Associate Practitioner (XR04)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the Department of Cellular Pathology team in LTHT. The Department provides a Histopathology, Andrology, Immunohistochemistry, Muscle, Molecular, Non Gynae Cytology and Mortuary service for Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Due to the expanding workload we are recruiting additional staffing to join our team. The postholder will be involved in performing laboratory techniques on patient samples, using both manual and automated platforms.

We are a continually improving and innovative department. We were the first laboratory in the UK digitally scanning all surgical slides and the first to introduce automated tissue sectioners to the UK. We are a regional Cellular Pathology Genomics Centre and pilot site for the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad. The department has appointed a Transformation Lead to support with development of the service and is also supported by a Pathology Technology & Innovation Lead. We are an IBMS accredited training lab and strive for high quality staff and processes.

The department operates Monday to Saturday 7:30 to 7:30 with standard day and extended day shifts.

Expected Shortlisting Date: 29/04/2025

Planned Interview Date: 08/05/2025

Main duties of the job

Examples of general duties will include:

1. Microtomy
2. Operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of AS-410 autosectioners
3. Operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of automated special stains platforms
4. Operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of automated immunocytochemistry platforms

This job requires a high degree of dexterity and precision, for example, handling very small volumes of clinical material or when preparing microscope slides for examination by others. In order to achieve the required turnaround times the work must be performed with both speed and accuracy.

You will be expected to participate in the quality and improvement agenda of the department / CSU.

The post holder will fulfil the departmental objective of a good quality analytical and interpretive laboratory service to the benefit of patient care.

About us

The department provides Histopathology, Non Gynae Cytology, Andrology, Muscle, Nerve, Immunohistochemistry, Molecular, and Mortuary services for LTHT and surrounding primary care centres.

We are a large department processing circa 60,000 surgical cases, 3000 andrology cases, 2,000 autopsy cases and 6000 non-gynaecological cytology cases per annum.

The department is staffed with a range of professions including Biomedical & Mortuary Support Workers, Associate Healthcare Science Practitioners, Anatomical Pathology Technicians, Biomedical Scientists, Advanced Practitioner Biomedical Scientists, admin and secretarial staff, pathologists and a management team.

As a training hospital we serve to expand the knowledge and skills of all staff. There are plenty of opportunities to become involved, and further development is encouraged. We endeavour to follow 'The Leeds Way' at all times putting the patient first at all times.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job responsibilities

Clinical/Scientific/Technical Objectives:

1. To perform appropriate technical laboratory procedures and tasks consistent with the job holders levels of knowledge, skills and experience. These tasks may vary from day to day but examples would include:
2. Competency in relevant technical and analytical aspects of service area
3. Identifies minor errors and takes corrective action to resolve within scope of practice
4. Performs basic troubleshooting of analytical problems under the direction and supervision of a qualified person, if outside scope of practice
5. Seeks advice where test results are outside acceptable limits, in accordance with instructions defined in standard operating procedures
6. Communication of routine technical information to users of the service under supervision of HCPC registered staff
7. Use of LIMS to report, retrieve and manage technical information.
8. Under direction of the team lead, co-ordinates effective workflow management within service area
9. Takes proactive measures to ensure that agreed turnaround times are met and effectively prioritises analyses
10. Performs quality control in accordance with the requirements of standard operating procedures.
11. Confirms that investigations have been completed in strict accordance with the requirements defined in standard operating procedures and associated quality assurance documentation
12. Performs routine maintenance and first line calibration of equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures
13. Performs maintenance and quality control checks prior to testing and instigates remedial action to basic problems, in accordance with limits of practice defined in standard operating protocols

This job requires a high degree of dexterity and precision, for example, when manipulating small tools such as pipettes, handling very small volumes of clinical material or when preparing microscope slides for examination by others. In order to achieve the required turnaround times the work must be performed with both speed and accuracy.

Leadership & Management Objectives:

1. Supervision responsibilities for designated staff
2. Delivers training and competency assessment for staff within own area
3. Supports effective and efficient management of section, including optimisation of workflow and continuous improvement
4. Contributes to general departmental management by assisting in the ordering, receipt and control of consumables and stock levels
5. Organise own tasks on a day to day basis under the guidance of section lead
6. Maintain own competence in established procedures and participate in relevant training where required.
7. Supports waste reduction and continuous improvement incentives for designated area
8. Supports collaborative team working across all sections.

