Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) - Neuropathology

Job description

Job responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• To assist the Biomedical Scientists (BMS) in the preparation and processing of tissue specimens submitted for examination and biological material submitted for cytological examination.
• Participate in research & development undertaken by the Department, including sample preparation and collation of data as necessary.
• To assist senior colleagues in the maintenance of adequate stocks of reagents and consumables to ensure continuous service provision.
• To participate it the collection, receipt, safe storage and disposal of reagents and other supplies.
• To maintain an adequate supply of clean glassware, make up solutions and collect chemicals from the various stores as required.
• To assist in the maintenance and running of any laboratory equipment as directed. This will include maintaining cleanliness to the necessary standard, discarding waste chemical solutions, replenishment of fresh solutions and use of the instrument.
• To assist the BMS staff in the preparation of slides and smears for microscopic examination.
• To become familiar with laboratory instrumentation used in your day-to-day activity and resolve first line problems.
• To participate in the entry of data into the laboratory computer system during the various stages of processing.
• To assist in the maintenance of both hard copy and computer held reports.
• Participate in the maintenance of the safe storage of slides, blocks and diagnostic samples.
• Maintain a good standard of tidiness and cleanliness in the laboratory areas, including daily disposal of clinical waste and sharps bins as necessary.
• To extract slides, reports and all necessary items for the multiple clinical and non-clinical meetings.
• To participate in the despatch of specimens and material to other centres.
• Cut sections from paraffin embedded blocks using the high level skills acquired during training to produce sections that are artefact free and of the necessary quality.
• Undertake preparation and staining techniques in accordance with the procedures or as directed by a senior member of staff or the medical staff.
• To follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at all times and as directed by senior staff and contribute to their formulation. Propose any changes to these SOPs in order to maintain the quality of service and maximise efficiency.
• Meet the necessary standards of speed, quality and accuracy, appropriate to the level of experience and training.
• To assist in the maintenance and compilation of workload statistics.
• Take appropriate action with regard to telephone calls from internal or external agencies using initiative, within broad guidelines by the consultant/departmental manager and providing written results if requested.
• To attend departmental and section briefings as required.
• Proactively and positively contribute in regular team meetings, commenting on and suggesting continuous improvement to current work practices.
• As part of a team, contribute to the continuous improvement program of the Pathology service.
• To assist in the process of continual quality improvement. This will include audit, corrective action, preventative action and improvement processes.
• To assist in audit carried out by internal and external agencies.
• To observe all Departmental, Trust and National Safety regulations relevant to the service, ensuring attendance at any updates required of the individual.
• To be familiar with the Risk Management Strategy and Departmental Safety Standard and take action necessary to reduce risk.
• Report untoward incidents such as complaints, clinical emergencies, injuries and deficiencies in equipment detailed in Trust-wide and local protocols and procedures.
• Ensure issues and problems are resolved satisfactorily and referred through your line management structure as appropriate.
• To ensure contemporaneous completion of your induction and training records.
• To attend Statutory and Essential Update Training and Manual Handling Training annually.
• To participate in the annual IPR and achieve any targets set at this time.
• At the direction of senior departmental staff, undertake work from any source commensurate with the knowledge and skills of your grade.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• ECDL or Equivalent (IT skills)
• Practical laboratory experience

Qualifications

• Numeracy and literacy qualifications e.g., GCSE or 'O' level grade D or above, CSE grade 1, Adult numeracy and literacy or Key skills Level 1 or equivalent demonstrable experience

• Science based learning

Aptitude & Abilities

• oGood communication skills, being able to deal with patients and staff at all levels of the organisation with tact and diplomacy
• oExcellent attention to detail
• oMaintain accuracy and precision
• oManual dexterity skills
• oGood hand to eye coordination essential for tissue sectioning
• oConscientious
• oTranscription skills
• oMulti-tasking skills
• oEffectively organise and prioritise own work
• oGood time management skills

• oAbility to recognise improvements within the work area

Disposition/Attitude/Motivation

• oTeam worker but also able to work on own
• oAbility to work well within a busy environment
• oWorks in a calm, organised and methodical manner
• oProactive, takes own initiative
• oReliable and trustworthy
• oWilling to undertake in-service training to achieve the necessary levels of speed and accuracy

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

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/