Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Apprentice Genetic Technologist Band 4 to join our large and friendly laboratory, which provides a comprehensive laboratory diagnostic genetics service. The Apprenticeship will be delivered by blended learning from Staffordshire University.
Wage
£26,530 a year
£26,530 - £29,114 per annum
Training course
Biomedical scientist (level 6)
Hours
The laboratory is open between the hours of 07:00 and 20:00, including bank holidays and weekends, and apprentices with work 37.5 hours per week full time (including off-the-job training).
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date
Sunday 1 June
Duration
3 years
Positions available
2
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you’ll do at work
* To assist in the training and teaching of trainee and other junior staff as directed by Scientific staff.
* To participate in staff appraisal according to Trust policies and procedures.
Laboratory
* To provide technical support for the laboratory under the direction of the technical or scientific leads.
* To perform basic genetic analyses under supervision on patients referred for a range of genetic disorders as directed, to enable reporting time targets to be met.
* To receive and process samples submitted to the Department in accordance with laboratory policies and protocols.
* To analyse the results of tests for which he/she is responsible, recording results on worksheets, on result sheets in patient files, and on the laboratory database.
* To perform automated and manual techniques on diagnostic test samples in acccordance with Departmental Standard Operating Procedures including quality assurance
* To provide technical support for research and development projects as required.
* To generate internal reports for basic test results, prior to checking and authorisation by appropriate Scientific Staff.
* To participate in risk management of the department including error reporting.
* To participate in work rotation as required, in order to cover a range of disorders and all techniques employed in the department.
* To personally organise allocated work.
* To maintain a high level of professional competence in the performance of all tests and investigations carried out in the section.
* To accurately prepare, maintain and document adequate supplies of reagents and consumables.
* To ensure the efficient and safe use of consumables within own working area.
* To be responsible for the day to day maintenance and cleanliness of the equipment with which he/she is working.
* To participate in internal and external quality control procedures.
* To participate in quality assurance procedures, including maintenance records and corrective actions.
* To participate in audit as required, relating to numbers and failure rates of tests.
* Work in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures developed for use in the Department. Assist in the development and review of these as required.
* To abide by all Codes of Practice, Safety Regulations, statutory requirements and operational policies of the department and the service.
* To perform other duties as appropriate to the grade and as requested by senior scientific staff
* To communicate with other members of the technical team to provide effective cover for work.
* To assist, as is necessary, in recording and maintaining all necessary manual and computerised records of the Department
* To use automated analysis equipment and software packages
Professional
* To participate in continued professional development, by attending in-house or external training sessions as appropriate, and maintaining personal training records as required.
* To participate in any national technical training initiatives as appropriate.
Where you’ll work
Southmead Hospital
Westbury on Trym
Bristol
Bristol
BS10 5NB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
UNIVERSITY OF STAFFORDSHIRE
Your training course
Biomedical scientist (level 6)
Equal to degree
Course contents
* Identify the limits of own practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional or service.
* Recognise the need to manage own workload and resources safely and effectively, including managing the emotional burden that comes with working in a pressured environment.
* Keep own skills and knowledge up to date.
* Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.
* Promote and protect the service user’s interests at all times.
* Actively look for signs of abuse and engage in relevant safeguarding processes.
* Respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values, and autonomy of service users, including own role in the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and/or therapeutic process.
* Recognise that relationships with service users, carers and others should be based on mutual respect and trust, and maintain high standards of care in all circumstances.
* Obtain valid consent, which is voluntary and informed, has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented.
* Exercise a professional duty of care.
* Apply legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice.
* Recognise the power imbalance which comes with being a health care professional, and ensure it is not for personal gain.
* Work in accordance with the British, European and International Standards that govern and affect pathology laboratory practice.
* Identify own anxiety and stress and recognise the potential impact on own practice.
* Develop and adopt clear strategies for physical and mental self-care and self-awareness, to maintain a high standard of professional effectiveness and a safe working environment.
* Recognise that they are personally responsible for and must be able to justify their decisions and actions.
* Use own skills, knowledge and experience, and the information available, to make informed decisions and / or take action where necessary.
* Make reasoned decisions to initiate, continue, modify or cease treatment or the use of techniques or procedures, and record the decisions and reasoning appropriately.
* Make and receive appropriate referrals, where necessary.
* Exercise personal initiative.
* Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving.
* Use research, reasoning and problem solving skills when determining appropriate actions.
* Respond appropriately to the needs of all different groups and individuals in practice, recognising this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences.
* Recognise the potential impact of own values, beliefs and personal biases, which may be unconscious, on practice and take personal action to ensure all service users and carers are treated appropriately with respect and dignity.
* Actively challenge barriers to inclusion, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible.
* Adhere to the professional duty of confidentiality.
* Respond in a timely manner to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public and recognise situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public.
* Use effective and appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills to communicate with service users, carers, colleagues and others.
* Communicate in English to the required standard for the profession.
* Work with service users and/or carers to facilitate the service user’s preferred role in decision-making, and provide service users and carers with the information they may need where appropriate.
* Modify own means of communication to address the individual communication needs and preferences of service users and carers, and remove any barriers to communication where possible.
