Specimen Reception Team Leader

The post holder is responsible for ensuring the organisation and delivery of a coordinated and responsive Central Specimen Reception service in a manner consistent with Trust and local policies, procedures and protocols. Duties include supporting the administration and management of the CSR service, supervising CSR teams, ensuring that staff perform their duties in accordance with established policies and procedures, stock management/delivery, coordinating training staff in CSR, and providing first line management of staff including appraisals and other HR processes.

Main duties of the job:

• Support the administration and management of the CSR service and supervise CSR teams, ensuring staff carry out duties in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Coordinate training for staff in CSR and line manage staff, including sickness absence, appraisals and other HR processes.
• Motivate and support staff so they understand the objectives of the service and maximise their contribution to the highest standard of patient care.
• Compile staff rotas, resolve local staff issues, and, when necessary, escalate to the Admin Site Lead.
• Strive to achieve a high level of morale and staff motivation through personal leadership and communication.
• Undertake audits as required.
• Attend and represent the department at meetings.
• Provide and promote a high level of customer service to patients, visitors and Trust colleagues via face‑to‑face contact, telephone and email.
• Work with delivery drivers to ensure stock is handled and delivered appropriately to nominated locations and in a safe manner.
• Liaise with external couriers as required.
• Comply with the departmental Quality Management System, including staff training, incident investigation, Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPA) reporting, and fulfilment of the quality processes required for ISO 15189 standards of compliance.
• Maintain accurate records and apply agreed work practices and methods, observing health and safety procedures at all times.
• Provide training and/or competency assessment of staff in Specimen Reception processes, in accordance with SOPs and training documentation.
• Use the Quality Management System (Q‑Pulse) for document and SOP management relevant to the role.
• Report regularly to the Admin Site Lead, Training Officer, or Laboratory Managers on training and operational issues.
• Assist in the procurement of risk assessments and report incidents, accidents, and adverse events.
• Conduct vertical, horizontal, and examination audits relevant to the role.
• Participate in flexible working patterns, comply with information governance policies, and liaise with pathology departments as appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Experience of working in a Pathology Specimen Reception
• Supervisory experience
• Experience in training new staff

Communication Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to liaise closely with Scientific and Clinical staff to ensure the service is performed to departmental standards
• Ability to impart information clearly to work colleagues

Skills:

• Display initiative and make judgements based on gained knowledge
• Ability to work unsupervised in a managed environment

Knowledge:

• Understanding of the need for confidentiality awareness at all times
• Ability to implement change
• Ability to motivate others

Personal Characteristics & Relationship Skills:

• Well balanced with a mature and flexible outlook
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Conscientious and self‑motivated
• Ability to maintain standards under pressure

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.