Point of Care Testing (POCT) Co-ordinator

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

To liaise successfully and effectively with individuals at all levels within RB&HH and other health care organisations

To attend and participate in local management meetings, POCT Committees and sub-POCT meetings, decision making and policy implementation

To provide summary reports of POCT activities for POCT Committees and periodic and annual management reviews of the POCT.

To effectively present and provide guidance and training, as required.

To communicate with users regarding their needs to implement new POCT, formulating acceptance processes and clinical application.

To attend Trust and external meetings relevant to POCT activities.

Where appropriate, to attend meetings of Directorates using POCT equipment

To ensure that there is a standard organisational protocol and format for the documentation of results from each type of device, and that there is clear guidance on action to be taken in the event of significantly abnormal results

To investigate the relevance of Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) alert bulletins and communicate these as appropriate.

To review Radar incident reports where POCT devices have been implicated.

To present information to diverse groups of professionals relating to the implementation, management and performance of POCT equipment.

To defer to experts within the Trust regarding aspects of POCT.

To discuss technical POCT issues with manufacturers when dealing with faults or substandard performance. Some issues will be controversial requiring careful presentation of facts that may be in dispute

To communicate with staff regarding equipment use, faults, hazards, training or technical issues.

Patient/customer care (both direct and indirect)

To ensure that all POCT activities in the Trust are patient focussed and are performed effectively, efficiently and without compromising patient safety.

To ensure that all POCT activities in the Trust are performed in accordance with all relevant Organisational policies and professional and regulatory standards.

To ensure that POCT is carried out only when and where deemed appropriate, such that it improves patient care, giving carers rapid access to results, while maintaining the safety, accuracy and cost effectiveness of the tests.

To ensure POCT is carried out following standard operating procedures.

To ensure that a staff training programme with defined competencies exists for each type of device, that staff training records are up-to-date, and that a register is maintained of competent staff who are authorised to use each device.

To work closely with managers of staff designated to use POCT equipment to ensure staff training is re-validated and to help where there is a failure of competence or where use of such equipment is not in accordance with Trust policies.

To ensure systems are implemented to certify measurements made on POCT equipment are within the expected accuracy for the device, such that clinical decisions based on POCT are safe and appropriate. Measures will include quality control and quality assurance, log books for QC and maintenance, and user training programmes

To promote positive patient identification and the use of bar-coded wristbands in POCT

To co-ordinate the investigation of adverse incidents related to POCT equipment and provide advice to users on prevention of further occurrences

To maintain records of adverse incidents relating to the use of POCT, and to ensure that these are reported to the relevant POCT Committee, reported via Radar, and, if appropriate, to the MHRA.

To conduct regular audits of POCT processes and activities in conjunction with the designated Quality Managers and Quality Coordinators

Policy & Service development

To produce, review and update POCT SOPs and the organisational POCT policy and to ensure they comply with the relevant national standards and are distributed to users.

To ensure manuals and instructions for use of POCT are subject to document control and readily available to users.

To ensure that all Organisational and Departmental policies and procedures are implemented within areas of responsibility including the Organisational POCT policy.

To oversee the performance and operation of the fleet of POCT equipment by audit and ensure it meets the requirements of the POCT policy in conjunction with the Laboratory Medicine Quality Manager

To inform other policy-making groups on technical and legislative matters regarding POCT technology to ensure safety, effective usage, and minimum training standards

To design safe working practices and procedures for new POCT equipment types in the absence of suitable national guidelines

To be familiar with all Organisational and Laboratory Medicine policies and to abide by them

To be aware of scientific and technical POCT developments

To participate in evaluation of POCT devices under the direction of the Consultant Clinical Scientist and Consultant Haematologists and to provide assistance to clinical users in preparation of business cases for POCT service developments

To help with the procurement process through a knowledge of clinical users requirements, clinical benefits, device specifications, whole life cycle costs and new developments

To report on the evaluation of new POCT equipment and to participate in its selection

To participate in the development, assessment and introduction of new techniques, working practices and equipment

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the appropriate accreditation standards for the POCT service.

