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Job summary

Main area
Histopathology
Grade
Band 3
Contract
12 months (12 months fixed term maternity cover)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday 08:30 - 17:00)
Job ref
249-7198199
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£24,625 - £25,674 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
Today at 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Biomedical Support Worker

Band 3

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join Great Western Hospital as a Biomedical Support Worker on a fixed term contract to cover maternity leave for 12 months. 

You will part of the Cellular Pathology team involved in the technical preparation of specimens and performing defined procedures in accordance with standard operating procedures. This will include all aspects of the routine service provided by the department.

Main duties of the job

  •  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.
  • 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).
  •  Assist with the process of specimen dissection. This involves writing medical dictation for occasionally long periods of time, and checking patient and specimen identification. 
  •  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).
  •  Embedding processed tissue. This involves correctly orientating tissue in order to ensure subsequent diagnostic processes are able to be completed accurately.



Working for our organisation

“Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.”

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

Please see the attached job description for full information

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths
Desirable criteria
  • Science A-levels (or equivalent): Biology, Chemistry, Physics
  • NVQ L3 in a laboratory-based discipline
  • IBMS Certificate of Achievement for Biomedical Science Support Staff, part I or II.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of successfully working in a busy, multi-factorial role.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in a pathology department
  • Experience in Cytology and/or Histology
  • Experience in a customer service role.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively.
  • Good time management.
  • Ability to work independently and take direction and to pass on information accurately and timely.
  • Able to build effective working relationships with staff and colleagues.
Desirable criteria
  • Competent in using Winpath pathology IT system

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: Goldhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources/kickstart-scheme-brand-guidelinesStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Matthew Long
Job title
Cellular Pathology Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793 604278
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