Job vacancy: Associate Practitioner, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Stockton-on-Tees

Job summary

Main area: Biochemistry
Grade: Band 4
Contract: 9 months (Fixed Term)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (24/7 working pattern)
Job ref: 345-MED7119976

Employer: North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: University Hospital of North Tees
Town: Stockton-on-Tees
Salary: £26,530 - £29,114 pro rata, per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 01/05/2025 23:59

Associate Practitioner

Band 4

We are on a continuous journey of improvement and transformation , however our main priority is, and always will be, providing safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. If you share our passion then apply for this opportunity and help us make our patients’ experience the best it can possibly be.

With a budget of around £365m, three hospitals and 5,500 staff, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital-based services to the population of Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees and parts of East Durham and Sedgefield as well as community, therapeutic and screening to a wider population across Durham and Teesside.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Reviewing requests highlighting any relevant clinical histories to enable accurate data entry by Support staff.

To reject specimens which do not conform to established protocols and prioritise specimen types as to their perceived urgency.

To process, unsupervised but in accordance with established SOP’s, clinical specimens received into the laboratory. Analyse pathology specimens and provide technically accurate results. Be professionally accountable for the interpretation of patients’ results to enable diagnostic and treatment regimes for clinical colleagues. Provide specialist knowledge and assistance to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients within their area of responsibility.

To communicate directly with the service users (e.g. Consultants, staff nurses, G.P.s) clearly and accurately, such communication may involve the communication of test results or advice regarding the type of specimen required for a particular test. Certain results can have social consequences beyond the medical realm and must be handled sensitively.

To report complaints and anomalies as soon as possible.

To be responsible for the organisation of individual daily workload and liaising with colleagues, senior staff, and clinical staff as and when necessary.

To become familiar with internal and external quality control procedures used within the Biochemistry, Haematology, Coagulation and Blood Transfusion departments, including the reporting of the results to the external quality control suppliers.

To participate in internal, external, and clinical audit activities, report any non-conformances via Quality Management System and then work with the senior team to address them and prevent their re-occurrence in the future.

To facilitate the efficient running of the laboratory by drawing the attention of senior staff to any potential problems, either of a technical or resource nature, and suggest how it may be resolved.

A Full job description, main responsibilities and personal specification are attached to this advert.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

IBMS Cert Part II or Foundation Degree or (Healthcare Practice) or evidenced equivalent

Desirable criteria

ECDL

Experience

Essential criteria

Proven NHS laboratory experience

Desirable criteria

Proven experience in an NHS Biochemistry laboratory
Proven experience in an NHS Blood Science's laboratory

Skills

Essential criteria

Able to communicate and maintain good relations with all levels of staff
Self motivated
Team Worker
Good keyboard / computer skills
Knowledge and understanding of the role of Pathology in the diagnosis and treatment of disease

Desirable criteria

Familiar with LEAN principles

**Please note - Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early**

Please check your email address on a regular basis as applicants invited to attend an interview will be notified via this method.

As part of our recruitment process, you will be required to undertake pre-employment screening:
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (previously Criminal Records Bureau)
Where a post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 it may be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Scheme to check for any previous criminal convictions. Should you require a copy of the Trust's Disclosure and Barring Service Policy, please contact a member of the recruitment team on 01642 624023.

It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost for their DBS certificate. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay on commencement with the Trust.

Please note the essential qualifications required for the post outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to hold and provide evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted.

For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust , you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).

As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history. Applicants are requested to ensure e-mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust operates a No Smoking Policy.

If you experience any technical difficulties applying for this post please contact a member of our recruitment team on 01642 624023 quoting the vacancy reference.

Equal Opportunities

The details in the Monitoring Information section of your application will be used for monitoring our recruitment process and will not be seen by the interview panel. The information you give will be treated in the strictest confidence. To meet its commitment to promoting equality of opportunity, the Trust’s policy is that individuals will be recruited, trained and promoted according to ability and job requirements only. As such we welcome your application irrespective of your gender, race, disability, colour, ethnic or national origin, and nationality, and marital status, responsibility for dependants, religion, trade union activity and age.

Disability

The Trust gives full and fair consideration to applications for employment received from disabled people. We are a “Positive about Disabled People” employer, and we hold the ‘two ticks’ Disability Symbol, which is a recognition given by Jobcentre Plus to employers who have agreed to meet five commitments regarding the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of disabled people. If you have a disability, which makes it difficult for you to complete our application form, please do not hesitate to contact the recruitment team on 01642 624023.

Armed Forces Covenant

As a supporter of the Armed Forces and an employer of Reservists, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the UK Armed Forces (and their families) are treated fairly.

We recognise that reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to our workplace, developed through their military careers. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community has been recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant as a Silver Employer.

What does this mean?

We proactively demonstrate our forces-friendly credentials within our recruitment and selection processes, by having a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for those indicated as part of the Armed Forces Community. We engage with our local and regional Career Transition Partnership representatives and are a member of Step Into Health. We employ veterans and reservists from differing branches of the Armed Forces and actively promote our positive policies for the Armed Forces Community, including our Special Leave policy. We advocate support for defence people issues, including facilitating easier access to Healthcare Services for our patients within the AF Community. We have supported employees through Reservist training, through additional leave for their training and ongoing support under our Special Leave policy.