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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication and Relationship skills

 

• Deal helpfully, clearly, confidently and efficiently with laboratory staff, other healthcare professionals and visitors to the laboratory.

 

• Actively participate in departmental meetings and liaise effectively with all members of staff in the laboratory to ensure the work of the unit is co-ordinated.

 

• Transmit laboratory test results (paper, electronic, verbally), including telephoned urgent results, to submitting laboratories and provide associated specialist advice relating to the appropriateness of samples and investigation requests.

 

• Provide technical support through in-depth specialist knowledge to other laboratory staff and external contacts, including circumstances where opinion between individuals may differ.

 

• Refer all specific enquiries relating to individual patient management, the control of infection or the management of outbreaks to the Head of TRU.

 

• Identify and communicate accurately and urgently to the Head of TRU any results that may have a significant effect on patient management or the control of infection and disease.

 

• Identify and investigate errors, problems and other system failures relating to service delivery in the laboratory. Report findings to Operational Manager (TRU).

 

• Produce and present laboratory-generated data and information to others, e.g. at conferences and scientific meetings and to prepare such material for publication in peer reviewed scientific journals.

 

• Represent the Toxoplasma Reference Unit on the SBUHB Health and Safety Group, by attending the H&S Group meetings and reporting back to the Head of Unit and the staff of the TRU.

 

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Maintain and demonstrate competence and understanding in the performance and interpretation of non-routine, specialist tests and investigations undertaken in accordance with laboratory policies and protocols consistent with the requirements of ISO 15189 and the standards of proficiency for the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

 

• Maintain HCPC registration as a condition of employment.

 

• Maintain high professional standards by continual professional development (CPD), keeping up to date with advances in medical microbiology and parasitology, by undertaking appropriate activities including attending courses and meetings to maintain up to date knowledge.

 

• Contribute to the maintenance of a safe working environment, work in a safe manner and maintain standards of conduct and working practice in accordance with Public Health Wales and laboratory health and safety policies.

 

• Contribute to service development through participation in research, evaluation of laboratory methods / equipment and implementation of new techniques service development through participation in research, evaluation of laboratory methods / equipment and implementation of new techniques

 

• In collaboration with TRU Quality lead, collate, review / evaluate methods and techniques as appropriate and draft new SOPs

 

• To be conversant with, and undertake duties in accordance with, the agreed guidelines, policies and procedures of Public Health Wales, the host Trust and other stakeholders.

 

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

 

• Establish the presence of infection by using serology and/or molecular tests for the differential diagnosis and detection of toxoplasma parasites in clinical specimens, and the presence of contamination in food, water and environmental samples, using non routine, specialist tests in accordance with laboratory policies and protocols.

 

• Genotype toxoplasma parasites by applying molecular tests to clinical specimens, food, water and environmental samples in accordance with laboratory policies and protocols. Report and validate own, and others’, results according to TRU SOPs.

 

·       Demonstrate advanced understanding of manual and automated equipment used within the laboratory. This includes first-line trouble shooting and fault rectification.

 

• Manage and participate in external and internal quality assurance, including generation and evaluation of quality control materials, collation of data and analysis of results. Investigate and report on unexpected results.

 

• Manage the generation, verification, provision and recording of positive control material for Toxoplasma detection to other laboratories

 

• Monitor and assess laboratory processes, and respond to test, quality control or equipment failures immediately, and solve problems through liaison with senior staff and external contacts.

 

• Report incidents promptly and accurately according to protocol.

 

• Participate in quality audit, reporting non-conformance, ensuring maintenance of the quality system and compliance with accreditation standards, thus maintaining and improving quality standards within the unit.

 

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Manage efficiently the reception, storage, testing, reporting and disposal of routine specimen submissions to the Toxoplasma Reference Unit

 

·       Validate and authorise laboratory results in a timely manner, following the agreed laboratory algorithm, and identify significant findings and consult with appropriate Biomedical and Clinical Scientist staff.

 

• Prioritise and manage own day-to-day work, alongside other senior staff.

 

• Manage the work, as line manager, and monitor the performance of, the BMSWs and other junior staff as required to ensure that a high standard is maintained by providing advice and guidance as necessary.

 

• Provide technical training to others (including visiting staff) allocated to the unit on procedures for the investigation and diagnosis of known or suspected toxoplasma infections according to the laboratory training scheme and/or as directed by the Training Officer or Head of Unit.

 

Physical skills

• Demonstrate accurate hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for working with delicate equipment and instruments,  e.g. microscopes; real-time PCR machines and recording fine detail, e.g. on very small tubes, as required by the role.

Responsibility for Patient / Client Care

• Responsible for specimen receipt, governance and processing including separating serum or plasma from whole blood and DNA extraction (the post holder handles body fluids and materials, including high-risk specimens from HIV and Hepatitis B and C patients), ensuring the correct result is always assigned to the correct patient sample.

 

• Identify relevant specimens and undertake and report more complex processing under specialised conditions, e.g. in-house serology and molecular tests with bespoke requirements.

 

• Identify and process critical samples requiring legal process continuity.

 

Responsibility for Policy / Service Development Implementation

 

• Contribute to service development through participation in evaluation of laboratory methods, equipment, consumables and implementation of new techniques.

 

·       Follow Standard Operating Procedures and participates in their review and update.

 

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

 

• Manage the day to day care, maintenance, cleanliness and security of laboratory premises and equipment, reporting faults, failures or omissions to other senior staff as necessary.

 

• Keep equipment in optimal condition for use and making fine adjustments as necessary. This may include co-ordinating with external contacts such as company engineers to ensure continuous operation of essential equipment, and obtaining quotes and specifications for new equipment as requested by the Head of Unit.

 

• Ensure consumable stocks are managed, maintained and ordered in a timely and efficient manner. Negotiate with vendors relating to purchase of consumables and high-value equipment.

 

Responsibility for Human Resources

 

·       Line manage the Healthcare Support Workers to ensure the efficient operation of the Unit

 

• Provide induction, training and competency of staff in accordance with the laboratory training plan and via personal development planning and other management processes, and to encourage high standards of professional training.

 

• Participate in selection, recruitment and induction of staff as needed.

 

• Undertake and report Health and Safety audits from locations throughout PHW Microbiology Swansea.

 Responsibility for Information Resources

• Perform manual and electronic data entry to ensure data integrity when entering demographics, specimen related information and results into the laboratory information management system.

 

• Ensure information is accurate and up to date for future reference and complies with the Data Protection Act/ and GDPR requirements.

 

• Ensure the maintenance and smooth operation of the Laboratory Information Management computer system for the section through liaison with IT staff and trust contacts.

 

Responsibility for Research and Development

 

• Adapt to change and regularly participate in scientific projects, clinical trials, evaluations, audit and research projects when required.

 

• Evaluate new equipment, test kits and in-house assays.

 

 Freedom to Act

 

• Undertake all duties in accordance with agreed guidelines, policies and procedures, to maintain the production and quality of scientific data.

 

• As the specialist biomedical scientist, the post holder will be required to work independently and occasionally during unsocial hours.

 

• Work within own level of competency.

 

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.

 

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.