Medical Laboratory Assistant - Cellular Pathology

Job overview

The Cellular Pathology service at Liverpool Clinical Laboratories consists of multiple departments, including Histopathology, Immunocytochemistry, Molecular Pathology, Cytopathology, Ophthalmic Pathology, mortuary and bereavement services, medical examiners service and forensic pathology.

The directorate receives in excess of 65,000 cases per year and is the largest provider of specialist Cellular Pathology services within Cheshire and Merseyside. The department consists of over 100 members of staff, including Medical Laboratory Assistants, Associate Practitioners, Biomedical Scientists, Consultant Pathologists, pathology trainees and administrative and managerial staff working together to deliver the specialist Cellular Pathology service at LCL for Cheshire and Merseyside

The department’s operating hours are 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 16:00 Weekends and Bank Holidays.

*Please Note this vacancy may close when sufficient applications have been received*

Main duties of the job

The successful incumbent will be responsible for:

• Specimen reception and archive duties such as receipt of specimens, filing of paraffin blocks, filing of diagnostic slides and receipt and distribution of clinical materials for specialist review
• Taking receipt of deliveries.
• Maintenance and audit of departmental reagent and consumable levels.
• Maintenance and preparation of departmental diagnostic reagents and solvents.
• Maintenance of specialist departmental equipment.
• Maintenance of the specimen store, including disposal of human tissue waste.
• Ensuring the safe disposal of laboratory waste (non-clinical, clinical and human tissue) whilst adhering to safe practice at all times.
• Assisting with specimen dissection.

Candidates with experience and understanding of safe laboratory working practices, together with practical laboratory experience and a keen eye for detail will be highly considered.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

The post holder will be required to carry out all duties relevant to a Medical Laboratory Assistant 3, including participation in all aspects of the Histopathology MLA3 rota. This post is essential for the day to day running of the service and will work closely with all other staff within the directorate to deliver the highest quality standard of patient care.

To provide a support role to the qualified staff of the department which provides a diagnostic service to the Trust and other Pathology users, working within the Health and Safety policy of the Trust

Key responsibilities 1.1 Maintain reagent levels and preparing simple solutions. 1.2 Filing microscope slides, tissue blocks and relevant paperwork. 1.3 Retrieval of material from the archives. 1.4 Taking receipt of solvent deliveries. Ensuring that the paperwork is completed fully and correctly. 1.5 Ensure the department is appropriately stocked with solvent. 1.6 To take delivery of cardice and other consumables as requested. 1.7 To safely store and monitor levels of consumables. 1.8 Move stocks to and from the consumable storage area as requested. 1.9 Ensure the safe disposal of various groups of laboratory waste (paper, chemical, human tissues, glass etc) 1.10 Receive specimens into the department ensuring correct patient identification. 1.11 Store specimens safely and appropriately prior to and after processing. 1.12 To keep working areas in a clean and tidy fashion. 1.13 To complete the appropriate quality documentation as necessary. 1.14 To man multidiscipline off site specimen reception at Broadgreen Hospital (holiday cover). 1.15 To embed processed material. 1.16 To assist pathologists and BMS staff at cut-up. 2.1 Adherence to the organisation’s health and safety policy, ensuring personal safety and to avoid putting others at risk. 2.2 To participate in the department’s appraisal scheme. 3.1 Use the departmental computer system as required. 3.2 Participate in meetings as required. 3.3 Ensure patient confidentiality at all times. 3.4 To process enquiries appropriately. 4.1 To clean glassware for use by laboratory staff 4.2 Daily maintenance of equipment.