Medical Laboratory Assistant

The Pathology Clinical Delivery Group (CDG) based across both Colchester General and Ipswich Hospital are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals who are professional, reliable, innovative and flexible to join our friendly team.

You will be based in theBlood Sciences Pathology Department at Colchester Hospitaland be required to work a variety of shifts over a 24 hour period to help support the technical and clinical staff to maintain a safe and effective service.

Our vision is to deliver innovations and high-performing pathology services that are focussed on our customers whilst delivering high quality and fully compliant services. We are clinically led and designed to achieve the benefits of scale that can be achieved by working together, while remaining close enough to our customers to meet their needs and support the excellent clinical care provided by our hospitals.

Training will be provided however extensive knowledge of pathology would be advantageous. A developmental role will be considered for the right applicant.

It is not essential that you have extensive knowledge of pathology as training will be given but some knowledge may be advantageous.

Full time or part time hours considered.

The successful applicant will work full-time hours as part of a team supporting both the clerical and laboratory needs of Biochemistry, Haematology and Blood Transfusion.

Your duties will include the receipt and booking of patients samples on to the laboratory information system, the preparation of samples for analysis, identifying and handling urgent samples, equipment monitoring, and the dispatch of samples to referral centres.

Following training and competency assessment, the successful applicant will be required to participate in all shifts to support the 24/7 service; including weekends, Early and Late shifts.

The nature of this role requires extensive team working, excellent customer service skills and applicants are required to demonstrate the required personal qualities within their applications.

You must be able to demonstrate:
1. Willingness to undertake cross training to extend skill set to deliver role with the ability to be flexible and respond to the needs of the service.
2. Good communication skills.
3. Demonstrable interpersonal skills – must be able demonstrate working as part of a team and the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
4. High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
5. Integrity and personal credibility putting the patient first in everything that is undertaken.

One of the largest Trust’s in East Anglia, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) provide hospital and community health services to people living across a wide geographical area. We deliver care from two main hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, six community hospitals and in patients’ own homes. You will be joining a team of almost 12,000 amazing colleagues providing care to approximately a million people.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (if applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a range of services including mental health support. We offer a range of flexible working opportunities.

Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which do not work or cause time delays for our staff and patients.

To support our employees to achieve their career aspirations you may be eligible to obtain a qualification via an apprenticeship. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a skills review to facilitate this. For full details please see the attached Apprenticeship Handbook.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

Find out about living and working with us -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

• Performs a range of routine and non-routine healthcare science activities under supervision, e.g. performs standard biochemical/haematological tests.
• Maintains clinical records in relation to activities carried out.
• Demonstrate own duties to new or less experienced employees.
• To work flexibly in reflection of service needs this may include an extended working day and/or participation in delivery of a 24 hour, 7 days per week service.
• The work of the service brings staff into constant contact with human body fluids, tissues and hazardous chemicals. This may include blood, pus, urine, faeces, and respiratory secretions.
• Maintain and promote professional image of pathology department

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.