Medical Laboratory Assistant - Clinical Chemistry

You will support the day-to-day activities of the Biochemistry department. Working under the supervision of state registered Biomedical Scientists (BMS); you will process clinical specimens for biological testing and perform associated supporting functions.

You will participate in receipting and preparation of patient samples for analysis. You will undertake relevant laboratory duties in a timely and efficient manner as directed by standard operating procedure (SOP) and departmental policy.

You will perform daily and weekly maintenance on instruments and run quality control material (QC) bringing outliers to the attention of BMS., Receiving samples into the laboratory, ensuring compliance with minimum acceptance criteria, and dealing with discrepancies where appropriate.

Preparing samples for analysis e.g. specimen handling, centrifugation

Loading and operating laboratory centrifuges as required, following standard operating procedures.

Prioritise work according to laboratory procedures.

Set-up and operation of automated equipment, including routine maintenance, monitoring and troubleshooting and sample processing

Undertaking daily / weekly housekeeping duties as required in accordance with departmental decontamination procedures

Rotating and discard specimens as required following standard operating procedures

Arrange for despatch of samples to external laboratories, ensuring correct packaging and labelling to conform to the current postal and transport regulations and recording details of dispatch

Monitor stock in work area and arrange replenishment as necessary to maintain service continuity

Undertake stock checks

To lift and manoeuvre light goods and equipment in accordance with manual handling regulations and good practice

Preparation of CSF packs and 24 hr Urine containers

Distribution of consumables to ward based Point of Care equipment

Troubleshooting / exchange of ward based Point of Care equipment

Managerial/Leadership

The ability to relate effectively and communicate clearly and professionally at all levels with colleagues and members of the public, in a courteous, approachable and helpful manner

Deal with telephone enquiries, understanding personal limitations, and redirect to others for action as appropriate

Supervise visitors, ensuring safe working practices and adherences to policies, protocols and procedures.

Ensure visitors have adequate information to enable them to carry out their duties safely and effectively

Work effectively as part of a team.

Bring any problems or complaints to the attention of relevant staff

Infection prevention and control

Comply with department infection prevention and control procedures at all times, The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment. Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working.

The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24.

Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £18+£5 (standard disclosure) or £38+£5 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment. Bank posts require upfront payment.

From April 2017, Skilled visa applicants and their adult dependant(s) will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in consecutively for 12 months or more in the past ten years.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

This organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff must ensure they adhere to the organisations safeguarding children and adults' policy and comply with the Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Board procedures.

Staff should be mindful of their responsibility to safeguard children and adults in any activity performed on behalf of the organisation in line with the requirements of statutory guidance and legislation.

All employees (and volunteers)are expected maintain their safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action.

As an organisation, we have adopted the Merseyside Domestic abuse workplace scheme which supports our staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse /any forms of sexual violence.

We are looking to recruit a motivated and reliable Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) Band 3, with good communication skills, to work as part of the Clinical Chemistry Team. The main duties will include the pre- and post-analytical processing of patient specimens for Biochemistry, and various laboratory duties supporting the biomedical scientists.

We provide a full 24/7 service supported by a shift system (Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions apply) including weekends and Bank Holidays. Previous laboratory and/or Specimen Reception experience would be an advantage.,

• Numerate and Literate to GCSE level, Knowledge of Biomedical tests


• Knowledge of medical terminologies


• Must maintain a continuous development portfolio., Experience of working in a clinical laboratory or equivalent, Demonstrably Computer literate, with demonstrable data entry experience


• Knowledge/understanding of confidentiality and data protection issues


• Knowledge and interest in biomedical science.


• Understands the role of medical laboratories and quality systems.


• Awareness of Health and Safety issues, Ability to communicate courteously verbally and in writing. Work as part of a team or on own initiative. Work in an organised, time efficient and methodical manner.


• Familiar with use of basic laboratory equipment e.g., pipette, pH meter, centrifuge etc. Scientifically numerate.


• Attention to detail, Willingness to learn and conform to departmental policies, procedures and take defined instruction from others.


• Ability to adapt to requirements of departmental needs with respect to working time.


• Commitment to Dignity and Respect


• Working relationships - maintain and develop
  
  Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.


The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.

The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.