Medical Laboratory Assistant

Job overview

Applications are invited for this fixed term, full time role as Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) in the specimen reception section for the South East Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (SE-HMDS) at King’s College Hospital.

The reception is integral to the SE-HMDS, acting as a central sample receipt point for the four key laboratories that make up the SE-HMDS plus the clinically lead morphology service. The most important part of the role will be sample handling and electronic logging of the samples received. The SE-HMDS reception also contribute to the preparation, maintenance, operation and quality assurance of laboratory equipment.

Training and development is a key focus at Synnovis and this is an excellent opportunity to enhance skills and knowledge in a specialist department environment. There is also a keen interest in Research & Development within the departments that is supported by various funds and collaborators as we endeavour to provide a leading and fit-for-purpose service to our patients. There is culture of continuous quality improvement that applies to both staff and departmental development.

This is a great opportunity to work amongst a team of dedicated and patient focused individuals and enhance administrative, communication and data/sample handling skills.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be a team player and will be working closely with the laboratories, scientific and clinical staff. They must have excellent attention to detail and be able to accurately and efficiently transfer data on to electronic systems. Effective communication skills with all levels of staff, internal and external users is essential. There is a variety of laboratory information management systems (LIMS) in use within the laboratories, candidates must have good IT skills, and prior experience of various forms of LIMS is beneficial. The role largely involves accurate transfer of clinical information and specimen prioritisation with the requirement for good medical/scientific literacy skills. Working knowledge of the Health & Safety requirements of handling biological materials is desirable and experience in the preparation of blood and bone marrow slides would be of additional benefit.

The SE-HMDS is a regional centre for diagnostic services, providing UKAS accredited Immunophenotyping, Morphology, Cytogenetic, Molecular Diagnostic and Histopathology services covering most of Southeast England. There has been a steady rise in referrals to the SE-HMDS, from clinicians who require increasingly sophisticated and accurate haematological investigations, for diagnosis and disease monitoring. As a member of the SE-HMDS reception, you are the essential first and last points of contact for patient specimens and results, with service quality, a key focus throughout.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The SE-HMDS reception area acts as a central location for receipt of samples, performing pre and post analytical procedures and other support for the five areas that make up SE-HMDS: Immunophenotyping, Morphology, Cytogenetics, Laboratory Molecular Haemato-Oncology and Histopathology.

The post holder will work as a member of the support staff to assist SE-HMDS in the appropriate handling, receipt and distribution of specimens. The main responsibility of the post holder will be to perform the electronic receipt, data management and quality assurance of specimens, as well as preparation, maintenance, operation and quality assurance of laboratory slide staining equipment. Concentration, attention to detail and accurate transcription of data are essential skills to these processes and form the greater part of the working day. Good IT and typing skills are required to perform this role and training will be provided for the use of the various and bespoke LIMS.

The post holder will offer a helpful and professional service to all visitors and enquiries from a broad spectrum of service users under the direction of qualified laboratory staff and where appropriate will assist in the collection and compilation of data for management purposes.

It will be essential that the post hold can follow written and verbal instructions as directed by the supervisor, senior scientists, operational and quality leads or head or section. Prioritisation and time management skills are required for time sensitive tests and urgency of clinical investigations within a busy environment. Once competence in tasks is achieved members of the team are also required to assist in the training of others whilst maintaining and promoting safe working practises.

The post holder must be able to effectively and appropriately communicate within the reception team, the wider SE-HMDS and organisation as well as external service users whilst strictly adhering to regulations for confidentiality. Administrative, clerical and quality duties also include the completion of equipment/reagent logs and records, obtaining workload statistics as well as acknowledgement and assisting in the review of controlled documents.

The SE-HMDS reception area acts as a central location for receipt of samples, performing pre and post analytical procedures and other support for the five areas that make up SE-HMDS: Immunophenotyping, Morphology, Cytogenetics, Laboratory of Molecular Haemato-Oncology and Histopathology.

The post holder will work as a member of the support staff to assist SE-HMDS in the appropriate handling, receipt and distribution of specimens. The main responsibility of the post holder will be to perform the electronic receipt, data management and quality assurance of specimens, as well as preparation, maintenance, operation and quality assurance of laboratory equipment. Concentration, attention to detail and accurate transcription of data are essential skills to these processes and form the greater part of the working day.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.