Associate Practitioner - Histology

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Clinical Practice

Specimen reception – Cytology and Histology

• Work with fresh and formalin-fixed tissue samples, paying particular regard to the potential microbiological hazards posed by fresh tissue and the chemical hazard posed by formalin.
• Match samples with request forms and input patient and test information into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail. This information is of a complex and sensitive nature
• Following appropriate training, assist Consultant Histopathologists with complex cut ups, exercising a degree of decision making.
• Assist with photography of diagnostic cases when required
• Under guidance, set up processing machines and commence overnight cycles

Outpatient Clinics – if required

• Attend at outpatient clinic selecting appropriate fixative as required then performing staining and labelling of slides for immediate microscopical assessment.
• Apply standard quality control measure to stained slides to ensure the quality of work.
• Enter diagnostic cytology specimens onto in-house computer system.
• Have a working knowledge of the departmental filing system in order to retrieve slides and forms.

Main Laboratory - Cytology / Histology

• Perform a variety of manual laboratory procedures within the laboratories such as smear preparations, centrifugation, tissue embedding techniques, and microtomy, H&E staining, and some basic special stains
• Ensure the use of appropriate control materials
• Undertake specialist procedures to ensure that Human Tissue Act (HTA) guidelines are maintained
• Assist in the maintenance and integrity of the departmental archive of diagnostic blocks and slides. Again, ensuring HTA requirements are maintained and displaying a high level of numerical accuracy.
• Under supervision, despatch biological samples to referral centres, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail.  Ensure despatch complies with current local and national guidelines for transport of dangerous/infectious material

 Professional development and Education

• Participate in the supervision and training of Trainee BMSs, support staff, scientific and clinical staff where required.

• Maintain knowledge as appropriate
• Exercise a degree of autonomy within established limits and through guidance from qualified staff
• Attend regular appraisal in accordance with the Trust Policy.
• Develop an awareness of the requirements of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety Policies, reporting problems, errors or breaches via the appropriate mechanisms.
• Practice at the level of professional, ethical and legal codes of the Trust’s protocols and guidelines and be responsible for developing own practice.
• Develop proficiency in all departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) as required to assist in the assessment, planning and prioritisation of tasks.
• Ensure that the main lab workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Ensure that personal performance complies with United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and other professional standards.

Role Responsibilities

• Abide by current policies and procedures defined by the OUHNHS Trust and/or the Directorate Clinical Governance / Risk Management team
• Be aware of the inherent hazards of the work and to take appropriate precautions at all times, reporting to the Head Biomedical Scientist or Safety Officer any accident or potential hazards.
• Comply with the requirement to practice within the data protection and confidentiality guidelines
• Comply with the requirements of internal and external/national quality assurance and control schemes; reporting problems, errors or breaches in procedures via the appropriate mechanisms.
• Display and maintain a high level of IT skills in order to record data, including clinical request information and laboratory data, manually onto the laboratory computer system or produce documents using word processors, for a variety of purposes

• Participate proactively in the maintenance of an efficient and cohesive service by the assessment of the quality and priority of work.  This will involve planning and organising of the workday on an ongoing basis with cross cover provided for periods of absence and will require the ability to work flexibly performing multiple tasks.
• Treat everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect, be they visitors, local colleagues or the wider population.
• Communicate effectively and professionally using the appropriate mechanism (email, face to face meetings etc), following agreed protocols (telephone and visitor SOPs for example) and work to promote effective team working.
• Ensure efficient use and maintenance of resources; be aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates, thus ensuring the viability of the reagents.
• Ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner; assessing samples for urgency and ensuring samples meet acceptance criteria for testing, and deal with any non-compliance in accordance with departmental protocols.
• Ensure equipment is in full working order, assisting with troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on highly complex, expensive automated systems.
• Ensure appropriate records are kept, and liaise with senior staff and service engineers where appropriate.

The work requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment, according to individual contract.