To assist in maintaining all systems to appropriate standards and requirements, including UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service), to ensure that diagnostic departments continue compliance within a total quality managed service.

To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for external bodies.

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of CQC, Clinical Governance, Audit and Risk Management procedures.

To undertake and report on internal audits against defined quality performance measures and ensuring that effective, immediate and follow up actions are taken.

To instigate follow up and actions required following external inspections, verifying the completion of corrective action as required by the reports of the assessors.

Manage the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) process and the collection of Performance Metrics for monitoring the suitability and effectiveness of the Quality System.

To be responsible for the quality assurance of the POCT service, including external quality assessment and internal monitoring and instigating corrective action and improvement where the need is identified.

To identify areas where there is the potential for improvement of quality to the benefit of the service provided by the department.

To be responsible for the day to day operation and supervision and assist in the direction of all quality management procedures within the POCT service under the overall responsibility of the Laboratory Medicine Quality Manager and/or Departmental Managers.

To regularly review and update POCT risk and COSHH assessments

Resource management

Responsible for managing consumable and reagent stock supplies associated with POCT.

Assist in the implementation, development and evaluation of new and existing techniques.

Responsible for the maintenance and calibration of equipment when working autonomously.

To identify opportunities for managed service delivery of POCT

In conjunction with the Laboratory Medicine and Supplies department select suppliers of managed service POCT systems via the appropriate tendering mechanisms in accordance with the standing financial instructions and directorate policies and procedures for the use of supplies and equipment

People management

To participate in Synnovis appraisal schemes

To ensure that a staff training programme with defined competencies exists for each type of POCT device.

To ensure service/ward managers are aware of the training their staff require, that staff training records are up-to-date, and that these are reviewed at annual appraisal.

To maintain a register of competent staff who are authorised to use each device, and where technically possible limiting access to POCT to trained users by automatic means.

To work closely with service/ward managers of staff who use POCT equipment to ensure staff training is re-validated and to help where there is a failure of competence or where use of such equipment is not in accordance with Trust policies.

To carry out the duties and responsibilities of the post having due regard to the Synnovis Diversity policy and other appropriate Human Resources policies.

To be familiar with and adhere to the Synnovis and Departmental health and safety policies to ensure that a safe working environment is maintained for all employees and visitors.

Information management

To ensure that interfacing and network connections are available to facilitate electronic transfer of patient demographic information and result data from POCT devices.

To assist with implementation and maintenance of all data management systems in the POCT service in conjunction with IT personnel

To regularly audit the recording process for POCT results to ensure that this is achieved safely and accurately.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• HCPC Registration
• MSc, FIBMS or equivalent in relevant discipline or demonstrable extensive relevant experience post HCPC registration in POCT

• HCPC Registration MSc, FIBMS or equivalent in relevant discipline or demonstrable extensive relevant experience post HCPC registration in POCT
• Management training POCT qualification

Experience

• Previous experience in POCT
• In depth knowledge of complex laboratory instrumentation
• Detailed understanding of quality control, quality assurance systems, clinical governance, accreditation and regulatory requirement, and Health and Safety Regulations
• Use of Pathology computer systems
• Knowledge and understanding of the personal development staff appraisal process.

• Previous experience in a large busy pathology laboratory
• Extensive experience as a POCT Coordinator

Skills

• Practical analytical skills associated with diagnostic laboratory
• Strong IT skills- Highly skilled and competent in use of Microsoft Office & Microsoft Excel Methodical approach to problem solving
• Ability to write service review reports
• Ability to work under pressure in acute clinical situations and to make professional judgements that will protect the safety of patients

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details

Employer name

Synnovis Analytics

Address

Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals

London

SW3 6NP

http://www.synnovis.co.uk/