Biomedical Scientist & Training Officer

To assist in the smooth running of the laboratory and timely provision of a high quality service. The training officer is responsible for overseeing/delegating the training of all trainees/ placement students and must be suitably qualified. The primary working relationships will be with the the department Leads and the Clinical Pathology staff. To undertake additional duties as specified.

Main Responsibilities

As a key member of our team, you will be entrusted with a variety of critical tasks that are essential to the success of our organization. Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Rotate through the various sections of Clinical Pathology, working under the direction of the section leaders;
• For Clinical Pathology requests, enter patient demographics, test request information, results and comments, taking responsibility for accuracy of new information entered onto the Clinical Pathology database;
• Perform investigations on patient samples (mainly blood and urine), ranging from specialised manual techniques to automated investigations on large, expensive and technically sophisticated multichannel analysers;
• Be able to work alone during "out of hours" sessions, taking responsibility for own work and results, responding to the demands of clinicians and prioritising work accordingly;
• To safely handle, use or dispose of blood, urine,or other biological material, and hazardous chemicals;
• Undertake preventative maintenance on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations;
• Carry out first line equipment and method troubleshooting, advising line managers of situations requiring further action, and carry out initial repairs following guidance from service engineers to resolve faults;
• Prepare, store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations, ensuring lot numbers and expiry dates are first validated;
• Remove completed blood samples from automated analysers, archiving finished blood samples using the computerised system and identifying those for additional testing;
• Measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate calibration and quality control procedures, undertaking preliminary fault finding and corrective action when the quality control procedures indicate loss of performance;
• Validate and enter results from referral laboratory investigations on the Pathology computer system;
• Report to the section leader any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure;
• Assist in the reception, identification, preparation and aliquotting of blood and other biological samples prior to analysis, observing departmental health & safety policy in relation to handling potentially infectious pathological samples;
• Use the Pathology computer system to archive spare blood samples and to check samples for any outstanding tests;
• Ensure that incomplete logs are printed and sorted regularly;
• Use laboratory equipment such as automatic pipettors, balances and centrifuges accurately and safely, and monitor refrigerator and freezer temperatures;
• Ensure that priority is given to samples requiring urgent analysis by prior arrangement, and that all samples arriving in the laboratory are dealt with promptly;
• Maintain stocks of consumable items in sections;
• To participate in audit and research & development, and method verification, evaluation of quality control material, and laboratory instrument evaluation as directed by the section leader;
• Interpret first line laboratory results and take appropriate actions in line with laboratory policies and procedures. Actions will include telephoning critically abnormal results to clinicians for immediate clinical intervention, referring results to Consultants for clinical interpretation or opinion;
• Authorise results on internally performed assays and referrals when available as a priority;
• Handle telephone enquiries, retrieving results from the Pathology computer in accordance with departmental policy, and completing the telephoned results log and computer log for telephoned results;
• Participate as required in the regular and timely referral of samples to specialist laboratories for tests not available locally;
• To take part in an annual staff appraisal;
• Ensure that the training needs are met and give support where necessary;
• Regular monitoring and review time allocated for updating portfolios;
• Ensure qualifications and eligibility for any IBMS portfolios are adequate before applications are submitted;
• Keep all training documentation up to date.

Requirements

• Biomedical Science degree or equivalent;
• HCPC registered BMS and member of Institute of Biomedical Sciences at Member level;
• Previous experience working in a laboratory;
• Good knowledge of Blood Sciences techniques;
• Health & Safety code of practice;
• Experience of using laboratory based IT systems (desirable);
• Experience of accreditation (desirable).