Senior Pathology Support Worker, Non Gynae

Job overview

The post holder will:

• Perform Non Gynaecological preparation room duties at St Peter’s Hospital.
• Maintain equipment and keep records in accordance with laboratory guidelines.
• Work at any other Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services site as required.

Main duties of the job

• To safely process samples with a potential risk of infection using a microbiological safety cabinet whilst wearing personal protective equipment
• To work with potentially hazardous laboratory chemicals appropriately and safely in accordance with laboratory procedures, COSHH and the BSPS Health & Safety Policy
• Performs a variety of manual laboratory procedures, under indirect supervision from Registered Biomedical Scientist staff. Procedures include the operation of pre-analytical sample preparation equipment.
• To participate in the preparation and staining of non-gynaecological specimens for microscopic examination, and maintain their competencies for all aspects of this area of practice
• To comply with the BSPS health and safety procedures and laboratory codes of practise at all times and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures
• To use and maintain Cytology laboratory equipment within the department according to BSPS, Trust and departmental policies
• To ensure the maintenance and cleanliness of the specimen preparation laboratories including the correct use of disinfectants and detergents according to COSHH regulations and laboratory protocol.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To participate in the reception, checking and labelling of all types of Non Gynae specimens processed by the Cytology department
• To liaise with users regarding errors in patient and specimen identification, returning of samples to the sender when appropriate, and recording errors
• To safely process samples with a potential risk of infection using a microbiological safety cabinet whilst wearing personal protective equipment
• To work with potentially hazardous laboratory chemicals appropriately and safely in accordance with laboratory procedures, COSHH and the BSPS Health & Safety Policy
• Performs a variety of manual laboratory procedures, under indirect supervision from Registered Biomedical Scientist staff. Procedures include the operation of pre-analytical sample preparation equipment.
• To participate in the preparation and staining of non-gynaecological specimens for microscopic examination, and maintain their competencies for all aspects of this area of practice
• To follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and to be proactive in the development of these by suggesting improvements, and piloting revision
• To comply with the BSPS health and safety procedures and laboratory codes of practise at all times and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures
• To use and maintain Cytology laboratory equipment within the department according to BSPS, Trust and departmental policies
• To ensure the maintenance and cleanliness of the specimen preparation laboratories including the correct use of disinfectants and detergents according to COSHH regulations and laboratory protocols
• To ensure that other routine laboratory tasks, such as slide filing are kept up to date and to assist in archived material retrieval
• To answer telephone enquiries in accordance with laboratory protocol in order to provide an effective and user friendly service

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.