Job summary
Employer heading
Assistant Technical Officer
Band 2
Job overview
Applications are invited from suitably demonstrable candidates to join our busy team within the Cellular and Anatomical Pathology department at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, within the Histology laboratory.
We require an Assistant Technical Officer to work as part of a team within the Histology Main Laboratory.
A positive attitude to flexible working arrangements is required.
We are looking for a competent and versatile individual with a 'can do' attitude who is a good team player and communicator, willing to learn new skills to join our team.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
You will be part of a team providing a valuable support function to our Diagnostic Service, handling and processing patients’ samples as part of the analytical process, with a particular role in processing of samples within the main Histology laboratory.
Applicants must have good basic dexterity, numeracy and literacy skills; technical aptitude, knowledge of Health and Safety issues; basic IT skills; be able to work under pressure within a team and have an eye for detail.
Working for our organisation
Derriford is a Cancer Care Centre and the largest teaching hospital within the southwest peninsula and offers excellent onsite facilities including a modern library, teaching, meeting and video-conferencing facilities. It has strong links with Plymouth University and the Peninsula school of Medicine and Dentistry.
The department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology is the largest provider of Histological services in the Southwest Peninsula, serving a population of approximately 450,000. The laboratory is well equipped and handles over 40,000 requests per annum.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To assist the Biomedical Scientists (BMS) in the preparation and processing of tissue specimens submitted for histological examination and biological material submitted for non-gynaecological cytology examination.
- Prioritise and separate urgent and other clinically indicated samples for immediate action by staff.
- Undertake Specimen Reception duties.
- Undertake cut-up duties.
- To assist the BMS staff in the preparation of slides microscopic examination.
- Cut sections from blocks using the high level skills acquired during training to produce sections that are artefact free and of the necessary quality. When the appropriate level of expertise is demonstrated, there will be a requirement for the post holder to cut levels from blocks of small biopsy material.
- To assist in the maintenance and running of any laboratory equipment as directed. This will include maintaining cleanliness to the necessary standard, discarding waste chemical solutions, replenishment of fresh solutions and use of the instrument.
- To participate in the entry of data into the laboratory computer system during the various stages of processing.
For further details please see attached JD&PS.
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Basic IT skills. Proven knowledge of Microsoft office applications
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrable experience of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSE’s 9-4 (A-C) in Maths & English
- NVQ level 2 in either business administration or related subject or equivalent demonstrable experience
Desirable criteria
- Science based learning
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Good communication skills.
- Effectively organise and prioritise own work
- Excellent time management skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Maintain accuracy and precision, within a busy environment
- Manual dexterity skills
- Multi-tasking skills
- Self-motivated
- Conscientious
- Ability to learn
- Meet key targets following training once the necessary level of experience has been achieved
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Louise Keers
- Job title
- Technical Service Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 430851
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