Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology

We are looking for an enthusiastic Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant to join a dedicated team in a modern department, providing a high-quality service. Duties will include laboratory and administrative tasks which may be of a complex nature. Although no formal qualifications are required for this post, it will be important to demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills. Previous experience in laboratory support work is also essential.

The Cellular Pathology department has a high quality UKAS accreditation record and it is an approved laboratory for Registration and Specialist training by the IBMS. The Cellular Pathology team is made up of different grades of Scientist, including Medical laboratory staff, associate practitioners and biomedical scientists, with the aim of putting the patient first and delivering a high-quality service. The role is full-time, and you will be required to work 37.5 hours per week.

Main duties of the job include supporting BMS staff in providing analysis of specimens received using complex diagnostic procedures across Cellular Pathology. Other duties include microtomy and assisting the Specialist Biomedical Scientist at dissection.

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term.

Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.

Job responsibilities include understanding the role in more detail by reading the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Qualifications:

• Essential: Good General Education 'A' levels or equivalent in Science
• Desirable: Completion of Pathology Support Worker qualification or IBMS Support Staff portfolio part 1 and 2. Further scientific qualification

Experience:

• Essential: Demonstrable experience of working in a scientific area as a Medical Laboratory Assistant or equivalent. Able to work accurately and with good hand-eye coordination. Experience of using common IT software.
• Desirable: Previous experience working as a MLA in Cellular Pathology. Experience of quality management system. Experience of using hospital IT systems.

Technical Skills Competencies:

• Essential: Must be able to understand and work within established Standard Operating Procedures and relevant Health & Safety policies, including COSHH. Work flexibly in response to changing circumstances. Works within limits of responsibility. Good interpretive skills at bench level. Good attention to detail and accuracy. Handling biological specimens. Recognises and reports problems as they arise.
• Desirable: Understand the importance of quality at all levels of our work. Happy to work in a busy environment. Knowledge of microtomy. Demonstrable experience in assisting dissection.

Knowledge:

• Essential: Understanding of Cellular Pathology.
• Desirable: Understanding of UKAS requirements. Understand the role of Histopathology within the NHS.

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.

Employer name: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, BH7 7DW

Employer's website: https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers