Job summary Applications are invited for a full time Band 4 Associate Practitioner from persons who have a BTEC Diploma in Healthcare Science Level 4 an equivalent level of education or experience of working in a busy NHS pathology department. Anyone studying towards this qualification may apply. Experience of working in an NHS Pathology Laboratory with automated equipment is essential as one of the key roles will be the maintenance and preparation of instruments for the next 24 hour period. You will be joining a busy blood sciences department where you will be supporting the state registered Healthcare Scientists in the provision of an effective, high quality service delivered to healthcare professionals across the county. There will be some management roles involved in coordinating Medical Laboratory Assistants and other key personnel in the department. Working patterns will generally involve working several weeks of core days (08:30-17:00) with at least one week of twilight shifts (16:00-24:00) every month. However, cover for Annual Leave, Sickness etc. will be required for the twilight shift on a reasonably regular basis. Other shifts including weekend and overnight periods are not expected as routine but may be required on an occasional basis. Main duties of the job To undertake a range of tasks, supporting the state registered Healthcare Scientists in the provision of an effective, high quality service. To undertake a range of laboratory tests and analyser maintenance which is then subject to scrutiny and authorisation by BMS staff. As part of a team, assist in the processing of up to 4,000 samples per day in Gloucester. Help to maintain the turnaround times for all patient samples and help maintain the stocks for hundreds of different reagents, calibrators and Quality Control materials. The work is complementary to that of the BMS staff and covers a wide variety of laboratory work but will not include validation or interpretation. To co-ordinate the activities of Medical Laboratory Assistants. To act as mentor and assist in their training. It is necessary to have an understanding of all sections of the Chemical Pathology Department and an awareness of the work of other disciplines within Pathology. There will be a regular requirement for you to work in Cheltenham to support Clinical research workloads. The position will involve working routine days (08:30 to 17:00), possible late shifts (13:00 to 21:30) and particularly extended late shifts (16:00 to 24:00) at an anticipated frequency of 1 in every 4 weeks. About us We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another. With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. As well as generous annual leave allowance, access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you. Date posted 17 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 318-25-T0149 Job locations Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Gloucester GL1 3NN Job description Job responsibilities - To receive and unpack a range of blood samples and other sample types - To check that the correct sample type has been received, correct sample labelling and suitability for diagnostic investigations, in accordance with Pathology laboratory policies and standard operating procedures (SOP); to take appropriate action for non-compliances - To recognise, prioritise and fast-track urgent samples to ensure minimal delay to patient treatment and waiting times. - To prepare samples for analysis. This may include barcode labelling, centrifugation, preparation of aliquots, measurement of sample volume e.g. urine; distribution of samples. - To prepare samples for dispatch to other sites (SAS) in accordance with postal regulations including samples requiring special transport conditions. To liaise with Portering services staff, and drivers (internal and external) to arrange appropriate transportation. - Operate analysers, pre- and post-analytical equipment under the supervision of HCPC registered Healthcare Scientists. - Undertake maintenance procedures as directed by SOPs and operator manuals. - Responsibility for ensuring all tests are performed according to established laboratory standard operating procedures and within agreed turnaround times. - To ensure the quality of the analytical service is maintained to UKAS ISO 15189 standards - Responsibility for ensuring safe use of expensive and complex equipment by undertaking regular in house maintenance and maintaining appropriate records. - To inform Team Leaders and/or Healthcare Scientists of any equipment or analytical issues. - To comply with quality control procedures. - To support the Healthcare Scientists in the supervision of Trainee Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants. - To assist with the induction of new staff. - To act as mentor for new members of staff, as required - To assist in the training of Medical Laboratory Assistants. - To be an active member of Laboratory, Section & other laboratory meetings - Responsibility to ensure the best value and cost efficient use of all reagents, Quality Control material and consumables - To help maintain appropriate financial records - Unpacking large multi reagent deliveries with appropriate record keeping and notifying Healthcare Scientist staff of discrepancies. - Regularly review the appropriate usage of all materials. - As commensurate with the access level of an Associate Practitioner Band 4 perform routine tasks on the laboratory computer system. - To contribute to the performance of all routine housekeeping tasks on the laboratory computer system. - Use Microsoft office to produce standard