Quality Objectives:

1. To participate in the quality agenda and compliance monitoring of the laboratory including (but not limited to): datix reporting & basic immediate investigation of issues, contributes to audit and compliance within scope of practice, identifying defects & undertaking basic quality control, contributing to quality documents updates & SOPs.
2. Performs and confirms successful analysis according to QMS
3. Monitors quality indicators and correctly identifies instances where work has deviated from them.
4. Maintain personally generated analytical test results and interrogates test results generated by others
5. Follows standard operating procedures but advice is available from section lead as required
6. Make judgements over a range of facts or situations which may require analysis over a range of options.
7. Reports incidents of nonconformity with QMS requirements and identifies potential underlying causes.
8. Undertake a wide variety of automated and manual test procedures referring to section lead when necessary
9. Assist in maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the diagnostic testing process.
10. Participates in the collation of service user/stakeholder feedback
11. Supports with research, development and evaluation of new methods/instruments/tests including verification of new technology/tests in specialist area
12. Supports with identification of service improvement opportunities and implementation of improvement actions
13. Assists in the delivery of continuous improvement/development plans for specialist area

Other:

Undertake other duties as commensurate with the grade and role as agreed with line manager.

As the job holder you will communicate and work directly or indirectly with a diverse range of other staff. Those shown below are examples:

Internal:

• Colleagues, supervisors and managers within the speciality
• Pathology staff working in other specialities
• Members of clinical teams including nurses, doctors and other practitioners
• Administrative and secretarial staff
• Estates and facilities staff

External:

• Staff in primary care facilities
• Staff in other hospitals
• Staff in non NHS organizations (for example suppliers of consumables)

As the job holder you will be required to work in a clinical laboratory environment. As such you will work under controlled conditions where chemical and biohazardous materials are handled. For your own protection you will be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and for this you will receive training. Frequent periods of light and occasional periods of moderate physical activity related to stores management may be expected. The service is delivered from a number of different sites and you may be required, subject to consultation, to travel between sites.

Physical Effort:

Many tasks are repetitive and may involve the job holder standing at equipment or sitting at the laboratory bench for extended periods. Regular requirement to sit at PC and regular requirement for post holder to be mobile for collection & delivery of samples.

This job requires the holder to participate in stock control, including the movement of goods from the point of delivery to the point of storage. This will require frequent movement of effort during a shift. There will be the occasional requirement for moderate physical effort during a shift (up to 15kg).

Mental Effort:

There is a frequent requirement for concentration where the work pattern is unpredictable. The post holder can expect to be asked by supervisory staff to change tasks at short notice. In order to minimise errors concentration is required on a daily basis when processing specimens. There is an occasional requirement for prolonged concentration subject to workload.

The job holder is expected to operate complex laboratory equipment. This task requires concentration so that personal safety is maintained, and equipment is not damaged.

There is no requirement for the job holder to drive a vehicle.

Emotional Effort:

In normal circumstances there is little patient contact by the job holder and exposure to emotional circumstances is limited. However, subject to the requirements of the speciality some patient contact may occur such as in the collection of capillary blood samples from children.

Working Conditions:

The job holder will be required to work with chemical and biological material on every shift. The working environment in a clinical laboratory is strictly controlled and under normal circumstances these hazards are contained. There will be occasional exposure to uncontrolled chemical and biological hazard after spillage or leakage.

Exposure to physical aggressive behaviour is rare. Occasional exposure to verbal aggression occurs during telephone communication with service users.

Person Specification

Experience

• Knowledge of conventional IT software and IT literacy e.g. Microsoft Office
• Previous experience of working in a laboratory
• Previous experience of working in Cellular Pathology

Qualifications

• Level 4 Qualification in a laboratory or science-related subject or IBMS Certificate of Achievement part 2
• Literate/Numerate. (GCSE Maths & English Grade A-C or equivalent)
• Computer skills are essential requirements of the job.
• Willingness to undertake further in-house or formal training

Skills and Behaviours

• Able to work in a team and independently
• Flexible approach to work
• Friendly and a good communicator
• Dexterity
• Numerate and literate
• Previous experience of working in a laboratory

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.