Summary
We are looking for an Apprentice Science Technician to provide technical support to the Science Department at Harris Academy Orpington, enabling the smooth running of classes and maintaining a safe working environment. The successful candidate will work with the senior technician and train under them, gaining a qualification at the same time.
Wage
Competitive
Actual salary £10,521 - £18,807 (38 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week)
Training course
Laboratory technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm. Term time only, 38 weeks a year.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date
Monday 28 April
Duration
1 year 6 months
Positions available
1
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
Main areas of responsibility:
* To assist and advise teaching staff on the preparation and layout in classrooms for practical exercises, running trials of experiments, demonstrations and helping students with learning activities as appropriate.
* To ensure equipment and materials prepared for lessons are to the specification of the teacher requisitions, including making up special equipment or modifying from existing equipment as necessary from instructions supplied by the science teaching staff.
* In conjunction with the appropriate teachers to advise students on the safe and proper use of tools and equipment and on the correct and safe way to carry out learning activities. To also advise staff, as necessary, on Health and Safety issues and on the best way to carry out practical work, new ways of demonstrating experiments, new techniques or procedures available.
* To assist in the safety, repair and general maintenance of all resources, equipment and tools in conjunction with the appropriate line managers. To advise these on any maintenance or inspection needed by the equipment which is beyond postholder’s competence.
* To be responsible for the welfare and care of the plants and animals in the science area and the security of the equipment.
* Ensure understanding of science syllabus and schemes of work in order to prepare for practical lessons adequately.
* To assist with stock keeping, using the computerised stock take database to include chemicals, equipment, textbooks, stationery, etc. and ensuring that appropriate levels of stock are maintained. Carrying out regular stocktaking checks and ordering as necessary.
* To undertake safety checks as required and comply with the requirements of Health and Safety, COSHH and other relevant legislation and school documentation. This to include carrying out appropriate risk assessments for practical and technical activities.
* Ensure Implementation of health and safety regulations across the subject area.
* To assist in ensuring that all equipment and materials are stored safely and securely, ensuring that they are maintained in good condition, with clear records, and readily available for issue.
* To dispose of used chemicals/hazardous waste in a safe manner as well as ensuring that hygiene and health and safety standards are maintained in the laboratory and preparation areas.
* To undertake basic maintenance and cleaning of equipment and to organise its construction, cleaning, servicing and repair as required in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
* Keep up to date with health and safety regulations and with developments in practical science, attending relevant courses and reading publications.
Where you’ll work
Harris Academy Orpington
Tintagel Road
Orpington
BR5 4LG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
CSR SCIENTIFIC TRAINING LIMITED
Your training course
Laboratory technician (level 3)
Equal to A level
Course contents
* Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
* Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
* Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
* Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
* Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
* Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
* Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
* Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
* Complete documentation proficiently
* Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
* Contribute to the preparation of reports.
* Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
* Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
* Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
* Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
* Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
* Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
* Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
* Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results
* Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
* Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
* Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
* Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
* Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
* Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
* Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
* Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
* Complete documentation proficiently
* Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
* Contribute to the preparation of reports.
* Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
* Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
* Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
* Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
* Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
* Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
* Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
* Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results
Your training plan
Through the training provider, CSR Scientific Training, you will undertake a Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship which will include:
* Fully recognised apprenticeship qualification - Level 3 Laboratory Technician
* On-the-job competency training
* Training will be delivered online with occasional site visits by a vocational skills coach to assess you in the workplace.
Upon successful completion, apprentices can apply for professional registration as a Registered Science Technician, RSciTech, with either the Royal Society of Chemistry or Royal Society of Biology.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* 2 more GCSEs (grade 4)
* English (grade 4)
* Maths (grade 4)
* Science (grade 4)
A Level in:
* Physics, Chemistry or Biology (grade C)
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
* Problem solving skills
* Presentation skills
* Administrative skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Initiative
* Non judgemental
* Patience
Other requirements
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.