Medical Lab Assistant

We are seeking an individual with excellent literacy and numeracy skills to work as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in our very busy Department of Blood Sciences which processes samples per site each day. The Medical Laboratory Assistant role involves working as a member of staff providing support to Specimen Reception, Biochemistry, Immunology, Haematology and Blood Transfusion. You will be working alongside a team of Biomedical Scientists and Associate Practitioners.

Main duties of the job:

• Prioritise urgent and AE samples to avoid delays and ensure best patient care.
• Receipt of samples from within the Hospital via a vacuum tube system or in person and from GP surgeries via courier services.
• Book a large volume of patient samples onto the Laboratory Computer System and ensure the correct test requests are inputted.
• Centrifuge samples and correctly load them onto the relevant laboratory analysers.
• Organise referral and packaging and send samples to other Trust sites and to other Trusts nationwide.
• Answer reception and telephone queries and liaise with other Trust staff and the general public.
• Receive deliveries, ensure they go to the correct department within Pathology and unpack and organise the stock as requested.
• Scan request forms and ensure printed reports are sent to the correct requesting departments, GPs or clinics in a timely manner.

You should be able to demonstrate good keyboard skills, be computer literate, and have experience working in a reception or clerical environment. Previous laboratory experience would be an advantage. If you are well organised, have excellent attention to detail, are a good communicator, team player, conscientious and flexible, this job may suit you. You must be able to ask questions and take on information given.

You must be able to work on a 24/7 shift rota which includes day shifts, late shifts, night shifts, weekend days, and Bank Holiday days including Christmas Day. Days and late shifts are 7.5 or 8 hours; night shifts and some weekends and Bank Holidays are 12 hours. On weekends, bank holidays and night shifts you will often be the sole Pathology Reception worker on site (there will be Biomedical Scientists on site also).

Special Requirements:

• Able to handle blood and body samples.
• Able to lift and move multiple boxes/cartons of up to 20 kg.
• Able to work flexibly.
• Able to participate in shift working, weekend working and bank holidays.

Qualifications:

• Basic numeracy and literacy.
• NVQ 2 CLS or equivalent.
• Science and/or maths GCSE or above.
• IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part 1.

Special Skills & Knowledge:

• Follow protocols and instructions accurately.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Ability to concentrate for long periods.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.

Experience:

• Clerical work.
• Previous hospital laboratory experience.
• Employment with public interaction.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service.