Full time Pathology Support Technician at Synnovis
Job Description
The place to work in pathology!
Synnovis Support Services are looking to recruit a Pathology Support Technician to work within a very busy Central Specimen Reception (CSR) at St Thomas’ Hospital, London or Kings College’ Hospital, Denmark Hill sites.
Do you have what it takes to apply great customer service and data entry skills to a career in Pathology with no previous experience?
Have you always considered what it would be like to work behind the scenes, supporting the teams which together help 80% of all diagnosis?
We are looking for top talent to join the UK’s leading and fastest and growing pathology company a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose.
CSR is a pre-analytical department supporting both the emergency pathway within the hospital and routine work generated by the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient departments, community services and referred work from NHS Trusts and private hospitals.
As a Pathology Support Technician you will be primarily responsible for receiving and sorting patient specimens and accurately entering confidential patient data onto the laboratory computer system and processing samples through our pre-analytical instruments. The post requires communicating with a range of different people and full training will be given.
Concentration, flexibility, accuracy, using own initiative and attention to detail are essential to the processes performed as part of this role. Experience in data entry and pre analytical processing of laboratory specimens would be an advantage but is not essential. Full training will be provided.
Candidates must be flexible with time as shift working is a fundamental requirement for this job role. The full time role consist of 37.5hrs a week on a 24/7 rotation and the part time role consist of up to 28 hours a week Monday to Friday. The post holder’s shifts will be variable in length up to a maximum of 12 hours (excluding breaks) across Monday to Sunday covering day shift, evening shift, night shift, weekend shift rotations and bank holidays. The part time shifts will be variable in length of 5 hours across Monday to Friday. Further details of the full shift rotation is available and will be provided upon request.
If you do not feel that you would be suited to working a night shift rotation then please consider applying for another suitable position within Synnovis.
Successful candidates will be invited to attend an interview including a 10 minutes data entry test at St Thomas’ Hospital or Kings College Hospital London.
Synnovis is a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose and is part of SYNLAB Group, Europe’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic services. Working in partnership with Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals, King’s College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital and local CCG networks, we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.
Synnovis is renowned in the field for the excellent development opportunities provided to our colleagues, whether in operations or corporate. We sponsor events at IBMS Congress, develop learning pathways such as the Accelerated Graduate Training Programme, Scientific Apprenticeships and have set up mentoring schemes to spot and develop those interested in the profession.
A little about the lab and us:
Central Specimen Reception (CSR) is a very fast paced, busy, friendly and somewhat challenging environment to work in. The team is dedicated to providing customers and service users with the best outcomes and work diligently to achieve set goals.
CSR cross sites is a multi-award winning department within the Organisation. We provide pre and post-analytical support service to Synnovis Laboratories, GP’s, External Trusts and Private Patients.
We also provide a section for referring tests and clinical trials. The main CSR reception area at St Thomas’ is based on the 5th Floor, North Wing and CSR main reception area at King’s is based on the Ground Floor, Bessemer Wing and operates a 24/7 services.
CSR across both sites offers service to Reference Chemistry, Immunology, Virology, Infection Sciences and Blood Sciences, which include Biochemistry, Haematology and Coagulation, Blood Transfusion within Synnovis.
Training & Development:
CSR also has a well-structured workplace training, induction and quality competency. There are also management pathway for those who are interested in management development. Also encouraging internal promotion and development within the department.
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme which is used across Synnovis to enable you to reach your potential, learn new skills and achieve your goals.
This is managed between you and your line manager in line with your own personal and professional development ambitions.
You can apply for finance to drive innovation and service development for the benefit of patients through our Innovation Accelerator Fund.
As a Pathology Support Technician you will be responsible for receiving and sorting a variety of patient specimens, logging patient data onto the laboratory computer systems, tracking specimens between hospital sites.
The role will include laboratory cleaning duties, disposal of waste and maintaining bench stocks of consumables.
The post holder will participate in the provision of a high quality helpful and professional service to service users, colleagues and visitors.
Duties and Responsibilities
Organisational
1. Understand the management structure of the department and own role within the department.
2. Be aware of all organisation and departmental policies including sickness absence reporting, requesting annual leave and health and safety.
3. Comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
4. Participate in annual personal performance review (PPR).
Communication
1. Communicate any event that may cause a service delivery failure or other issues/problems that may affect the department to the Supervisor/Manager in the work area. On Out-Of-Hours shifts, report to the Bronze Commander or relevant senior in the Laboratory.
