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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST

• To work as part of the team providing a clinical diagnostic service in Laboratory Immunology to the Trust, General Practice, other UK and overseas Trusts and laboratories and Clinical Trials.
• As an HPC Registered Healthcare Scientist, provide high quality, efficient and effective clinical diagnostic testing throughout all laboratory sections. Trainees will work under supervision.
• Develop knowledge of, and expertise in a wide range of Immunology diagnostic assays.
• After relevant training provide an out of hours on-call service (evenings and weekends).

Scientific and Technical
The post holder is expected, following relevant training, to manage their own workload on a day to day basis without direct supervision:

• Check in request cards ensuring that tests appropriate to the patient’s clinical condition are requested.
• Carry out laboratory tests in a safe and responsible manner according to approved departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 
• Works to ensure that performance targets and sample turnaround times are met by continually assessing quality and priority of work.
• Have awareness of the requirements of Clinical Governance, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety Policies, reporting problems, errors or breaches via the appropriate mechanisms.
• Validate diagnostic test results against approved quality standards and report results onto the laboratory information system (LIMS computer). As required, telephone urgent or clinically important results to the requester.
• Troubleshoot quality control problems, on own or with reference to other staff, and report all such problems to senior staff
• Use and maintain equipment safely according to approved departmental procedures (SOPs).
• Troubleshoot equipment problems, on own or with reference to other staff, and report all such problems to senior staff. Liaise with equipment supplier representatives and engineers to rectify equipment problems.
• Have a thorough working knowledge of LIMS, Electronic patient requesting systems and Microsoft Word/Excel.
• To participate in departmental Research and Development as required.
• Following relevant training, provide expert scientific and technical advice to other healthcare professionals outside of the immunology department.
• Complete all relevant paperwork to document non-conformities as they occur, with reference to senior staff as appropriate. 

Organisational/Supervisory

• Assist with the supervision of trainee Healthcare Scientists as directed by the Section Leader.
• Assist with the training of Laboratory Support staff, trainee Healthcare Scientists and others as directed by the Section Leader. Help HCS trainees to complete relevant sections of their training portfolios and set appropriate training goals.
• Bring all inconsistent/doubtful results, abnormal QC, equipment or services breakdown/malfunction or other adverse incident to the attention of senior staff.
• Under the guidance of other senior staff, to deputise for the Section Leader in their absence as required.
• Assist with maintenance of relevant documentation eg SOPs / Risk Assessments and assay and equipment verification and validations. 

Resources

• To assist the Section Leader in the efficient and effective use of material resources e.g. consumables and diagnostic kits.
• To perform stock inventory and stock control duties. Alert senior staff to low or excessive stock levels. Alert senior staff to problems with out of date stock.
• To order stock as required 

Professional

•  As a Registered scientist or trainee, maintain high professional and technical standards and maintain a portfolio to demonstrate active participation in Continuous Professional Development. Ensure continued Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Behave responsibly and courteously at all times and maintain good, professional working relationships with other members of staff.
• Has awareness of the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures and safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all necessary actions to reduce risk.
• Communicate effectively with other staff groups, both internal and external. To include healthcare professionals, patients and their representatives, external agencies, commercial suppliers, service engineers and visitors to the laboratory. 

All staff must maintain the confidentiality of patient details and results.