Bank - Band 4 Associate Practitioner

To be an efficient flexible member of the Hillingdon Hospital laboratory providing a high quality service to Imperial College Healthcare Trust.

Key working relationships:

Good communication skills are essential, as the post holder is required to communicate effectively with Biomedical Scientists, Clinical Scientists, Clinicians and other healthcare providers and managers in and out of the Trust; other Trust Directorates including Estates, IT, Human Resource, Payroll, Occupational Health, Purchasing and Finance. Active participation in local and divisional laboratory meetings is expected.

Additional relationships appropriate to the role may be required.

Main duties of the job

Key result areas:

1. Contributes to providing a professional clinical laboratory service, working effectively as a team member as part of the overall department.
2. Able to perform core scientific work, which corresponds to the training and qualifications of a Healthcare Scientist Associate Practitioner.
3. Develop and improve your professional expertise.
4. Provides basic clinical technical services to patients that may include research and audit.

About us

We are absolutely committed to ensuring that our patients have the best possible experience within our hospitals. We are looking for people who are committed to delivering excellent patient care, whatever their role, and who take pride in what they do. We place a high value on treating all patients, customers and colleagues with respect and dignity, and seek people who strive for excellence and innovation in all that they do.

We value all of our staff and aim to provide rewarding careers and benefits, fulfilling work environments and exciting opportunities.

Job responsibilities

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Communication and Relationship Skills

1. To demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity in dealing with patients/clients, visitors/relatives and colleagues, maintaining good customer relations.
2. Contribute towards sharing good practice within the department and Trust wide.
3. To promote a positive image of the Trust at all times.
4. To work cohesively with all members of the department team in ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at all times.
5. Communicates any difficulties, problems, accidents or incidents affecting the department to a section leader/manager promptly.

1. Responsibility- Scientific and Technical Duties

1. To become proficient in designated areas of diagnostic work within the department and to provide a comprehensive and appropriate laboratory service to patients and staff.
2. Develop level of proficiency in technical skills to solve problems in the analytical process.
3. To work under supervision in a number of sections in the laboratory.
4. Ensure all work is completed timely and to satisfactory standards and will seek advice from senior staff when required.
5. Ensure that safe working practices are maintained according to standard operating procedures.
6. To assist in maintaining appropriate internal and external quality assurance.
7. To technically validate reports where necessary using judgmental expertise and following training and competency assessment.
8. To adhere to Standard Operational Procedures for the processing of samples.
9. Under direction participate in the delivery of research, development and audit projects.
10. Ensure that documentation is maintained to the Trust standard (including electronic records).
11. To demonstrate awareness and compliance with Trust policies, procedures, guidelines and standards. To work towards promoting this to others.
12. Identify and report clinical risks so that appropriate action can be taken in accordance with the Trust risk management policy.

1. Responsibility- Policy and Service

1. To be involved actively in the implementation of Trust policies and procedures at department level, reinforcing their use.
2. Maintain, update and develop personal and professional knowledge and skills, at first under supervision, using the Trust's Performance Review System, enabling standards of patient care to be monitored constantly and improved.
3. Record and report all incidents/complaints involving staff, patients and visitors in accordance with Trust policies and assist in any investigations as required.
4. To ensure all NWL Pathology laboratory sites gain and maintain full accreditation/inspection status of National regulatory bodies including (but not restricted to):

• UK Accreditation Service (UKAS)
• Good Clinical Pathology Practice (GCSP)
• Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
• Human Tissue Authority (HTA)
• European Federation of Immunogenetics (EFI)

1. Responsibility- Financial and Physical

1. Replace stocks of consumables and reagents when required and inform the section leader if back up stocks are low.

1. Responsibility Staff/ HR/ Leadership, & Training

1. Maintain, update and develop personal and professional knowledge and skills by participating in the Trust's 1:1 process and PDP development.
2. Participate fully as a team member, sharing knowledge and information and supporting colleagues, including support staff to promote a cohesive laboratory team and the achievement of team objectives.
3. Be familiar with all core trust policies such as sickness reporting, annual leave requesting, health and safety.
4. Be familiar with the Health and Safety policies of the Trust and the department and ensure that they are followed to maintain a safe working environment for all employees and visitors.
5. Assists in training new staff members as appropriate and other staff on rotation.

1. Education

1. Undertake a structured training and development programme to successfully acquire core competencies which are matched to the National Occupational Standards and thereafter maintain the required standards of competence when undertaking duties.
2. Maintain your Registration professional body accreditation- where applicable.
3. Must develop and improve your scientific expertise, which may be via CPD within an appraisal programme. Maintain a portfolio of relevant developments achieved.

1. Responsibility- Information resources

1. Undertake relevant training for electronic information systems in place & under development and be familiar and proficient with the use of the information technology systems within the department.
2. To have an active e-mail account.

Responsibility- Patient / Client Care

1. To enter patient information and some test results onto the laboratory information system.

Responsibility- Research and development

1. Participate in the collection of audit and research data as required.

Freedom to Act

1. Required to work under supervision with access to senior members of staff at all times.

Other Duties

1. To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested.

Person Specification

Experience

• At least 6 months NHS experience in a laboratory or equivalent experience in the UK.

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.