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Job summary

Main area
Microbiology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
362-A-25-7107920
Employer
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Quality Control Northwest - Stepping Hill Hospital
Town
Stockport
Salary
£24,625 - £25,674 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/04/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Assistant Technical Officer

NHS AfC: Band 3

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

There are lots of good reasons to choose to come and work at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. A dynamic integrated Trust with integrity and vision. Exactly the same qualities you’ll see in yourself. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust aims to be the organisation of choice for patients and an employer of choice for staff. In order to continually improve all aspects of our patient experience, we rely upon having a highly skilled, motivated, diverse, productive and patient focused workforce.

Stockport Foundation Trust is one of four ‘specialist’ hospital sites in Greater Manchester. Being a ‘specialist’ hospital will enhance our general surgery, anaesthetics, critical care and emergency medicine for the benefit of people in Stockport, High Peak, Cheshire and across Greater Manchester.

Our values ‘We Care, We Respect, We Listen’ are at the heart of everything we do, and come from our promise:  ‘Making a difference every day.’ They drive the behaviour and actions for everyone in our organisation.

In your application for this post, please describe how your experience and skills align with 'Our values-based behaviours' ( see additional documentation) and provide examples.

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

As well as recognising previous NHS service, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is a member of the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. If you are currently employed by Greater Manchester Local Authority, Combined Authority, GMFRS, TfGM as well as other public service organisations, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust will recognise your previous service for sickness and maternity/paternity/adoption entitlement and also for annual leave purposes (providing there has been no break in service).  If you currently work for one of the above organisations and successfully apply for a post with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, please ensure the Recruitment team are aware so that this service is reflected in your contract of employment.

Our Values:

We Care

About each other

Our patients and their families

The communities we serve

The environment

We support them and deliver on their promises

We Respect

Each other

Our patients and their families

Our partners

We are kind and helpful, and we expect the same in return

We Listen to

Each other

Our patients and their families

Our partners

We act and learn from what we hear


 

Job overview

To maintain the microbiology and chemistry support areas in a suitable condition including tasks associated with ensuring laboratory and equipment are clean and orderly.  To perform enumeration and identification of micro-organisms.

To ensure pharmaceutical products are fit for patient use by carrying out microbiological, physical and chemical testing using a range of classical and instrumental techniques and working under the supervision of a qualified and experienced analyst.

Quality Control North West is part of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and is an NHS regional specialty department responsible for providing pharmaceutical quality control services to NHS and non-NHS clients. The laboratories at Stockport are well equipped and advanced in analytical instrumentation and are regulated by the MHRA and accredited to ISO 17025:2017 by UKAS.

Main duties of the job

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out a limited range of microbiological, physical and chemical tests on starting materials, packaging materials and pharmaceutical products to established specifications.

To sample raw materials from the production unit with particular regard to, avoidance of cross contamination, health and safety and adequate labelling.

To ensure chemicals used in pharmaceutical analysis are accurately prepared, stored, labelled and disposed of in accordance with laboratory procedures.

To perform regular inspection of reagents, chemicals reference materials and microbiological media.

To ensure glassware is ready to use.

To perform calibration checks on glassware using accurate analytical technique, and to produce and maintain accurate records.

To perform microbiological and chemical analysis on water and environmental samples in accordance with procedures, using a range of classical and instrumental techniques.

To perform routine downloads of temperature records from laboratory areas, to assess compliance.

Under supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out the calibration of a full range of laboratory equipment to predetermined time-scales.

To work at all times in accordance with the departmental Quality Manual.

To keep accurate records of all work performed.

Working for our organisation

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

  • Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
  • NHS pension scheme membership
  • Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
  • NHS Staff discounts
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Salary finance – for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
  • Stockport Credit Union– for local financial advice

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out a limited range of microbiological, physical and chemical tests on starting materials, packaging materials and pharmaceutical products to established specifications.
To sample raw materials from the production unit with particular regard to, avoidance of cross contamination, health and safety and adequate labelling.
To ensure chemicals used in pharmaceutical analysis are accurately prepared, stored, labelled and disposed of in accordance with laboratory procedures.
To perform regular inspection of reagents, chemicals reference materials and microbiological media.
To ensure glassware is ready to use.
To perform calibration checks on glassware using accurate analytical technique, and to produce and maintain accurate records.
To perform microbiological and chemical analysis on water and environmental samples in accordance with procedures, using a range of classical and instrumental techniques.
To perform routine downloads of temperature records from laboratory areas, to assess compliance.
Under supervision of the Senior Scientists, to carry out the calibration of a full range of laboratory equipment to predetermined time-scales.
To work at all times in accordance with the departmental Quality Manual.
To keep accurate records of all work performed.


Communications
To participate in staff meetings.
To take accurate messages and ensure they are passed to the intended recipient.
To communicate difficulties to senior staff in a timely manner to minimise delay in sample release.
To communicate verbally with Production and Aseptic Unit staff where necessary to resolve sample receipt problems.
To communicate verbally to team members any urgent special requests accompanying samples.

Responsibility for Patient Care
To ensure safety of medicines by carrying out, under supervision, a limited range of microbiological and chemical testing on packaging and starting materials and finished pharmaceutical products.
Under supervision, to carry out correct evaluation of data and production of laboratory reports for submission to the Senior Scientists.
To work to predetermined time scales ensuring timely release of products.

Planning and organising
To work within the day to day direction of the Senior Scientists.
Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources
To identify chemicals and other consumables for ordering to time and in suitable quantities.
To prolong life of instrumentation by correct use and maintenance.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation
To make suggestions via staff meetings.
To operate in accordance with departmental policy and procedures.

Responsibilities for Teaching and Training
To assist the Senior Scientists in training staff in some basic laboratory tasks


Responsibilities for data and information resources
To keep accurate records of own work.
To process analytical data generated, to interpret test results and to determine compliance of test material with specification.
To enter data on to the LIMS system and to produce reports for approval by the Senior Scientists.


Research, Development and Audit
To assist the Senior Scientists in preparation and hosting internal and external audits including regulatory inspections.

Physical Skills and Effort
To undertake physical handling and safe custody of incoming goods, laboratory consumables and to partake in stock control of laboratory equipment and chemicals.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria
  • Relevant science A level or BTEC
Desirable criteria
  • Relevant science degree

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • • Broad range of microbiology techniques

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent Analytical skills
  • Excellent manual dexterity
  • Time management
  • Numeracy
  • Good record keeping
  • Good team worker
  • Ability to work without direct supervision
  • Good IT skills

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Relevant experience e.g. during studying or training

Work Related Circumstances

Essential criteria
  • Good general health
  • Flexible to cover occasional out of hours working

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthNorth West BAMEDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldAccredited Menopause Friendly Employer

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Gillian Stokes
Job title
Advanced Scientist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0161 419 4948
Additional information

Ila Patel/Manija Hemat 

0616 419 5647

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