Apprentice Biomedical Support Worker - Genetics in Leeds

Apprentice Biomedical Support Worker - Genetics

Joinus to make a meaningful difference to patients lives.

Ifyour passion is healthcare and you want to be at the forefront of improvingoutcomes for patients, then theres no better place to be.

Weare looking to recruit motivated, caring and compassionate individuals forthe role of Apprentice Biomedical Support Worker. This is an entry level roledesigned to enable individuals to enter an exciting new career in HealthcareScience.

Thisfull-time (37.5 hours per week) apprenticeship is undertaken within a fifteenmonth fixed-term contract, and provides an ideal opportunity to begin yourcareer in healthcare science at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Main duties of the job

Mainduties of the job

Thejobholder will be undertaking a training programme within the Leeds TeachingHospital NHS Trust (LTHT). The training will be delivered through formaleducation either in-house and or via external providers, and laboratoryplacements. Healthcare science assistants and associates make a difference topatients\' lives by supporting assessment and diagnosis of disease andillness. Some will work in laboratories but others will work directly withpatients every day.

Asan apprentice biomedical support worker, you will support a range ofcolleagues within healthcare science, specifically pathology, dealing withpatient samples. We have vacancies within our Central Reception and Genomicteams.

Aboutus

Inresponse to NHS Englands Strategy and Service Specification for the futureof Genomics services in England, Newcastle Teaching Hospitals, Leeds TeachingHospitals, Sheffield Childrens Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals haveformed the North East and Yorkshire Genomics Laboratory Hub; an excitingcollaboration to provide services for Genomics across Yorkshire and Humberand the North. The combined size of our geography makes this the largestcollaboration in the country with the Trusts offering a range of both generaland specialist hospital services with excellent clinical outcomes forpatients. We have an international reputation for excellence in specialistcare, research and academic training.

About us

Uponsuccessful completion of the apprenticeship you will receive a Level 2Diploma in Healthcare Science. This will then allow you to apply forpermanent AfC Band 2 Biomedical Support Worker positions within Pathology atLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. These training roles will allow you tobecome a part of the scientific community at the Trust working with partnersand using hi-tech laboratory equipment to support diagnosis of patients.

Successfulapplicants will work as team members in Genetics. You may be required to workshifts, under supervision, including some bank holidays and weekends, asappropriate to your clinical area.

Thecourse will commence in September 2025.

Forfurther enquiries or a confidential discussion please contact Natalie Jaggsn.jaggs@nhs.net or Sarah James sarah.james42@nhs.net

LeedsTeaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying \'at risk\'members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job advertsare subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or removeadverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in theshortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while thisprocess is completed, and contact the named contact if you have anyquestions.

Job responsibilities

JOBPURPOSE/SUMMARY

Thejobholder will be undertaking a training programme within the Leeds TeachingHospital NHS Trust (LTHT). The training will be delivered through formaleducation either in-house and or via external providers, and laboratoryplacements.

Itis expected that the apprentice will commit to self-directed study andsuccessfully complete the training programme within the contract period.

ABiomedical Support Worker must be aware of Good Scientific Practice whicharticulates the standard for the Healthcare Science profession and upon whichthe apprenticeship is based.

Tocollect, deliver, receive and assist in the processing of clinical diagnosticspecimens for biological testing

Toundertake routine clinical technical investigations, this may involveoperating complex equipment following standard operating procedures. Thiswork will be supervised.

Toenter and retrieve patient demographic details using the laboratoryinformation system

Tocommunicate effectively with colleagues and other healthcare staff

Asthe job holder you will be required to work as a member of the departmentalteam. As part of the team, you will be expected to perform a range of routinetasks in support of biomedical, scientific and medical staff upon requestfrom your supervisor. You will have problem solving skills that will allowyou to make judgements and decisions about job related situations. You willbe required to communicate information, some of which may be related topatient management and care, to colleagues, healthcare staff and otherorganizations. You will be supported throughout by your supervisor.

PRINCIPALDUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Educationand Training

- To participate fully in thetraining programme for the BTEC level 2 Diploma Healthcare Sciences(Biomedical Support Worker apprenticeship) by:

i)Attending formal study sessions

ii)Participating in informal study opportunities

iii)Be willing to undertake self-directed learning

ii)Complete all tasks and assignments

iii)Apply skills and knowledge to patient care in the clinical area

iv)Contribute to regular performance and progress reviews

- To successfully complete theacademic elements of the programme as specified by the employer and thetraining organisation.

- To complete successfully theclinical competencies related to national occupational standards as specifiedby the employer and the training organisation.

