Associate Practitioner - Clinical Biochemistry

We are looking for a dedicated Associate Practitioner to join our Clinical Biochemistry team. You will support Biomedical Scientists by performing routine and advanced laboratory tasks under the guidance of the Pathology Management Team and two Senior Biomedical Scientists. Your role will be crucial in ensuring accurate and timely service for our patients., Human Resource Management

• Personal Development: Develop a Personal Development Plan (PDP) aligned with business objectives, identifying training needs, and attending mandatory and relevant training.
• Equality and Diversity: Promote equality and diversity, tackling discrimination and harassment.
• Workplace Flexibility: Commit to Improving Working Lives (IWL) principles and flexible working patterns.
• Supervision and Training: Assist in supervising, training, and coaching junior staff.
• Professional Standards: Adhere to Standards of Conduct and Performance, reduce sickness absence, and promote a zero-tolerance approach to workplace violence.
Quality Management and Clinical Governance
• Lean Working: Promote lean practices for a safe and efficient workplace. Provide feedback for improvements.
• Data Accuracy: Ensure accurate patient data recording in the laboratory system.
• Audit Participation: Participate in audits directed by Senior BMS staff.
• Quality Control: Undertake quality control procedures, identify poor performance, and inform senior staff as necessary.
• Compliance: Attend departmental meetings, adhere to safety regulations, comply with Trust policies, and maintain laboratory standards to meet ISO 15189.
Scientific and Diagnostic
• Laboratory Techniques: Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while participating in work rotas.
• Work Prioritization: Prioritize work to ensure timely and accurate diagnostic results.
• Equipment Evaluation: Participate in evaluating new equipment and managing stock control efficiently.
• Fault Reporting: Notify the estates & facilities department of equipment or building failures.
Training and Education
• Continuous Learning: Undertake training in new equipment and methodologies, maintaining and sharing up-to-date knowledge.
Financial Responsibility
• Resource Management: Ensure efficient use of equipment and reagents for a cost-effective service.
Control of Infection
• Compliance: Adhere to Trust infection prevention and control policies, including hand hygiene and personal hygiene.
Communication and Working Relationships
• Team Collaboration: Liaise with the laboratory team and Pathology Directorate, maintaining regular communication with Senior Biomedical Scientists and the Training Lead.
• Service Users: Effectively communicate with service users, including acute trust and primary care trust staff.
• Information Dissemination: Participate in laboratory meetings to share information and discuss relevant issues. Provide training to laboratory staff in your area of expertise.
• Professional Conduct: Treat all colleagues and laboratory users with courtesy and respect, as outlined in the Trust Personal Responsibility Framework.
Challenges
• Quality Maintenance: Maintain high standards in specimen handling, analytical performance, and data transcription.
• Work Prioritization: Ensure timely, accurate results for laboratory users.
• Medical Terminology: Understand and accurately transcribe anatomical descriptions.
  
  Essential: Foundation Degree in a scientific field
• No HCPC registration needed
• Desirable: European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).
Experience
• Essential: Proven laboratory experience.
• Desirable: NHS laboratory experience.
Skills and Aptitudes
• Essential: Good communication, self-motivation, teamwork, computer skills, ability to work with human tissue, knowledge of medical terminology, and understanding of Pathology's role in disease diagnosis and treatment.
• Desirable: Familiarity with LEAN principles.
Disposition
• Essential: Enthusiastic, patient-focused, calm under pressure, excellent interpersonal skills, positive attitude, conscientious, and tidy.
  
  North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing high-quality patient care. We continuously strive for improvement, innovation, and excellence. Our Clinical Biochemistry department is essential in diagnosing and treating diseases, supporting patient care throughout the Trust.