operating procedures and other bench based record sheets etc. - To assist with data collection that may be required for audits, as directed by Healthcare Scientist staff - To carry out routine audits as agreed with the senior staff - To review established Standard Operating Procedures and notify senior staff of required changes where appropriate. - To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities. Undertake and maintain equipment and procedural competencies. - To be involved with the training of Trainee Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants. - To keep abreast of developments in the laboratory. - To be involved with the implementation of major items of highly complex instrumentation and evaluation of new methodologies. - Full participation in all identified shifts is required and may involve some overnight working. - You will be asked to work at both sites and this may include an element of lone working. - With reference to work undertaken, especially outside routine hours, provide advice to users of the service. - Attend laboratory meetings (including educational meetings) whenever possible but to the minimum attendance standard set by the department. - Ensure all competencies are kept up-to-date. - Ensure Health and Safety (including Clinical Governance and Management of Risk) standards are maintained in order to create a safe environment for staff to work in. - To participate in an annual appraisal and development review meeting. - To comply with the Trust no smoking policy. - To comply with the Trusts policies with regard to kindness and respect. The post holder will be required to communicate face-to-face and by telephone, e-mail and in writing to a wide range of health professionals and non-health professionals, including but not exclusively; - All members of the Chemical Pathology staff across both sites - Members of other pathology departments - Clinicians, GPs, Nurses and other hospital and primary care staff - Patients - Supplier representatives and engineers - Daily pressures and stresses of processing a high workload with frequent interruptions using sophisticated equipment to obtain accurate timely results. - Requirement to work with absolute accuracy and speed during periods of prolonged concentration. - Handle potentially infectious blood and body fluids, faeces etc with unpleasant smells/odours together with the risk associated in handling hazardous chemicals. - Working on contaminated equipment or work areas. - Potential of sharps injury. - Working in hot conditions with protective clothing, coats, gloves and goggles. - Constant background noise from equipment. - Make frequent repetitive movements. - Requirement for a considerable amount of manual dexterity in processing paediatric samples and maintaining equipment. Maintenance often involves use of delicate instruments whilst working on highly sensitive and complex analytical equipment where accuracy of setup is crucial to the delivery of correct results. - Limited amount of lifting, bending but a considerable amount of standing. - Frequent long periods of use of a VDU Job description Job responsibilities - To receive and unpack a range of blood samples and other sample types - To check that the correct sample type has been received, correct sample labelling and suitability for diagnostic investigations, in accordance with Pathology laboratory policies and standard operating procedures (SOP); to take appropriate action for non-compliances - To recognise, prioritise and fast-track urgent samples to ensure minimal delay to patient treatment and waiting times. - To prepare samples for analysis. This may include barcode labelling, centrifugation, preparation of aliquots, measurement of sample volume e.g. urine; distribution of samples. - To prepare samples for dispatch to other sites (SAS) in accordance with postal regulations including samples requiring special transport conditions. To liaise with Portering services staff, and drivers (internal and external) to arrange appropriate transportation. - Operate analysers, pre- and post-analytical equipment under the supervision of HCPC registered Healthcare Scientists. - Undertake maintenance procedures as directed by SOPs and operator manuals. - Responsibility for ensuring all tests are performed according to established laboratory standard operating procedures and within agreed turnaround times. - To ensure the quality of the analytical service is maintained to UKAS ISO 15189 standards - Responsibility for ensuring safe use of expensive and complex equipment by undertaking regular in house maintenance and maintaining appropriate records. - To inform Team Leaders and/or Healthcare Scientists of any equipment or analytical issues. - To comply with quality control procedures. - To support the Healthcare Scientists in the supervision of Trainee Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants. - To assist with the induction of new staff. - To act as mentor for new members of staff, as required - To assist in the training of Medical Laboratory Assistants. - To be an active member of Laboratory, Section & other laboratory meetings - Responsibility to ensure the best value and cost efficient use of all reagents, Quality Control material and consumables - To help maintain appropriate financial records - Unpacking large multi reagent deliveries with appropriate record keeping and notifying Healthcare Scientist staff of discrepancies. - Regularly review the appropriate usage of all materials. - As commensurate with the access level of an Associate Practitioner Band 4 perform routine tasks on the laboratory computer