Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES 

Technical

• Undertake manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations on a rotational basis through all sections within the Department as required.
• Follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and participate in the regular review and update of SOPs.
• Ensure that equipment is used in accordance with Departmental policies and suppliers’ instructions.
• Undertake routine and more complex maintenance procedures on the analysers within the Department carry out appropriate internal maintenance procedures and maintain maintenance records.
• Plan and organise their work within the demands of the team.
• Undertake technical validation and authorisation of the complex results from laboratory investigations ensuring accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols.
• Measure and monitor the accuracy and precision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
• Carry out corrective action when quality control procedures indicate loss of performance. Inform senior staff as necessary.
• Prepare reagents to specification.
• Monitor laboratory and satellite blood fridges and take remedial action in the event of failure to secure stock viability.
• Assist medical staff in bone marrow biopsies.
• Report any instance or event that may cause service delivery failure.
• Have occasional direct patient contact for example performing sweat test Analysis on children referred from the Paediatric Consultants, and to deliver relevant information to parents/guardians. To be aware of trust policies regarding working with children.
• Check the integrity of patient samples and note any interfering factors before initiating analysis.
• Take responsibility for selection of correct blood and blood products from laboratory stock, as requested for patients following standard operating procedures.
• Ensures best use of stocks in component selection, and maintenance of adequate stock of blood and products in accordance with pre-determined stock levels, and order patient specific products as required in accordance with SOPs from local NBTS.
• When required, to take technical responsibility for the daily running of a section.
• Monitor performance of equipment and methods, identifying to Senior staff any concerns. Undertaking equipment repair as required and seeking any necessary advice from equipment manufacturers.
• When available, to provide technical support and advice to out of hours staff by telephone, and to attend the department out of hours if required.

Diagnostic

Use interpretive skills to determine the clinical significance of results of laboratory tests, for example, by: 

• Preparing, examining, and reporting on examination of specimens.
• Performing molecular diagnostic tests and electrophoresis.
• Performing diagnostic tests by various methods including Biochemical, Immunological, Electrophoretic, Chromatographic and Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques.
• Microscopy, for example in the reporting of blood film morphology, malaria screening, transfusion compatibility testing, Kleihauer-Betke testing.

Interpret diagnostic laboratory results and take appropriate actions for example:

•  Authorisation of results.
• Adding technical comments and suggest further investigations.
• Referring results for a second opinion using professional judgement.
• Informing the requestor/medical staff of clinically significant results.
• Communicate patient results by telephone.
• Carry out the analysis of serum, whole blood, urine and other body fluids and tissues utilising automated, semi-automated and manual techniques.
• Operate multi-channel, high throughput, micro-processor controlled analytical instruments for the routine and emergency analysis of patient samples.
• Carry out more specialised assays using a range of dedicated analysers and manual techniques.
• Access on-board reagent supply logs and select reagents and consumables that require replenishment before commencing analysis.
• Inspect calibration and quality control data on these instruments and program calibration for those parameters that require it to ensure optimal performance.
• Technically validate and report individual results in electronic form and to ensure that results are released in a timely manner in accordance with Quality Control policy.
• Deal with abnormal, problem and critical results and initiate what action needs to be taken regarding checking the validity of results and informing senior BMS staff, clinicians and/or Consultant Pathology staff.
• Perform External Quality Control and be aware of the External Quality Control performance for the section.

Out of Hours Working 

• Demonstrate competency in order to work autonomously out of hours.
• Complete regular training exercises in order to maintain relevant skills in Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusion as appropriate to enable unsupervised participation in the laboratory out of hours service.
• Initiate re-analysis, dilution, reflex tests and validation of abnormal results.
• Technically validate results for the clinical staff on the wards and inform the appropriate Pathology Consultant of abnormal results outside pre-set action limits.
• Be aware of security and health and safety issues appertaining to the out of hours situation.
• Act as the first point of contact for service users out of hours. Advise service users about appropriate use of the laboratory service. Act as a liaison between service users, Pathology Consultants and other laboratory personnel as appropriate.

Health and Safety

• Adhere to Trust and departmental Health & Safety protocols and Fire regulations.
• Identify risks, and to be aware of risk assessments affecting the workplace. Report clinical incidents to the Blood Sciences Service Lead. Report any defects or required maintenance in the building / services to the Blood Sciences Service Lead.
• Adhere to current Control of Substances Hazardous to Health legislation (COSHH). Ensuring the preparation, safe handling, storage, and disposal of reagents is carried out in accordance with departmental policy and COSHH legislation regarding hazardous materials and chemicals.

Communications

• Communicate results to persons authorised to receive them in a clear and concise manner following appropriate policies and procedures.
• Provide advice and information to laboratory, ward, GP staff and patients regarding samples and sample handling including information on appropriate tests and collection conditions for in-house, referred and infrequently requested tests.
• Deal with result and test queries where information may be conflicting and difficult to understand- appropriateness of test or explanation of results.
• Initiate major incident cascade within Pathology in the absence of senior staff and liaise with National Blood Service over blood stock levels.
• Communicate any relevant information to laboratory colleagues within the section and inform effectively at hand over.
• Actively participate in departmental meetings, team briefings, educational and audit meetings as appropriate.
• Ensure effective communication is maintained within the department.
• Maintain good working relations with all members of staff and promote effective teamwork.

Other Duties

• Take part in outpatient clinics, collecting biological samples from patients and carrying out Point of Care Testing investigations.
• Contribute to and attend Annual Management Review if required.
• Keep the workplace and work benches clean and tidy.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Maintain Professional Registration with the HCPC.
• Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional and Regulatory bodies.
• Maintain and promote the professional image of the Pathology, STHK and SOHT.
• Maintain and develop skills to enable participation in departmental rotation.
• Maintain an awareness of developments and provide suggestions for implementation as appropriate.
• Attend educational and training courses as required by the departmental manager. Maintain knowledge of advances in relevant scientific areas, through Continuous Professional Development activities.
• Actively participate in departmental continuous professional development activity.
• Maintain skills as appropriate in Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusion areas to enable participation in the rota.
• Work to support the delivery and maintenance of standards expected by external agencies such as UKAS and MHRA.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK).
• Comply with good laboratory practices required for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) including Health and Safety.
• Advise the Operational Lead when stocks of reagents and consumables are approaching minimum stock levels or take appropriate action.
• Comply with the local and national policies for safe, secure, and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
• Use Pathology systems according to the authorised protocols.
• Enter own results and those obtained by others into the Laboratory Information System LIMS.
• Check and correct, if necessary, information input by other laboratory staff.
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.
• Know and understand back-up procedures in the case of LIMS/PAS failure.
• Assist in the audit of data held on the pathology laboratory information system.
• Perform required maintenance of analytical systems and interfaces including archiving and backup of software and results to ensure effective maintenance and running