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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Liaise with the BCPS POCT Manager or deputy in planning, coordinating and organising the overall workload to ensure completion of work and that the POCT service is supported during normal working hours.

Plan own daily activities, depending on the daily status of the POCT equipment and needs of the clinical users.

Answer telephone enquiries regarding POCT equipment and communicate professionally with clinical users and liaise with other health professionals and POCT equipment suppliers.

Use, troubleshoot and assess POCT equipment and decide on the course of action to be taken when equipment failures occur.  Provide advice, support and training to users of the equipment who are less experienced.

Ensure faulty equipment is returned to the manufacturer, when necessary, following set protocols.

Participate in stock control and correct storage of POCT consumables, alerting the BCPS POCT Manager or deputy when POCT consumables need to be purchased.

Assist in the distribution of External Quality Assurance (EQA) samples, collation of EQA data from appropriate software and entry of results into web based EQA schemes.           

Analyse internal quality control (IQC) and EQA samples on POCT equipment when required. Perform  tests using the equipment to ensure that it is working correctly.

Reconstitute IQC and EQA material which requires accuracy, ensuring that it is made up using correct volumes and with appropriate timings to ensure accurate results.

Carry out audits when required.

Perform general office duties associated with POCT activities such as scanning, photocopying.

Use a variety of different IT platforms for monitoring POCT equipment and entering and removing data such as user details.

Carry out the safe, accurate and precise handling of POCT equipment, reagents and samples.  The use of the POCT equipment requires good hand eye co-ordination.  Pipettes are used to aliquot small sample volumes and the post holder must ensure that the correct amount of sample is applied to the correct location at the correct time to ensure an accurate result is produced.

Understand basic analyser principles for processing samples.

Load up and closedown analysers/meters e.g. full blood count analyser.

Process internal quality control material and check within limits.  Know how to troubleshoot IQC failures.

Process EQA material.

Check form/sample labelling and number samples according to laboratory protocols.

Analyse patient samples.

Perform stock control and batch recording of reagents.

Perform elementary clot removal.

Perform maintenance/decontamination and basic troubleshooting.  Know when to phone the laboratory if the analyser/meter malfunctions.

Check results with previous/historical results for discrepant results. 

Know the meaning of analyser flags.

Send samples to main laboratory.

Assist in equipment validation and audit.

Obtain blood specimens by venepuncture from all patients who require blood analysis on the request of an appropriate medical clinician.

Follow phlebotomy standard operating procedures which include the following; patient approach, patient identification, patient preparation, patient consent, selection of correct equipment, venepuncture, selection of correct test containers, correct fill of containers, resolving and recognition of problems.

Recognise contraindications and complications arising from the procedure and refer to an appropriate professional.

Ensure correct labelling and transportation of specimens when required.

Prioritise own duties and workload on daily basis, working to deadlines.

Check and maintain phlebotomy stock levels.

Perform an unpredictable variety of activities, requiring differing combinations of sitting, standing, walking and lifting, with frequent periods of computer work. 

Travel to all BCPS Trusts and the outlying hospitals.

Good hand eye co-ordination and accuracy when preparing IQC, EQA and using pipettes for measurement of samples.

Utilise and ensure others utilise information and IT systems to secure accurate and timely patient, workforce and resource data.

Demonstrate knowledge of the financial implications of adherence to Trust policies and exercise financial control by ensuring adherence to protocols.

Communicate with colleagues and clinical staff to convey information that may include patient data of a complex and sensitive nature.

Liaise with various grades of internal and external staff.

Assist in the development of audit tools and the dissemination of data                                                      

Investigate, report and document adverse incidents/near misses in accordance with the Trusts Clinical Governance strategy.

Use of laboratory information Management systems and other POCT IT platforms as necessary (training will be given).

Input patient data (including demographics onto the laboratory information system) and retrieval of patient data.

To see full list of duties and main responsibilities, please refer to the full job description  attached to the vacancy on the Trust website.