Blood Sciences Specimen Reception Supervisor

Job overview

The Directorate of Laboratory Medicine also known as Eastern Pathology Alliance encompasses Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Immunology, Microbiology and Cytogenetics. EPA provides a range of analysis of blood, body fluids and tissues for the Hospital inpatient and out-patient population, all the GP’s in Norfolk and other neighbouring Trusts.

The majority of these samples arrive in the central reception area where they are sorted, registered on the lab computer systems and prepared for analysis.

Full time: 37.5 hours per week

Main duties of the job

Duties of the late shift supervisor include day to day supervision of the Specimen Reception Team including the sorting of issues with patient samples and advising staff.

You must be able to adapt to change at short notice and guide others through this process. You will assist in the training of new staff, and help staff keep up to date with their competencies.

Other duties will include sample sorting and re-directing, checking the samples for suitability, registering them in the Lab computer systems, labelling and preparing for analysis. Preparation includes use of centrifuges, balances and pipettes.

A good deal of manual dexterity is required, with an ability to work carefully and accurately and to use own initiative.

Preference will be given to applicants with previous laboratory experience although training will be provided for each aspect of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Day to day supervision of the Specimen Reception Team.
• Electronic transfer of patient details and requests via bar-code scanning into the Pathology IT system.

• Manually inputting of patient details and test requests into the laboratory computer system.

• Scanning requested forms into the laboratory information system database.
• Labelling and preparing patient’s blood, urine, and other fluids for analysis utilising aseptic techniques.

• Sample centrifugation, separation of serum from red cells and pipetting serum aliquots for analysis ensuring that the minimum volume is available for the range of investigations requested.

• Determination of urinary volume by weight and aliquoting into labelled Blood Sciences Specimen Reception Supervisor Band 3 secondary container as part of the basic requirement for 24 hour urine biochemical tests.

• Preparation of “Danger of Infection” samples for analysis in accordance with Health & Safety regulations.

• Required to resolve problems with mislabelled and/or mislaid samples from users. Informs users if additional or replacement samples are required for testing.

• Answers telephone inquiries from pathology users, patients and patient carers about test results and provide information that is complex concerning methodologies and service requirements, seeking advice as required.

Please see the attached job description for full details and the main responsibilities of the role.

Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 4216 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer). The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.