Swydd wag: Associate Healthcare Science Practitioner, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford

Crynodeb o'r swydd

Prif leoliad: Genetics Labs
Gradd: Band 4
Contract: Parhaol
Oriau: Llawnamser - 37.5 awr yr wythnos
Cyfeirnod y swydd: 321-CSS-6436594-B4

Cyflogwr: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Math o gyflogwr: NHS
Gwefan: Churchill Hospital
Tref: Oxford
Cyflog: £25,147 - £27,596 per annum/ pro-rata
Cyfnod cyflog: Yn flynyddol
Yn cau: Today at 23:59

Associate Healthcare Science Practitioner

Band 4

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Swydd ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

Duties & responsibilities
Clinical Service

1. Deliver the technical service of a section/subsection or designated area of work to nationally accepted standards (UKAS or equivalent) with appropriate supervision to include the following:
a. Follow standard operating procedures for the receipt, booking in,
processing and analysis of samples

b. Review appropriate risk and COSHH assessments in areas relevant to
own practise and abide by laboratory health and safety policies
c. Undertake basic troubleshooting for failed analyses
d. Validate quality of technical analysis, repeat and perform subsequent
investigations following discussions with more senior technologists or
clinical scientists according to defined criteria
e. Arrange dispatch of different types of samples. Deal with queries relating
to the receipt and dispatch of samples, including products of conception
(received for post-mortem examination), and other tissues.
2. Establish, maintain, sub-culture and harvest cell cultures, or undertake DNA extraction, from a variety of biological specimens received which may be high risk (eg HIV, Hep C) and/ or derived from recognisable human or fetal parts, by all methods currently employed in the laboratory and to work safely under exposure to toxic substances which are hazardous to health.
3. Identify unusual or failed results and bring them to the attention of senior technologist or scientists for further discussion
4. Liaise with senior technical or scientific colleagues over availability of equipment, sample prioritisation, or requirement for supplementary cell cultures or chromosome preparations, when planning work schedules in designated areas of work, in accordance with laboratory protocols and under the supervision of the Section Head and/or Laboratory Director.
5. Supply a high level of technical expertise in the investigative procedures involved and take a daily responsibility for their own work, subject to the supervision and direction of section head or other senior staff. Be adaptable to changing diagnostic workload pressures, by making independent day-to-day decisions about own workload. The post holder must communicate all problems with, and when necessary obtain help/advice from, appropriate senior staff

6. Attend, and actively participate in, team and laboratory meetings with opportunity to propose improvements in efficiency and changes to scientific and technical protocols and to contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policies within the limits of experience.

Laboratory Management
7. Undertake appropriate duties to fulfil quality control programs, including recording of appropriate data according to operating procedures, validation and verification of new reagents and protocols.
8. Safely handle and store chemicals of a volatile or hazardous nature including carcinogens and neurotoxic agents. Dispose of hazardous chemicals and biohazard waste.
9. Take day to day responsibility for use of, daily maintenance, monitoring and care of instrumentation within the laboratory (to include safety, performance and temperature of equipment e.g. biological safety cabinets, incubators, fridges and freezers).

Staff
10. Participate in the teaching and training of new members of staff or less
experienced employees in own work area by demonstrating own work activities and routine practice.

Research and Service Development
11.Assist clinical scientists in research and development projects which meet the overall objectives of the department.

Personal Development
12. Attend relevant in house training at an appropriate level for the development and maintenance of skills, knowledge and expertise required for the post (eg training on specific equipment/instrumentation, presentations on relevant topics)

Informatics/Bioinformatics
13.Be proficient in the use of state of the art software packages for the processing of genomic samples

14.Be proficient at entering and retrieving relevant information from Excel
spreadsheets and databases, including the laboratory information management system (LIMS).

General
15.Abide by all Operational Policies applicable to the Department
16.Co-operate with management and safety representatives in matters connected with the Health and Safety at Work Act of Practice for safety in laboratories
17.Take responsibility for the accuracy of their own work, and undertake an appropriate proportion of the total workload of the Department. The post holder will collaborate with all other staff, to be an effective team member, and achieve optimal use of resources
18.Participate in internal quality control and internal and external quality assessment procedures
19.Work within the section/subsection to ensure achievement of and adherence to the standards required of an accredited laboratory, in close liaison with the Quality manager and under the direction of the section head and laboratory director.
20.Participate in the preparation of the department for accreditation.
21.Implement laboratory record keeping processes and assist with retrieval and presentation of data as required
22.Take responsibility with others for the maintenance of stocks of reagents and consumables to ensure the proper functioning of the laboratory and efficient use of resources. Ensure that all equipment is used appropriately and safely and that any faults are reported for immediate rectification
23.Take responsibility with others for the daily maintenance of complex
instrumentation systems within the laboratory
24.Participate in regular performance review and personal development planning
25.Attend regular team, laboratory and departmental meetings and contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policies
26.Maintain confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with Data Protection Act of 1984.
27.Participate in out of hours duties, if required, in line with the Department Out of Hours Policy
28.Work such hours as required for the effective and timely performance of their duties, as specified in the terms of the contract of employment
29.Undertake any other duties commensurate with experience and job role as a result of changes to the service as agreed by the Consultant Head of Laboratory or Trust and reviewed as part of the annual staff appraisal

Manyleb y person

Qualifications

Meini prawf hanfodol

3 science based A levels or equivalent e.g. BTEC, NVQ level 3 (QCF level 3). 2 A levels if additionally hold a degree

Meini prawf dymunol

Foundation degree, HND or BSc in a relevant subject.

Experience

Meini prawf hanfodol

Experience of laboratory techniques relevant to genetic testing
Computer literate with experience of Microsoft office or equivalent, navigating databases and spreadsheets

Meini prawf dymunol

Experience of using StarLIMS for sample and workflow management.
Experience of working in a diagnostic genetics laboratory
Experience of laboratory or relevant practical work in a workplace-based environment.

Special knowledge

Meini prawf hanfodol

Basic knowledge of human genetics, including role of DNA and chromosomes

Skills

Meini prawf hanfodol

Good attention to detail and accurate record keeping
Good written and verbal communication skills

Special attributes

Meini prawf hanfodol

Demonstrates resilience, flexibility, and adaptability in approach to work
Able to handle receipt and processing of a range of human samples.
Interest in laboratory technology
Recognises limits of responsibilities: working under supervision
Willing to learn

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment , we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Nursing and Midwifery: For candidates applying from outside the UK: Please be advised that we work in partnership with Envertiz who will be managing your recruitment therefore by applying you are consenting to us passing your contact details and application to Envertiz so they can manage your recruitment and on-boarding. If you do not consent to this, please do not apply.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

Next Steps: Please make sure that you read the job description and person specification, and that your supporting statement reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted after the short-listing process, usually within 2 weeks. (Please note that shortlisting times vary when applying for a Medical position within the Trust). The majority of correspondence will be via the e-recruitment system; therefore you should check your emails regularly including junk mail folders in web-based email products.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.