- To achieve a minimum of Level 1 innumeracy and literacy Functional skills and apply this learning in theworkplace

To support in the performance ofappropriate technical laboratory procedures and tasks that are consistentwith the job holders levels of knowledge, skills and experience. These tasksmay vary from day to day but examples would include:

receiving diagnostic samples intothe laboratory

preparation of samples prior toprocessing, including sample/document collection and delivery

preparation of chemical reagents

processing of certain clinicalsamples

safe disposal of clinical /laboratory waste

To support in the preparation ofmaterials for distribution to clinical areas

To enter and retrieve patientinformation using the laboratory computer system.

To respond to telephone enquiriesfrom users of the service in a manner that is in accordance with departmentalprocedures

To assist in the day to daymonitoring, cleaning and maintenance of laboratory equipment, undersupervision.

To contribute to generaldepartmental management by assisting in the ordering, receipt and control ofconsumables

To participate in laboratory auditprocesses

THELEEDS WAY VALUES

Ourvalues are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see thisas a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by ourstaff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Accountable

Empowered

Allour actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

Additionally,the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

Asa healthcare worker dealing with sensitive (patient related) information theimportance and value of personal honesty and integrity as a commitment topatient service and confidentiality will be recognised. In contributing tothe quality of a technical clinical service you will understand therequirement to continuously develop appropriate skills and accumulaterelevant knowledge whether by formal or in-house training.

WESTYORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT)

LeedsTeaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association ofAcute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from acrossWest Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possiblecare for our patients.

Bybringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across WestYorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and drivingforward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHSTrust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.

WYAATis the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and CarePartnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. ThePartnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health andwellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports thatambition.

INFECTIONCONTROL

Thejobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHSTrust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising UniversalInfection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before andafter contact with patients and their environment.

HEALTHAND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT

Allstaff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain andimprove the quality of services provided to our patients and other serviceusers. This includes complying at alltimes with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Healthand Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and saferworking procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust IncidentReporting system.

EQUALITYAND DIVERSITY

Thejobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensureequality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet theindividual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patientor visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender,ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

TRAININGAND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Thejobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager forhis/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous ProfessionalDevelopment remains a priority. Thejobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

COMMUNICATION& WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Asthe job holder you will communicate and work directly or indirectly with adiverse range of other staff. Those shown below are examples:

Internal

- Colleagues, supervisors andmanagers within the speciality

- Pathology staff working in otherspecialities

- Members of clinical teams includingnurses, doctors and other practitioners

- Administrative and secretarialstaff

- Estates and facilities staff

External

- Staff in primary care facilities

- Staff in other hospitals

- Staff in non NHS organizations (forexample suppliers of consumables)

SPECIALWORKING CONDITIONS

Asthe job holder you will be required to work in a clinical laboratoryenvironment. As such you will work under controlled conditions where chemicaland biohazardous materials are handled. For your own protection you will berequired to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and for this youwill receive training. Frequent periods of light and occasional periods ofmoderate physical activity related to stores management may be expected. Theservice is delivered from a number of different sites and you may berequired, subject to consultation, to travel between sites.

PHYSICALEFFORT:

Thisjob requires a high degree of dexterity and precision when manipulating smalltools such as pipettes, handling very small volumes of clinical material orwhen preparing microscope slides for examination by others. In order toachieve the required turnaround times the work must be performed with bothspeed and accuracy.

Thesetasks are repetitive and may involve the job holder standing at equipment orsitting at the laboratory bench for extended periods.

Regularrequirement to sit at PC and regular requirement for post holder to be mobilefor collection & delivery of samples.

Thisjob requires the holder to participate in stock control, including themovement of goods from the point of delivery to the point of storage. Thiswill require frequent movement of light and moderate loads up to 15kg .

Subjectto suitable and sufficient manual handling training the job holder mayoccasionally be asked to assist in the movement of laboratory equipment (e.g.centrifuges, incubators) or consumables that weigh in excess of 15kg. (e.g.gas cylinders, containers of large volumes of fluid)

Thereis normally no requirement to lift people.

MENTALEFFORT:

Theday to day repertoire of this job is diverse and the job holder can expect tobe asked by supervisory staff to change tasks at short notice. In order tominimize errors concentration is required on a daily basis when processingspecimens. Occasionally this may require prolonged concentration and issubject to workload.

Person Specification

Skills & behaviours

• Professional attitude and behaviour
• Able to work in a team
• Able to work independently
• Dexterity
• Basic computer skills

Qualifications

• Literate/Numerate. (Level 1 qualification in literacy and numeracy, or willingness to work towards.
• Maths & English GCSE standard or equivalent qualification / experience
• Committed to complete the BTEC Level Healthcare Science

Experience

• Basic knowledge of conventional IT software and IT literacy e.g. Microsoft Office
• Insight into roles and responsibilities of post

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Advanced Science Healthcare Practitioner