Skip to main content
Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
POCT
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
236-DPG-P442-25
Employer
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Salford Royal Hospital and WWL sites
Town
Salford
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
06/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust logo

POCT Specialist Practitioner

Band 6

Job overview

Are you a dynamic and innovative individual, with either POCT  /  leading a team experience  in a clinical area ready to become POCT Specialist Practitioner? 

We're on the lookout for a passionate individual to join our professional and friendly department as a POCT Specialist Practitioner, assisting the POCT management team.

The POCT department offers a comprehensive POCT service (including biochemistry,  haematology, microbiology and molecular disciplines) to Northern Care Alliance and WWL hospitals, as well as providing some community services. The POCT department provides support for analytical testing at or near the site of patient care.


You will be based primarily at Salford initially whilst being trained, but eventually you will be based at Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh sites, as we continue to develop our POCT service in an area that offers affordable, vibrant city night life and stunning locations. You will be expected to visit all sites regularly.


POCT service is an ever changing landscape and requires dynamic specialist practitioner to support the POCT technical lead.  

 

Main duties of the job

The POCT Specialist practitioner will coordinate and manage the POCT team to deliver the service across all divisions of the Trust to ensure compliance with national standards for the competency in the use of POCT devices.  The post will support the Trust, in response to POCT to maintain requirements of NHSLA, MHRA, Clinical Governance and ISO15189:2022.  The post holder will be the lead for training, maintenance and implementation of all existing and new equipment.

 

To assist the Point of Care Manager in the implementation of the Trust wide Point of Care (POCT) Policy.  The post holder will work independently throughout the departments of the Trust that use Point of Care devices and tests, and within Pathology.

Working for our organisation

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester.  Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we’re always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire – to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.  

Learn more about us in our Candidate Information Pack (opens in existing window)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Relevant NVQ level 6 qualification or equivalent experience working at Specialist Practitioner level (band 5)
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of relevant Continuous Professional Development
  • Relevant higher degree or Level 5 Managerial course and teaching or IT qualification, or equivalent experience.

Professional Registration

Essential criteria
  • Registered to a Professional Body or willing to work towards it.
Desirable criteria
  • HCPC Registered BMS
  • Registered Nurse

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential criteria
  • Requires specialist knowledge across a range of work procedures and practices underpinned by theoretical knowledge.
  • Analytical, judgement and technical skills with attention to detail
  • Training and education of staff
  • Development of audit and quality assurance systems
  • Well-developed computer and word processing skills.
  • Experience working in a large, complex, multi-professional organisation
  • Proven ability to achieve objectives within a demanding and pressured environment against challenging deadlines.
  • Experience of managing a team or function
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for presenting and communicating complex information
  • Able to maintain confidentiality and deal with situations in a sensitive manner
  • IT literate, with well-developed skills for producing high quality reports and management papers – using Microsoft office products; as well as file management systems and internet
  • Problem solving, negotiation and facilitation skills
Desirable criteria
  • Substantial experience in a POCT service (including connectivity)
  • Detailed knowledge of ISO15189:2022 standards and their implementation

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to demonstrate initiative and judgement in identifying key issues.
  • Ability to prioritise own workload and that of the team.
  • Able to manage an unpredictable pattern of working when required
  • Ability and resilience to work under pressure and to meet deadlines; managing varying demands
  • Ability to travel between Trust sites.
  • Flexible approach to working hours.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardFair Train work experience quality standard - gold standardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoWorkplace Wellbeing Charter LogoArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employerTime to changeStep into healthGM Good Employment Charter

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr Patrick Howorth
Job title
POCT Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07955434747
Additional information

If you are interested in applying for the post, please contact Dr Patrick Howorth to arrange an informal visit or to find out more about the post.   

Please do not send any CVs via email.

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Turnpike House
Eccles New Road
Salford
M50 1SW
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies