Advanced Laboratory Support Worker

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to job description for full details.

·         Accepts a full range of clinical samples into the department, working with staff within the hospital and operating the air tube system and specimen hoist.  Occasional use of stairs may be required for this purpose.

·         Assesses samples for urgency and sorts by laboratory section.

·         Matches samples and request forms and assigns unique laboratory numbers, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail.

·         Ensures that samples meet acceptance criteria for testing and dealing with any non-compliance in accordance with departmental protocols.  Is aware of appropriate sample type for all tests.

·         Is responsible for data entry into the laboratory computer system, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail.

·         Is fully conversant with relevant departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring that personal performance complies with ISO 15189-2022 standards.

·         Under the supervision of Biomedical Scientists (BMS) staff ensures the validity of results by the use of appropriate control materials and takes the appropriate action with regard to anomalous results.

·         Carries out simple maintenance and fault-finding procedures on automated, expensive (in the region of £50,000-£100,000) equipment.

·         Works in cooperation with BMS staff to ensure workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.

·         Performs telephone duties that include making and receiving calls from and to the laboratory, verbally transmitting confidential results and conveying sensitive information to healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives.

·         Participates in the preparation of disinfectants and reagents in accordance with SOPs and Health and Safety requirements.

·         To be capable of occasional heavy lifting (up to 20 kg) e.g. disposable waste or boxes of new supplies.

·         Performs a variety of manual laboratory procedures under the direct supervision of qualified BMS staff.  Procedures include the setting up of tests and pre-analytical sample preparation, including centrifugation, aliquoting and plating out.

·         Under the supervision of qualified BMS staff conducts analysis of specimens, assessing the process and outcomes of investigations in line with quality control criteria and SOPs and reports any findings in the appropriate format to those who need them as laid out in departmental SOPs

·         Works to achieve competencies across the repertoire of the department as appropriate to grade.

·         Effective communication of information about specimens and test results with other staff groups both internal and external.  To include healthcare professionals, patient representatives and commercial suppliers.

·         Receives sensitive information from patients and their representatives where empathic skills are required.

·         Displays and maintains an appropriate level of IT skills, in order to input patient and request data, maintain and amend patient records and interrogate the laboratory and hospital databases.

·         Performs a range of administrative tasks in all sections of the laboratory as required.  This includes archiving and retrieval of specimens and data, maintenance of archived material and collection of data for audits.

·         Ensures efficient use of resources and is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates.

·         Ensures appropriate stock levels are maintained in own area of operation, this may include issuing stock to external departments and ordering stock from external suppliers under supervision.

·         Maintains a clean and safe working environment through good housekeeping practices including the preparation of laboratory disinfectants.  This may include disposal of clinical waste, autoclaving, decontamination of work areas.

·         Is aware of Clinical Governance, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety polices, reporting problems, errors or breaches to the senior staff.

·         Despatches biological samples to referral centres.  Ensures that sample packaging is compliant with SOP guidelines.

·         Solves day-to-day problems e.g. mislabelled and lost specimens.

·         Provides training support and assistance to Support Workers, Trainee BMS and BMS staff.  Includes the explanation and demonstration of procedures.