Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The applicant will undergo a period of training then will work unsupervised once deemed competent.

1.    Operation of the Philips digital slide scanner and IMS, assisting with the digital workflow, assigning cases on the IMS to consultants, QC checks of images to check for any issues, maintaining and cleaning scanner, deputise for digital lead in their absence.

2.    Preparation of case for discussion at multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs). This includes identification of the appropriate cases, retrieval of slides from archive, data entry onto Excel spreadsheets, recording of audit data on completion of the meeting, and filing completed MDT lists.

3.    Sorting of cases to be sent to other hospitals for further testing/expert opinion/review.  Logging all material sent and returned, to ensure a full audit trail is available for every specimen.

4.    Respond and reply to department emails when appropriate.

5.    Reception of specimens.  Reception includes collection of specimens from pathology reception, data matching between specimen containers and request forms, coding samples, sorting into the correct work stream, and identification of specimens which must be rejected.  Rejected samples must be resolved and logged.

6.    Booking in of patient requests onto the pathology IT system.

7.    Set up, and clean down, of dissection area, ensuring all required equipment/consumables are available and correct cleaning/disinfection methods are used.  May involve some exposure to sharps (e.g. scalpel blades, dissection knives).

8.    Assist with the process of specimen dissection. This involves checking patient demographics and writing medical dictation for occasionally long periods of time.

9.    Responsibility for specimen storage and disposal. Store specimens awaiting disposal correctly, following departmental protocol.  Identification of specimens ready for disposal. Disposal of specimens in a safe manner, including those requiring non-standard disposal (e.g. POCs).

10.  Assisting in IHC section.

11.  Embedding processed tissue. This involves correctly orientating tissue in order to ensure subsequent diagnostic processes are able to be completed accurately.

12.  Archive filing of all blocks, slides and other material, including preparation of blocks/slides for off-site storage and maintenance of records of material stored off-site.

13.  Retrieval of archived reports from current and previous laboratory IT systems.

14.  Maintenance and cleaning of automated staining machine, including the correct disposal of solvent waste in accordance with national and local regulations.  This may involve some heavy lifting.

15.  Set up, use and maintenance of the automated cover-slipper in accordance with departmental protocols.

16.  Quality control procedures, including slide labelling, matching slides with request forms, matching blocks to labelled slides, etc.

17.  If required by department, the post-holder may be trained in microtomy and special stains.

18.  Collect and dispose of solvents and flammable liquids to and from the flammable store in accordance with Health and Safety Regulations.

19.  Prepare and maintain stocks of stains, solutions and kits e.g. preparation of fine needle aspirate kits, preparation of decalcification fluid, filling the formalin reservoir, etc.

20.  Trouble-shoot processes within the scope of practice of the post-holder. This requires an awareness of processes outside their scope of practice, and referral of these issues to an appropriate member of staff.

21.  Suggest amendments/updates to departmental processes, including review of standard operating procedures where appropriate.

22.  Full participation in the departmental Quality Management system. This involves following and reviewing standard operating procedures, risk assessments, etc, error logging, carry out audits, etc.  The Quality Management system is recorded and managed via Qpulse software. Full training will be given on the use of QPulse.

23.  Participate in departmental stock control, including identification of stock requirements and receipt and booking-in of stock deliveries.

24.  Undertake general house-keeping duties; all staff must keep their own work area clean and tidy.

25.  Participate in a departmental rota of tasks and start/finish times, manage own time effectively to ensure all required tasks are completed in an appropriate timescale.

26.  The post holder may be required to participate in departmental admin tasks including data entry onto the pathology IT system, filing request forms, etc.