Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant B3

Job overview

Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)

The Department of Histology is seeking applicants for the above role to work in our busy diagnostics department. Histology is the study of human tissues removed in surgery in order to identify the presence of disease.

The role requires a high attention to detail and the ability to work in a dynamic environment with scientists and Consultant Pathologists. A friendly and team orientation outlook is required as this role is one of 12 within the department. Responsibilities and duties include specimen receipt, quality checks and data entry, preparation of workstations for dissection, assisting Scientist and Consultants during dissection, administration of laboratory areas, and maintenance of equipment and collation of completed cases for release for diagnosis.

An informal visit to the department prior to application is encouraged

Main duties of the job

Specific scientific training is not required. Experience of laboratory work would be advantageous but not necessary for the right candidate. Full on the job training would be given. For clarity, this is not a Trainee BMS role and applicants are invited and welcomed from a diverse background of training and experience.

Rotation to our satellite departments at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey or Frimley Park Hospital will form part of this role. Be prepared to participate in all rotas as needed to support a 7-day a week service, helping to future-proof the organisation’s operational and staffing flexibility

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description & Person Specfication

Technical and Clinical Responsibilities

• Accepts a wide range of clinical samples into the department from hospital staff, clinic staff and transport services.
• Assesses samples for urgency and sorts by discipline.
• Ensures sample detail matches request form detail and assigns unique laboratory number to sample and form, requiring complete accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ensures that samples meet acceptance criteria, dealing with any non-compliance in accordance with departmental protocols.
• Ensures sample is appropriate type for all tests.
• Is fully conversant with relevant departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring that personal performance complies with Accreditation standards.
• In conjunction with Biomedical Scientist (BMS) staff, ensures the validity of automated results by the use of appropriate control materials.
• Carries out appropriate maintenance, checks and fault finding procedures on sophisticated automated equipment.
• Works in cooperation with BMS staff to ensure workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Performs a variety of manual laboratory procedures, which are under indirect supervision from Registered BMS staff. Procedures include the setting up of tests and pre-analytical sample preparation.
• Performs telephone duties that include making and receiving calls from and to the laboratory, verbally transmitting confidential results and conveying sensitive information and advice to healthcare professionals.
• Communicates sample discrepancy issues through email or telephone to clinicians, ward staff, GPs and other service users.
• To assist medical and technical staff in recording specimen descriptions during dissection, and to clean/disinfect the dissection area afterwards.
• To accurately type patient details and required tests into the Pathology computer system.

An informal visit to the department prior to application is encouraged