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Job summary

Main area
Pathology
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent: Full-Time
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shift patterns currently 07.30 - 16.00 and 08.30 - 17.00)
Job ref
176-F-6270581
Employer
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Peterborough City Hospital
Town
Peterborough
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
24/05/2024 23:59

Employer heading

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust logo

Assistant Technical Officer - Cellular Pathology

Band 3

Job overview

Our Cellular Pathology team is happy to welcome an Assistant Technical Officer passionate about science while enjoying working in a state-of-the-art laboratory at Peterborough City Hospital.

As an Assistant Technical Officer, you will thrive in a diverse and supportive environment which offers you the support needed in carrying out your daily duties and responsibilities. Our department is staffed by friendly, highly motivated, and professional biomedical scientists and support workers, dealing with approximately one million samples per year.

With us, you will have the opportunity to rotate and experience all areas of the Cellular Pathology department completing tasks such as receiving and booking in specimens, assisting technical and clinical staff in the selection of sample material for pathological assessment, tissue processing and embedding, storage, cataloguing, filing and disposal of archival material, as well as maintaining of laboratory equipment according to established procedures.

We are passionate about science and innovation, and we are committed to offer you all opportunities for career progression. You will be highly motivated with good attention to detail and able to work well in a busy team environment.

By joining our team, you will also join the laboratory rota. The core hours are 8.30am-5pm, including participation in early shift 7.30am-4pm, with potential for adjustments to include a late shift (9.30am-6pm) and/or Saturday working should the service require.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for receipt of histology and diagnostic cytology specimens and involved in the preparation of samples under the guidance of biomedical scientists.

Using your experience, you will work with the team to improve working practices. You will monitor equipment function and maintenance and advise senior staff of any problems.

Data entry is vital to your role. You will use your attention to detail when inputting patient and specimen details provided by the team on to the live laboratory information system (LIMS), as well as  procedural data on the live system. You will use databases and software to produce documents and work lists.

You will have a duty to maintain the health, safety and welfare of self, employees, patients or other third parties visiting the department or general areas of the Trust as well as informing the line manager of any Health and Safety concerns identified.

You will ensure confidentiality and conformity with the requirements of the Data Protection Act, in collaboration with the Caldecott Guardian, Data Protection Officer and the Security of Information Officer.

Working for our organisation

Our teams work hard to be flexible and promote a health work/home life balance and so, agile working options are automatically considered for all roles within the Trust.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and candidates from our local communities.

Your package with us includes a lot more than just your pay and here are a few of the additional benefits that are available to you as an employee:

  • Access to the NHS Pension Scheme
  • Relocation allowance in line with the Trust policy
  • Generous Holiday Entitlement, starting at 27 days a year (for full time workers) plus bank/public holidays
  • Free staff car parking on all our hospital sites during this financial year
  • In-house Physiotherapy Services
  • Career development and training opportunities
  • Emotional Wellbeing Service covering a range of online support, access to mobile apps and 24/7 counselling services
  • Subsidised meals at our hospital restaurants
  • Access to exclusive discounts, cashback and vouchers via NHS Discounts and Blue Light Card

If you share our values and vision and are passionate about working with people on what matters to them, you could be a real asset to Team North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main responsibilities:

  • To carry out routine laboratory tasks and assist in all sections in the Cellular Pathology  Department on a rotational basis according to departmental protocols.
  • To work closely with senior staff to deliver a quality driven, cost effective and customer focussed service

Please see Job Description for further information

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • 5 GCSE or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ 3 in laboratory /science discipline or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of data entry
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience of working in a laboratory
  • Previous experience of working in an NHS setting

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge/understanding of the Data Protection Act/GDPR
  • Knowledge/understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace
  • Understanding of histology and its function
  • Understanding of cytology and its function
  • Understanding of COSHH regulations

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to maintain prolonged concentration and work accurately with attention to detail
  • Ability to communicate at all levels
  • Self-motivated and able to work within a team culture
  • Able to comply with policies and procedures
  • Physically able to perform all tasks of the role including manual handling of bulk reagents for equipment and stock maintenance with suitable equipment where necessary
  • Competent in the use of MS Office applications e.g. Outlook. Excel, Word
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of medical terminology

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Stonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Darren Williams
Job title
Acting Operations Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01733678179
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