Job summary
- Main area
- Pathology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (24/7 shift pattern)
- Job ref
- 435-D066-25
- Employer
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Blackburn Hospital
- Town
- Blackburn
- Salary
- £23,615 PA
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 01/08/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 13/08/2025
Employer heading
Healthcare Sciences Support Worker - Sample reception
NHS AfC: Band 2
At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
Job overview
Based within Blood Sciences, you will be working in specimen reception processing samples received from the Hospitals and General Practitioners. This is an area which can be very busy and requires precise working, under time pressures.
Keyboard skills and experience of data input would be a particular advantage, as would previously working in a Pathology lab, although this is not essential.
Post holder requires to participate in various shifts arranged over 24 hours including core days, weekends, nights, lates and Bank Holidays
Main duties of the job
Work as part of a team supporting and supervised by a Health and Care Professions Council registered Biomedical Scientists. Booking and preparing patient samples and requests for analysis, and carrying out basic laboratory duties.
· The Blood Sciences Department is a demand led service, processing over 4000 patient samples every weekday.
· The workflow is unpredictable such that there are significant peaks and troughs throughout the day in the number of samples arriving for processing.
· This requires a high level of tolerance to repetitive work. The need to maintain high levels of accuracy and attention to detail throughout prolonged periods of concentration are required.
· In sample processing, MLA’s must work to deadlines to assist in achieving defined analysis turnaround times to provide an effective clinical service to wards departments and GP surgeries and a fast response service to the emergency departments.
Working for our organisation
We have a friendly, professional and patient care driven team in Specimen Reception. Your role will be to work alongside other MLA's in a fast paced environment. You will receive on the job training. The laboratory service at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is delivered 24/7 at Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Sample Preparation
1. Receive and sort pathology samples.
2. Distribute samples to departments.
3. Label samples and prepare them for analysis.
4. Record and inform service users and senior staff of requests received that do not comply with the Specimen Acceptance Criteria
Data Handling
1. Enter data onto the laboratory computer system.
Housekeeping and Maintenance Tasks
1. Dispose of clinical and non-clinical waste in accordance with Trust and departmental policies
2. Clean and decontaminate working areas and equipment in accordance with laboratory protocols and record such actions.
3. Assist with the use and maintenance of some laboratory equipment.
4. Maintain adequate stocks of consumables and ensure any stock is stored in a timely manner.
Communication
1. Communicate with a limited range of Trust staff in person, eg passing of information to colleagues within Pathology
2. Be expected to communicate in a pleasant and caring manner at all times whilst maintaining confidentiality.
3. Attend department meetings as required, to ensure an awareness of developments within the work area.
4. Maintain an effective communication network; verbal, written and electronic, keeping registered practitioners informed.
5. Assist in maintaining, recording and storing information, including patient records, in line with Trust policy.
Training and Development
1. Training is provided and assessed in the department as defined in the Training Manual for Specimen Reception
2. Be trained to have a working knowledge of all health and safety procedures
3. Participate in the appraisal process and, as part of the appraisal, in discussion with the line manager, develop an annual Personal Development Plan to identify training and development needs in line with personal and organisational objectives
4. Develop own skills and knowledge.
5. Attend mandatory training as directed.
6. Assist in the training of new staff when required.
Organisational Responsibilities
1. General clerical and administrative duties including scanning request forms, photocopying, filing and shredding confidential waste.
2. Completing records in Specimen Reception, for example fridge temperatures in compliance with laboratory protocols
Professional Responsibilities
1. Maintain confidentiality at all times, ensuring information is only divulged to authorised sources and by appropriate means.
2. Exercise independent judgement and initiative by taking appropriate action to resolve any problems when they arise.
3. Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- 3 GCSE grade 4-9 English and Maths or equivalent
- Proven Keyboard skills
- Ability to work as part of a flexible rota pattern covering 24/7 hours
- Understands the need for confidentiality
- Able to manage priorities under pressure, often repetitive jobs
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a busy environment
- Experience of working in Pathology
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Pre Analytics Manager
- Job title
- Pre Analytics Manager
- Telephone number
- 01254 732399
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