2. Answer telephone within the CSR department and deal with call politely and professionally, escalating to appropriate department as and when necessary.
3. Prioritise and plan own workload within a given time period and communicate own work priorities within the team while demonstrating flexibility.
4. Maintain and promote the professional image of Synnovis.
5. Treat everyone associated with Synnovis with courtesy and respect.
6. Fully participate in intradepartmental communications in various forms. Ensure that all emails are checked and responded to as appropriate.
Technical & Administrative
1. Use the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) according to the authorised procedures. Maintain the integrity and accuracy of all laboratory databases used within the Central Specimen Reception services.
2. Receive and sort samples, prioritising in order of urgency and according to location (i.e. A&E, in-patients, GP’s and external). This may involve prolonged periods of standing.
3. Accurately enter patient demographics and test codes in to the department’s Laboratory Information System (LIMS).
4. Scan patient request forms using software for digital storage.
5. Load and unload pre-analytical equipment including centrifuges, as and when required.
6. Aliquot serum into secondary tubes ensuring that all tubes are labelled and stored correctly, as and when required.
7. Give laboratory results by telephone, in the absence of Customer Support, when authorised and trained to do so.
8. Use departmental resources efficiently and advise Supervisor/Manager when stocks of consumables are approaching minimum stock levels. Utilise electronic stock inventory system when applicable.
9. Monitor and check the fridge/freezer temperatures by accurately recording them on a daily basis.
10. Cooperate with trainers when learning new tasks. Undergo and pass competency assessment. Support the basic training of others in a similar role.
11. Maintain good working relations with all members of staff, and promote effective teamwork, recognising others skills and priorities.
Quality
1. Ensure CSR works in accordance with the requirements of international standards ISO15189:2012 relating to specimen receipt, pre and post analytical processing, specimen transportation and any other relevant clauses.
2. Understand the necessity for the accurate communication and data entry of complex information. Ensure quality of work by performing required checks.
3. Observe Quality Control procedures relevant to the area of work. Read and acknowledge all documents relevant to training.
4. Participate in audits to identify improvements in CSR procedures.
5. Develop a basic understanding of the scientific basis of laboratory work.
6. Adhere to the Health & Safety Policies and Code of Practice. Maintain Health & Safety Standards in the department.
7. Maintain laboratory equipment in a safe, clean, working condition.
8. Maintain the laboratory and workbenches and adhere to the cleaning of the department undertaking daily cleaning duties to ensure CSR is kept clean and tidy.
9. Understand hazards and risks of working in a laboratory and use adequate precautions at all times. Participate in, read and understand departmental risk assessments.
10. Safely handle, use or dispose of blood, urine, other body tissue, specimens, hazardous and/or radioactive chemicals.
11. Report any incident which involves injury, potential injury or harm to staff or patients. Inform the CSR Supervisor/Manager and make use of the Trust incident reporting system (DATIX).
12. Maintain awareness of the local fire rules in the case of fire or suspected fire and report potential problems to the local Fire Marshal/Warden. Read and understand all departmental documents relating to Fire Management.
13. Participate in Trust and Synnovis mandatory training including Health & Safety and Manual Handling. Adhere to annual training online.
Working Hours
Assigned shifts and rotations are subject to change depending on the requirements of the service. Working hours and shifts will be determined by the terms stated in the post holders’ contract of employment.
Full timepost holders will be required to work a rotation of day shifts, though may also be assigned out-of-hours shifts (night shifts, weekends and bank holidays).
Part timepost holders will be required to work a rotation of day shifts only variable from 8am to 8pm and should be able to work 5 hours a day Monday to Friday.
Exampleof full time shifts are described below:
- Day shifts – 7.5 working hours between 8am & 8pm Monday to Friday
- Night shifts – working hours between 7.45pm & 8.30am
- Weekends – Up to 12 working hours on weekend day or night
- Bank Holidays – Up to 12 working hours on Bank Holiday day or night
Exampleof part time shifts is described below:
- Day shifts – 5 working hours between 8am & 8pm Monday to Friday
Total hours scheduled will be 37.5 hours per week, on average across a full rotation. Shifts may vary from the examples above. Overtime payments are made in the event of being required to work additional hours to cover absence.
Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.
The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Women’s Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy’s site.
You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!
King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. King’s has various divisions including Neurosciences, Haematology, Cancer and Cardiovascular sciences, where there are unlimited opportunities to develop and perfect your career.
Over the last 170 years, King’s has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.
Location : London
Closing Date :05/06/2023
HOW TO APPLY
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