Associate Practitioner - Mycology Reference Laboratory

The Mycology Reference Laboratory provides a comprehensive service for the diagnosis and management of fungal infections through its specialist laboratory services and expert clinical and technical advice. It organises regular training courses on the identification of pathogenic fungi and houses the national collection of pathogenic fungi (NCPF), which is the only culture collection in the UK specialising in fungi pathogenic to humans and animals.

We are looking for an Associate Practitioner to work in the Mycology Reference Laboratory who will provide a professional clinical laboratory service working effectively as a team member. They will perform a range of healthcare science clinical technical activities under supervision, including testing patient/audit samples and research work, as appropriate to the training and qualifications of a Healthcare Scientist Associate Practitioner. They will maintain records in relation to laboratory activities and will be required to supervise, organise and allocate work and/or train less experienced staff in their own area. They will also develop and improve their own professional expertise. The Associate Practitioner will also be expected to assist in any UKHSA co‑ordinated response or activity of a national/international nature e.g. bioterrorism incident or major disease outbreak.

Responsibilities

• Participate in provision of a diagnostic service, producing reliable, relevant and reproducible results.
• Under supervision, undertake analysis of patient samples in accordance with lab protocols/procedures ensuring the validity of test results using quality management system.
• Follow routine procedures for the calibration/maintenance of lab equipment and be responsible for completion of checklists for equipment and work areas.
• Maintain records for all mycological analysis and supporting procedures including records for all reagents prepared in-house as part of Quality Control procedures.
• Assist BMS’s where appropriate, plan their day’s work and those they supervise and propose relevant changes to work areas as required.
• Prepare/dispatch items to other departments as appropriate.
• Perform clerical duties including computer entry of lab data.
• Participate in research and/or development work in collaboration with senior staff as required.
• Assist with provision of samples for projects undertaken by the MRL including maintenance of inventories of stored specimens and recording of specimens used in individual projects.
• Where appropriate, be responsible for instructing/training HSSW staff within the MRL.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.