lab assistant Portsmouth, South East England, England
Job description
Specific Core Functions Responsibility Scientific and Technical Duties Maintain a safe and clean working environment, dispose of waste, monitor basic laboratory equipment and prepare reagents. Undertake all pre-analytical preparation of clinical specimens according to departmental policies and procedures. Defined routine equipment maintenance procedures are undertaken as scheduled. Undertake pre-analytical sample quality checks.
Undertake post-analytic storage of clinical specimens and appropriate filing or slides and paraffin wax tissue blocks. To ensure adequate supplies of in-use materials/reagents. Undertake the retrieval and filing of stored specimens for additional work or for multidisciplinary team meetings. Assist with selecting, packaging and recording cases to be outsourced to external providers.
Responsibility Communication and Relationship Skills To respond to incoming telephone enquiries in a polite and efficient manner. To contribute to sharing good practice within the Department and across Pathology. To participate in departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the Department. Responsibility Financial and Physical To take receipt of laboratory consumables and transfer to the appropriate laboratory storage areas (room temperature and +4C).
Replace stocks of consumables and reagents when required and inform senior staff when stocks are low. Responsibility Staff / HR / Leadership / Training Maintain, update and develop personal and professional knowledge and skills by participating in the Trust Performance Review System. Be familiar with all the Health and Safety policies of the Trust and the Department to ensure that they are followed to maintain a safe working environment for all employees and visitors. Participate fully as a team member, sharing knowledge and information and supporting colleagues to promote a cohesive team and the achievement of team objectives.
To coordinate and supervise the activities of less experienced staff and participate in their training and development. Education Undertake a structured training and development programme to successfully acquire core competences which are matched to National Occupational Standards and thereafter maintain the required standards of competence when undertaking duties. Responsibility Information Resources Enter patient, test and clinical information onto the laboratory information system (LIMS) in an accurate and timely manner (frequent periods of high concentration). Responsibility Research and Development Under direction, participate in the delivery or research, development and audit projects.
Responsibility Freedom to Act To work under indirect supervision with access to senior members of staff when required. To be able to organise own day-to-day work tasks within parameters. General To perform all duties under conditions which are often stressful as a result of constraints of time, staffing levels and environmental conditions. To demonstrate continual professional development to maintain skills and knowledge.
To cooperate with other departmental and hospital staff to promote awareness of the professional image of Pathology throughout the Trust. To participate in an annual appraisal and personal development review.