* Use information, communication and digital technologies appropriate to own practice.
* Communicate the outcomes of biomedical procedures.
* Keep full, clear and accurate records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
* Manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
* Use digital record keeping tools, where required.
* Recognise and communicate the risks and possible serious consequences of errors and omissions in both requests for, and results of, laboratory investigations.
* Use systems for the accurate and correct identification of service users and laboratory specimens.
* Work in partnership with service users, carers, colleagues and others.
* Contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Identify anxiety and stress in service users, carers and colleagues, adapting own practice and providing support where appropriate.
* Identify own leadership qualities, behaviours and approaches, taking into account the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Demonstrate leadership behaviours appropriate to own practice.
* Act as a role model for others.
* Promote and engage in the learning of others.
* Engage in evidence-based practice.
* Gather and use feedback and information, including qualitative and quantitative data, to evaluate the responses of service users to own care.
* Monitor and systematically evaluate the quality of practice, and maintain an effective quality management and quality assurance process working towards continual improvement.
* Participate in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance, clinical governance and the use of appropriate outcome measures.
* Evaluate care plans or intervention plans using recognised and appropriate outcome measures, in conjunction with the service user where possible, and revise the plans as necessary.
* Select and apply quality and process control measures.
* Identify and respond appropriately to abnormal outcomes from quality indicators.
* Apply the principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process.
* Evaluate analyses using qualitative and quantitative methods to aid the diagnosis, screening and monitoring of health and disorders.
* Change own practice as needed to take account of new developments, technologies and changing contexts.
* Gather appropriate information.
* Analyse and critically evaluate the information collected.
* Select and use appropriate assessment techniques and equipment.
* Undertake and record a thorough, sensitive, and detailed assessment.
* Undertake or arrange investigations as appropriate.
* Conduct appropriate assessment or monitoring procedures, treatment, therapy or other actions safely and effectively.
* Critically evaluate research and other evidence to inform own practice.
* Engage service users in research as appropriate.
* Perform and supervise procedures in clinical laboratory investigations to reproducible standards.
* Operate and utilise specialist equipment according to own discipline.
* Validate scientific and technical data and observations according to pre-determined quality standards.
* Demonstrate proficiency in practical skills in cellular science, blood science, infection science, molecular and genetic science and reproductive science, where appropriate to the discipline.
* Demonstrate practical skills in the processing and analysis of specimens including specimen identification, the effect of storage on specimens and the safe retrieval of specimens.
* Demonstrate practical skills in the investigation of disease processes.
* Work in conformance with standard operating procedures and conditions.
* Work with accuracy and precision.
* Perform calibration and quality control checks.
* Demonstrate operational management of laboratory equipment to check that equipment is functioning within its specifications and to respond appropriately to abnormalities.
* Formulate specific and appropriate management plans including the setting of timescales.
* Select suitable specimens and procedures relevant to service users’ clinical needs, including collection and preparation of specimens as and when appropriate.
* investigate and monitor disease processes and normal states.
* Use standard operating procedures for analyses including point of care in vitro diagnostic devices.
* Use statistical packages and present data in an appropriate format.
* Design experiments, report, interpret and present data using scientific convention, including application of SI units and other units used in biomedical science.
* Safely interpret and authorise service user results.
* Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, local operational procedures and policies.
* Work safely, including being able to select appropriate hazard control and risk management, reduction or elimination techniques in a safe manner and in accordance with health and safety legislation.
* Select appropriate personal protective equipment and use it correctly.
* Establish safe environments for practice, which appropriately manages risk.
* Empower and enable individuals, including service users and colleagues, to play a part in managing their own health.
* Engage in occupational health, including being aware of immunisation requirements.
* Identify the limits of own practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional or service.
* Recognise the need to manage own workload and resources safely and effectively, including managing the emotional burden that comes with working in a pressured environment.
* Keep own skills and knowledge up to date.
* Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.
* Promote and protect the service user’s interests at all times.
* Actively look for signs of abuse and engage in relevant safeguarding processes.
* Respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values, and autonomy of service users, including own role in the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and/or therapeutic process.
* Recognise that relationships with service users, carers and others should be based on mutual respect and trust, and maintain high standards of care in all circumstances.
* Obtain valid consent, which is voluntary and informed, has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented.
* Exercise a professional duty of care.
* Apply legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice.
* Recognise the power imbalance which comes with being a health care professional, and ensure it is not for personal gain.
* Work in accordance with the British, European and International Standards that govern and affect pathology laboratory practice.
* Identify own anxiety and stress and recognise the potential impact on own practice.
* Develop and adopt clear strategies for physical and mental self-care and self-awareness, to maintain a high standard of professional effectiveness and a safe working environment.
* Recognise that they are personally responsible for and must be able to justify their decisions and actions.
* Use own skills, knowledge and experience, and the information available, to make informed decisions and / or take action where necessary.
* Make reasoned decisions to initiate, continue, modify or cease treatment or the use of techniques or procedures, and record the decisions and reasoning appropriately.
* Make and receive appropriate referrals, where necessary.
* Exercise personal initiative.
* Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving.
* Use research, reasoning and problem solving skills when determining appropriate actions.
* Respond appropriately to the needs of all different groups and individuals in practice, recognising this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences.
* Recognise the potential impact of own values, beliefs and personal biases, which may be unconscious, on practice and take personal action to ensure all service users and carers are treated appropriately with respect and dignity.
* Actively challenge barriers to inclusion, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible.
* Adhere to the professional duty of confidentiality.
* Respond in a timely manner to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public and recognise situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public.
* Use effective and appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills to communicate with service users, carers, colleagues and others.
* Communicate in English to the required standard for the profession.
* Work with service users and/or carers to facilitate the service user’s preferred role in decision-making, and provide service users and carers with the information they may need where appropriate.
* Modify own means of communication to address the individual communication needs and preferences of service users and carers, and remove any barriers to communication where possible.
* Use information, communication and digital technologies appropriate to own practice.
* Communicate the outcomes of biomedical procedures.
* Keep full, clear and accurate records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
* Manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines.
* Use digital record keeping tools, where required.
* Recognise and communicate the risks and possible serious consequences of errors and omissions in both requests for, and results of, laboratory investigations.
* Use systems for the accurate and correct identification of service users and laboratory specimens.
* Work in partnership with service users, carers, colleagues and others.
* Contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Identify anxiety and stress in service users, carers and colleagues, adapting own practice and providing support where appropriate.
* Identify own leadership qualities, behaviours and approaches, taking into account the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Demonstrate leadership behaviours appropriate to own practice.
* Act as a role model for others.
* Promote and engage in the learning of others.
* Engage in evidence-based practice.
* Gather and use feedback and information, including qualitative and quantitative data, to evaluate the responses of service users to own care.
* Monitor and systematically evaluate the quality of practice, and maintain an effective quality management and quality assurance process working towards continual improvement.
* Participate in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance, clinical governance and the use of appropriate outcome measures.
* Evaluate care plans or intervention plans using recognised and appropriate outcome measures, in conjunction with the service user where possible, and revise the plans as necessary.
* Select and apply quality and process control measures.
* Identify and respond appropriately to abnormal outcomes from quality indicators.
* Apply the principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process.
* Evaluate analyses using qualitative and quantitative methods to aid the diagnosis, screening and monitoring of health and disorders.
* Change own practice as needed to take account of new developments, technologies and changing contexts.
* Gather appropriate information.
* Analyse and critically evaluate the information collected.
* Select and use appropriate assessment techniques and equipment.
* Undertake and record a thorough, sensitive, and detailed assessment.
* Undertake or arrange investigations as appropriate.
* Conduct appropriate assessment or monitoring procedures, treatment, therapy or other actions safely and effectively.
* Critically evaluate research and other evidence to inform own practice.
* Engage service users in research as appropriate.
* Perform and supervise procedures in clinical laboratory investigations to reproducible standards.
* Operate and utilise specialist equipment according to own discipline.
* Validate scientific and technical data and observations according to pre-determined quality standards.
* Demonstrate proficiency in practical skills in cellular science, blood science, infection science, molecular and genetic science and reproductive science, where appropriate to the discipline.
* Demonstrate practical skills in the processing and analysis of specimens including specimen identification, the effect of storage on specimens and the safe retrieval of specimens.
* Demonstrate practical skills in the investigation of disease processes.
* Work in conformance with standard operating procedures and conditions.
* Work with accuracy and precision.
* Perform calibration and quality control checks.
* Demonstrate operational management of laboratory equipment to check that equipment is functioning within its specifications and to respond appropriately to abnormalities.
* Formulate specific and appropriate management plans including the setting of timescales.
* Select suitable specimens and procedures relevant to service users’ clinical needs, including collection and preparation of specimens as and when appropriate.
* investigate and monitor disease processes and normal states.
* Use standard operating procedures for analyses including point of care in vitro diagnostic devices.
* Use statistical packages and present data in an appropriate format.
* Design experiments, report, interpret and present data using scientific convention, including application of SI units and other units used in biomedical science.
* Safely interpret and authorise service user results.
* Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, local operational procedures and policies.
* Work safely, including being able to select appropriate hazard control and risk management, reduction or elimination techniques in a safe manner and in accordance with health and safety legislation.
* Select appropriate personal protective equipment and use it correctly.
* Establish safe environments for practice, which appropriately manages risk.
* Empower and enable individuals, including service users and colleagues, to play a part in managing their own health.
* Engage in occupational health, including being aware of immunisation requirements.
Your training plan
The Level 6 Biomedical Scientist Apprenticeship will be delivered by blended learning from Staffordshire University. There will be 9 on campus study days per year some of which will be double days and therefore overnight stays in the Stoke-on-Trent area will be expected.
Successful apprentices will achieve a BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science. This qualification confers eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions as a Biomedical Scientist upon graduation. Accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade C/4)
* Maths (grade C/4)
Other in:
* Any (grade Pass)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* IT skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Customer care skills
* Problem solving skills
* Presentation skills
* Administrative skills
* Number skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Initiative
* Non judgemental
* Patience