Rejected samples must be resolved and logged.
2. Set up, and clean down, of dissection area, ensuring all required equipment/consumables are available and correct cleaning/disinfection methods are used. May involve some exposure to sharps (e.g. scalpel blades, dissection knives).
3. Assist with the process of specimen dissection. This involves writing medical dictation for occasionally long periods of time, and checking patient and specimen identification.
4. Assist with the process of specimen dissection. This involves writing medical dictation for occasionally long periods of time, and checking patient and specimen identification.
5. Responsibility for specimen storage and disposal. Store specimens awaiting disposal correctly, following departmental protocol. Identification of specimens ready for disposal. Disposal of specimens in a safe manner, including those requiring non-standard disposal (e.g. POCs).
6. Embedding processed tissue. This involves correctly orientating tissue in order to ensure subsequent diagnostic processes are able to be completed accurately.
“Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.”
7. Preparation of case for discussion at multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs). This includes identification of the appropriate cases, retrieval of slides from archive, data entry onto Excel spreadsheets, recording of audit data on completion of the meeting, and filing completed MDT lists.
8. Sorting of cases to be sent to other hospitals for further testing/expert opinion/review. Logging all material sent and returned, to ensure a full audit trail is available for every specimen.
9. Archive filing of all blocks, slides and other material, including preparation of blocks/slides for off-site storage and maintenance of records of material stored off-site.
10. Retrieval of archived reports from current and previous laboratory IT systems.
11. Maintenance and cleaning of automated staining machine, including the correct disposal of solvent waste in accordance with national and local regulations. This may involve some heavy lifting.
12. Set up, use and maintenance of the automated coverslipper in accordance with departmental protocols.
13. Quality control procedures, including slide labelling, matching slides with request forms, matching blocks to labelled slides, etc.
14. If required by department, the post-holder may be trained in microtomy.
15. Collect and dispose of solvents and flammable liquids to and from the flammable store in accordance with Health and Safety Regulations.
16. Prepare and maintain stocks of stains, solutions and kits e.g. preparation of fine needle aspirate kits, preparation of decalcification fluid, filling the formalin reservoir, etc.
17. Trouble-shoot processes within the scope of practice of the post-holder. This requires an awareness of processes outside their scope of practice, and referral of these issues to an appropriate member of staff.
18. Suggest amendments/updates to departmental processes, including review of standard operating procedures where appropriate.
19. Full participation in the departmental Quality Management system. This involves following and reviewing standard operating procedures, risk assessments, etc, error logging, carry out audits, etc. The Quality Management system is recorded and managed via Qpulse software. Full training will be given on the use of QPulse.
20. Participate in departmental stock control, including identification of stock requirements and receipt and booking-in of stock deliveries.
21. Undertake general house-keeping duties; all staff must keep their own work area clean and tidy.
22. Participate in a departmental rota of tasks and start/finish times, and manage own time effectively to ensure all required tasks are completed in an appropriate timescale.
23. The post holder may be required to participate in departmental admin tasks including data entry onto the pathology IT system, posting of pathology reports, filing request forms, etc.
This advert closes on Friday 14 Feb 2025
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