Higher Level Biomedical Assistant Histology

Job overview

The Histology laboratories at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and South Warwick Foundation trust are looking for a full time BMA to join our team. We have full UKAS ISO15189 accreditation.

Previous Laboratory experience would be an advantage, but not essential, as full training will be given.

This is not a trainee BMS role. We only offer IBMS Registration portfolio training to colleagues in Trainee BMS roles.

*Please be advised there is a proposed interview date of 15/05/2025, to be confirmed*

Main duties of the job

The role will include duties as required, such as registering cases onto the laboratory information system, microscope slide and tissue block filing, receipt, unpacking, checking and labelling of diagnostic samples and dealing with telephone enquiries, receiving stock deliveries and unloading these into the storage areas, removal of waste into storage areas, microtomy, embedding, collating cases for meetings, daily and weekly laboratory equipment cleaning/maintenance and retrieval of blocks/slides from storage.

You will be working under supervision and according to Standard Operative Procedures performing an extended range of technical support duties within the laboratory; predominantly supporting Biomedical Scientist staff within the team to facilitate optimal patient care.

If you feel you are the right candidate with the right skills to help us achieve our goals we look forward to hearing from you. Due to the demands of the service, a flexible approach to working hours is expected, although this will be restricted to 37.5  hours per week.

The successful candidate will be employed on a 24/7 contract.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties/ Responsibilities

• Responsible for inputting accurate and timely patient and specimen data on to Trust computerised systems.
• Responsible for the safe disposal of contaminated materials, including sharps and confidential waste.
• Undertake first point of contact for all telephone and face-to-face enquiries dealing in a professional manner.
• Responsible for the sorting and identifying of specimens received, identifying and taking appropriate action in the event of any discrepancies. Document Reference: HR JD37 version 5
• Undertake preparation of an extended range of samples for testing by laboratory staff and provide support with laboratory tasks as required by BMS staff.
• Potential to work in the containment level 3 facilities to perform primary specimen processing and laboratory housekeeping; working to embedded stringent safety systems.
• Preparation of basic confirmatory/supplementary work to support BMS staff, but will exclude unsupervised interpretive tasks.
• Responsible for the dispatching and posting of samples to authorised persons and outside laboratories ensuring compliance with all statutory regulations.
• Undertake agreed clinical and non-clinical tasks following training ensuring referral to appropriately trained staff as required.
• Participate in the training and support less experienced members of staff in their orientation to the department and role.
• Act as the first contact point for routine daily maintenance problems on analysers.
• To participate in appraisals and personal reviews and to work to achieve personal objectives.
• Operate and perform maintenance on a range of manual, semi automated and fully automated laboratory equipment and analysers.
• At all times work according to policies and Standard Operative Procedures and bring to the attention of scientific staff any changes in practices.
• Promote and monitor adherence to Health and Safety and Trust policy designed to protect healthcare staff and service users from known hazards.
• Adhere to correct laboratory procedures following accidents, injuries, spillages and breakages and ensure that these are reported to the appropriate officer.
• When problems arise know when to refer to senior and medical staff as appropriate.
• Schedule workload to comply with demands of laboratory workflow, adjusting in reaction to urgent specimens, telephone enquiries and requests from medical and scientific staff.
• Process specimens ensuring accuracy of labelling and any measurements/pipetting required.
• Responsible for receiving and checking deliveries.
• To communicate appropriate patient results to those authorised to receive them and to refer to clinical and scientific staff when required.

Training and encouragement is provided for CPD and other personal development.

This is not a Trainee Biomedical Scientist role and is unfortunately not suitable for candidates wishing to attain the IBMS registration portfolio.

All correspondence will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk/SPAM folders.   If you are invited to attend interview you will be asked to set up an account with the Trac recruitment system in order to confirm your interview time. For further details of the role please see the attached job description.