Job summary
Associate Practitioner - Point of Care Testing
Department: Pathology - Blood Science
Band 4, Full-time £26,530 - £29,114 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
The Point of Care Testing (POCT) team, part of the Pathology Department at MKUH, are seeking an engaging & enthusiastic individual to help support the service we provide to the wards & other clinical areas throughout the Trust, including community-based projects. Amongst other tasks the post holder will aid the following:
* Manage 200+ POCT devices throughout the Trust, ensuring they are regularly maintained, serviced & repaired when needed
* Run control checks (IQC and EQA) as required
* Provide user training to clinical staff using the devices for patient testing
* Carry out regular audits on the POCT services & equipment currently in use
* Aid POCT in meeting ISO 15189 standards
In addition, the post holder will periodically rotate into the blood Sciences laboratory. They will assist in the delivery of a diagnostic service analysing blood, urine, faeces & other materials to achieve the objectives of efficient & effective patient care and effective resource management within the hospital.
If you have further questions or would like to arrange an informal visit, please contact Phill Dickson, POCT Coordinator at phillip.dickson@mkuh.nhs.uk
Interview date: 28 January 2025
We are unable to sponsor this role
Main duties of the job
This is a new role and will involve rotation through POCT and Blood Sciences laboratories. There are therefore 2 elements to the job description, Part A as the Associate Practitioner for Point of Care Testing and Part B - as an Associate Practitioner in Blood Sciences.
It is envisaged that the rotation period will be 6 monthly.
The post holder will be part of a team delivering Point of Care Testing Services, maintaining devices, training staff in their use and providing the necessary support required to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care, and effective resource management within the hospital (Rotation A).
The post holder will be part of a team of Associate Practitioners assisting in the delivery of a diagnostic service analysing blood, urine, faeces and other materials to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care, and effective resource management within the hospital (Rotation B).
The post holder will undertake their responsibilities within the Pathology department to meet all required national and Trust standards. They will be required to work both alone and as part of a departmental team. To attend departmental and other meetings as required and also attend external training and educational courses when required, i.e. instrument troubleshooting and repair.
Pathology services operate 24/7 and as such there will be a need for contractual hours to be worked across a 7 day period at hours determined by service need
About us
An outstanding 92% stated that their role significantly affects patients and service users (NHS Staff Survey 2023)
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
* Free on-site parking
* Free tea and coffee
* Great flexible working opportunities
* Discounted gym membership
* Lease car scheme
* Generous annual leave and pension scheme
* On site nursery (chargeable)
* Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
Job description
Job responsibilities
Rotation A - main responsibilities:
* To organise and liaise with the rest of the Point of Care Team, daily duties, duties out of the Department, and cover for absences within the Team, and the organisation of own work patterns.
* To perform maintenance and troubleshooting of all point of care testing analysers supported by MKUH POCT, maintaining the operational effectiveness of the devices.
Support:
* To ensure the operational effectiveness of the department is maintained, i.e. maintaining levels of consumables, keeping the department neat, tidy and safe etc.
* To deal with telephone enquiries in relating to Point of Care testing.
* To prioritise workload, and deal with urgent issues appropriately.
Training:
* To provide training sessions in line with current SOPs in the correct use of Point of Care Testing equipment.
* Maintain database of trained staff.
Rotation B - main responsibilities:
* To organise and liaise with the rest of the Blood Sciences Technical Team to cover daily duties, out of hours duties, duties out of the department, and cover for absences within the Technical Team.
* To run Internal Quality Controls through analysers to demonstrate the clinical suitability and reliability of results, and to follow SOPs when unacceptable results occur and carry out remedial action if indicated.
Please refer to the job description for further details
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
* Minimum of five GCSEs (A-C) including English Language, mathematics and a science subject.
* Level 3 qualification (A-level equivalent) in a science subject OR NVQ3 or equivalent experience in relevant discipline.
* Foundation Degree Course in Science or equivalent qualification.
* Knowledge of the principles of Health & Safety at Work
Experience
Essential
* Experience in Pathology laboratory.
* Practical experience of a range of diagnostic pathology techniques and equipment.
Desirable
* Experience of working unsocial hours shift patterns
Skills
Essential
* Good organisational skills
* Able to achieve high standards of technical duties.
* Hand eye co-ordination and accuracy when performing tests.
* Ability to work unsupervised in a managed environment
Personal and people development
Essential
* Ability to work under pressure.
* Ability to work in a team and be supportive to other team members.
* Concentration and attention to detail.
* Flexible approach
* Forward thinking
* Able and willing to work unsocial hours as required of the role
Communication
Essential
* Good communication skills including a clear command of written and spoken English.
* Must have Information Technology skills
Specific requirements
Essential
* Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
General Pathology (Dept)
Milton Keynes
MK6 5LD
Employer's website
https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh (Opens in a new tab)
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