Assistant Technical Officer (ATO)

Job overview

Applications are invited from suitable candidates to join our busy team within the Cellular and Anatomical Pathology Department at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, within the Histology Laboratory.

We require an Assistant Technical Officer to work as part of a team within the Histology Main Laboratory.

A positive attitude to flexible working arrangements is required.

We are looking for a competent and versatile individual with a 'can do' attitude who is a good team player and communicator,  willing to learn new skills to join our team.

There will also be an expectation as the service develops to operate a 7 day working, with options to work to 8pm for which this post will be essential.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification***

Main duties of the job

You will be part of a team providing a valuable support function to our Diagnostic Service, handling and processing patients’ samples as part of the analytical process, with a particular role in processing of samples within the main Histology laboratory.

Applicants must have good basic dexterity, numeracy and literacy skills; technical aptitude, knowledge of Health and Safety issues; basic IT skills; be able to work well within a team and have an eye for detail.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To assist the Biomedical Scientists (BMS) in the preparation and processing of tissue specimens submitted for histological examination and biological material submitted for non-gynaecological cytology examination.
• Undertake preparation and staining techniques in accordance with the procedures or as directed by a senior member of staff or the medical staff.
• Prioritise and separate urgent and other clinically indicated samples for immediate action by staff.
• Undertake Specimen Reception duties.
• Undertake cut-up duties.
• To assist the BMS staff in the preparation of slides microscopic examination.
• Cut sections from blocks using the high level skills acquired during training to produce sections that are artefact free and of the necessary quality.  When the appropriate level of expertise is demonstrated, there will be a requirement for the post holder to cut levels from blocks of small biopsy material.
• To assist in the maintenance and running of any laboratory equipment as directed.  This will include maintaining cleanliness to the necessary standard, discarding waste chemical solutions, replenishment of fresh solutions and use of the instrument.
• To become familiar with laboratory instrumentation used in your day-to-day activity and resolve first line problems.
• To participate in the entry of data into the laboratory computer system during the various stages of processing.

For further information please see attached job description