system. - To contribute to the performance of all routine housekeeping tasks on the laboratory computer system. - Use Microsoft office to produce standard operating procedures and other bench based record sheets etc. - To assist with data collection that may be required for audits, as directed by Healthcare Scientist staff - To carry out routine audits as agreed with the senior staff - To review established Standard Operating Procedures and notify senior staff of required changes where appropriate. - To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities. Undertake and maintain equipment and procedural competencies. - To be involved with the training of Trainee Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants. - To keep abreast of developments in the laboratory. - To be involved with the implementation of major items of highly complex instrumentation and evaluation of new methodologies. - Full participation in all identified shifts is required and may involve some overnight working. - You will be asked to work at both sites and this may include an element of lone working. - With reference to work undertaken, especially outside routine hours, provide advice to users of the service. - Attend laboratory meetings (including educational meetings) whenever possible but to the minimum attendance standard set by the department. - Ensure all competencies are kept up-to-date. - Ensure Health and Safety (including Clinical Governance and Management of Risk) standards are maintained in order to create a safe environment for staff to work in. - To participate in an annual appraisal and development review meeting. - To comply with the Trust no smoking policy. - To comply with the Trusts policies with regard to kindness and respect. The post holder will be required to communicate face-to-face and by telephone, e-mail and in writing to a wide range of health professionals and non-health professionals, including but not exclusively; - All members of the Chemical Pathology staff across both sites - Members of other pathology departments - Clinicians, GPs, Nurses and other hospital and primary care staff - Patients - Supplier representatives and engineers - Daily pressures and stresses of processing a high workload with frequent interruptions using sophisticated equipment to obtain accurate timely results. - Requirement to work with absolute accuracy and speed during periods of prolonged concentration. - Handle potentially infectious blood and body fluids, faeces etc with unpleasant smells/odours together with the risk associated in handling hazardous chemicals. - Working on contaminated equipment or work areas. - Potential of sharps injury. - Working in hot conditions with protective clothing, coats, gloves and goggles. - Constant background noise from equipment. - Make frequent repetitive movements. - Requirement for a considerable amount of manual dexterity in processing paediatric samples and maintaining equipment. Maintenance often involves use of delicate instruments whilst working on highly sensitive and complex analytical equipment where accuracy of setup is crucial to the delivery of correct results. - Limited amount of lifting, bending but a considerable amount of standing. - Frequent long periods of use of a VDU Person Specification Qualifications Essential Good basic education. Good numeric skills with good spoken and written English BTEC Diploma in Healthcare Science Level 4 or Equivalent (or considering working towards an equivalent qualification) Desirable Healthcare Science Degree Any specialist training in Chemical Pathology or IT Experience Essential Appropriate experience of working in a modern Pathology Laboratory Experience of working in a Chemical Pathology department Experience of working with large complex automated pathology equipment Must participate fully in all out of hours rotas. Knowledge/ Skills Essential Demonstrate IT literacy. Advanced keyboard skills. Demonstrate well rounded personality, calm disposition and good attitude to work. Ability to work under pressure and as a lone worker. Able physically to perform the role - requires ability to lift, bend and be flexible when undertaking maintenance tasks - demonstrate a good health record. Good manual dexterity to undertake maintenance tasks. Desirable Awareness & Appreciation of UKAS ISO 15189:2022 Standards Person Specification Qualifications Essential Good basic education. Good numeric skills with good spoken and written English BTEC Diploma in Healthcare Science Level 4 or Equivalent (or considering working towards an equivalent qualification) Desirable Healthcare Science Degree Any specialist training in Chemical Pathology or IT Experience Essential Appropriate experience of working in a modern Pathology Laboratory Experience of working in a Chemical Pathology department Experience of working with large complex automated pathology equipment Must participate fully in all out of hours rotas. Knowledge/ Skills Essential Demonstrate IT literacy. Advanced keyboard skills. Demonstrate well rounded personality, calm disposition and good attitude to work. Ability to work under pressure and as a lone worker. Able physically to perform the role - requires ability to lift, bend and be flexible when undertaking maintenance tasks - demonstrate a good health record. Good manual dexterity to undertake maintenance tasks. Desirable Awareness & Appreciation of UKAS ISO 15189:2022 Standards 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 Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Gloucester GL1 3NN Employer's website https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)