Healthcare Science Assistant

Job overview

Are you looking for a rewarding new career where your work can make a real difference to patient care? Oxford Genetics Laboratories is seeking a full-time Healthcare Science Assistant to join our friendly Specimen Reception team.

This opportunity is ideal for someone with little or no laboratory experience, whether you're starting your career, returning to work, or looking for a change of direction. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and provide full training, so previous laboratory experience is helpful but not essential.

We're looking for someone who is organised, reliable, accurate, and enjoys practical, hands-on work. Good attention to detail and the ability to follow written instructions are important, as you'll be handling patient samples and laboratory records.

Key responsibilities include:

• Receiving and processing patient samples.
• Entering information into laboratory databases
• Preparing samples using laboratory techniques such as cell culture and DNA extraction
• Maintaining equipment and keeping work areas clean and tidy
• Supporting administrative tasks and arranging sample transfers to other laboratories

This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience within Healthcare Science and become part of a team that supports vital diagnostic services.

Please apply early, as an application cap is in place and the vacancy may close before the advertised closing date. Interview dates are provisional and subject to change.

Main duties of the job

Healthcare Science Assistants provide practical and administrative support to the laboratory team. They work under the guidance of Clinical Scientists and Genetic Technologists while taking responsibility for organising and completing their own daily workload, following established procedures and protocols.

The role includes a range of routine laboratory and administration tasks, such as processing patient samples, entering and managing information on laboratory databases, and supporting the smooth running of the department. Healthcare Science Assistants also help maintain a safe, clean, and well-organised working environment by carrying out regular housekeeping and health and safety checks.

Working to standard operating procedures, they handle a variety of patient samples referred for genetic testing and ensure that records are accurate and up to date. They must be able to communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues, sharing technical and confidential information verbally, in writing, and through electronic systems.

Healthcare Science Assistants are encouraged to contribute to the training of new team members by demonstrating routine procedures once they are competent to do so. They also take part in team meetings and training activities to develop their skills and support continuous improvement within the department.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Service

• Follow standard operating procedures for the receipt, booking in and processing of samples Review appropriate risk and COSHH assessments in areas relevant to own practise and abide by laboratory health and safety policies Arrange dispatch of different types of samples. Deal with queries relating to the receipt and dispatch of samples, including products of conception (received for post-mortem examination), and other tissues.
• Follow standard operating procedures for the receipt, booking in and processing of samples
• Review appropriate risk and COSHH assessments in areas relevant to own practise and abide by laboratory health and safety policies
• Arrange dispatch of different types of samples. Deal with queries relating to the receipt and dispatch of samples, including products of conception (received for post-mortem examination), and other tissues.
• Establish, maintain, sub-culture and harvest cell cultures, or undertake DNA extraction, from a variety of biological specimens received which may be high risk (eg HIV, Hep C) and/ or derived from recognisable human or fetal parts, by all methods currently employed in the laboratory and to work safely under exposure to toxic substances which are hazardous to health.
• Identify samples that have failed to be processed efficiently by evaluation of quality criteria, and bring them to the attention of senior technologist or scientists for further discussion.
• Liaise with senior technical or scientific colleagues over availability of equipment, sample prioritisation, or requirement for supplementary cell cultures or chromosome preparations, when planning work schedules in designated areas of work, in accordance with laboratory protocols and under the supervision of the Section Head and/or Laboratory Director.
• Supply a high level of technical expertise in the investigative procedures involved and take a daily responsibility for his/her own work, subject to the supervision and direction of section head or other senior staff. Be adaptable to changing diagnostic workload pressures, by making independent day-to-day decisions about own workload. The post holder must communicate all problems with, and when necessary obtain help/advice from, appropriate senior staff
• Attend, and actively participate in, team and laboratory meetings with opportunity to propose improvements in efficiency and changes to scientific and technical protocols and to contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policies within the limits of experience.
• Assist in the delivery of the technical service of a section/subsection or designated area of work to nationally accepted standards (UKAS or equivalent) with appropriate supervision to include the following:

Laboratory Management

• Undertake general laboratory house-keeping tasks on a rotational basis, such as maintenance and organisation of the stock room and chemical shelves, washing-up, autoclaving, laundry
• Undertake appropriate duties to fulfil quality control programs, including recording of appropriate data according to operating procedures, validation and verification of new reagents and protocols.
• Safely handle and store chemicals of a volatile or hazardous nature including carcinogens and neurotoxic agents. Dispose of hazardous chemicals and biohazard waste.
• Assist in the daily maintenance, monitoring and care of instrumentation within the laboratory (to include safety, performance and temperature of equipment e.g. biological safety cabinets, incubators, fridges and freezers).

Staff

• Participate in the teaching and training of new members of staff or less experienced employees in own work area by demonstrating own work activities and routine practice.

Research and Service Development

• Assist clinical scientists in research and development projects which meet the overall objectives of the department.

Personal development

• Attend relevant in house training at an appropriate level for the development and maintenance of skills, knowledge and expertise required for the post (eg training on specific equipment/instrumentation, presentations on relevant topics)

Informatics/Bioinformatics

• Be proficient at entering and retrieving relevant information from Excel spreadsheets and databases, including the laboratory information management system (LIMS).

General

• Abide by all Operational Policies applicable to the Department
• Co-operate with management and safety representatives in matters connected with the Health and Safety at Work Act of Practice for safety in laboratories
• Take responsibility for the accuracy of his/her own work, and undertake an appropriate proportion of the total workload of the Department. The post holder will collaborate with all other staff, to be an effective team member, and achieve optimal use of resources
• Participate in internal quality control and internal and external quality assessment procedures
• Work within the section/subsection to ensure achievement of and adherence to the standards required of an accredited laboratory, in close liaison with the Quality manager and under the direction of the section head and laboratory director.
• Participate in the preparation of the department for accreditation.
• Implement laboratory record keeping processes and assist with retrieval and presentation of data as required
• Take responsibility with others for the maintenance of stocks of reagents and consumables to ensure the proper functioning of the laboratory and efficient use of resources. Ensure that all equipment is used appropriately and safely and that any faults are reported for immediate rectification
• Take responsibility with others for the daily maintenance of complex instrumentation systems within the laboratory
• Participate in regular performance review and personal development planning
• Attend regular team, laboratory and departmental meetings and contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policies
• Maintain confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with Data Protection Act of 1984.
• Participate in out of hours duties, if required, in line with the Department Out of Hours Policy
• Work such hours as required for the effective and timely performance of his/her duties, as specified in the terms of the contract of employment
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with experience and job role as a result of changes to the service as agreed by the Consultant Head of Laboratory or Trust and reviewed as part of the annual staff appraisal