Associate Practitioner

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Associate Practitioner, with good interpersonal skills and a committed team worker to join the Cellular Pathology department, located at the Chelsea site of The Royal Marsden Hospital. The major focus of the role will be in performing essential technical duties for the department, responsibility for specimen processing, data entry of requests, section cutting, assisting with automated immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridisation, maintenance tasks and supporting scientists in providing a reliable and accurate diagnostic service. There will also be a rotation into the Cytology Laboratory.

Main duties of the job

• Responsibility to inform Laboratory Management / Senior Members of Staff with regards to laboratory procedures, risk assessment, COSHH and local safety rules.
• Assist with the storage of confidential files.
• Assist in audit activity where directed by the Laboratory Management.
• Comply with Local Health and Safety regulations.
• Demonstrate self-directed development and work practice.
• To demonstrate a positive professional attitude to the work within the laboratory and towards other members of the department.
• To abide by the Pathology Code of Conduct.
• To participate within an annual performance review.
• Ensure yearly compliance with mandatory training courses (manual handling, fire training etc).

Working for our organisation

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals – one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey – as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be able to work within specific areas of the department, with appropriate training.
• Receipt and checking of samples in LIMS.
• Assisting Pathologists in the diagnostic sampling of fresh and formalin fixed tissue.
• Use of microtome’s to produce tissue sections from paraffin wax samples (internal and external samples).
• Understanding of specific requirements for tissue sectioning for different tissue types, subsequent diagnostic techniques.
• Understanding of data entry requirements for additional diagnostic requests.
• To assist in ensuring the department is centred on patient care and the patient pathway.
• To be aware of the clinical implications of the service that they provide through training.
• To answer the telephone and deal with messages and enquiries.
• To work within the capabilities and responsibility of the post, seeking advice and direction where appropriate.

Person specification

• Skills & Abilities
• Ability to communicate clearly.
• Ability to write clearly.
• Possess basic IT and keyboard accuracy.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.
• GCSE in Mathematics.
• Observant of detail, ability to make basic judgment decisions.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and organise daily work.
• Ability to perform manually dextrous tasks requiring precision.
• Ability to maintain concentration.
• Personal Qualities
• Ability to undertake a support role.
• Able to follow written instructions.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Willingness to respond to direction/team.
• Enthusiasm for job.
• Confidence within parameters of role.
• Specific Experience
• Good basic education to include GCSE/ O levels/ A levels, including one in biological science.
• Willing to undergo relevant training.
• Experience of working within a relevant routine laboratory.
• Able to understand and follow Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ability to follow laboratory H&S practice.
• Understands the need to work to deadlines and is able to do so.
• Understanding that work relates directly to patient care.
• Understanding of need for service quality.

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application. All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.