Bank Medical Laboratory Support Worker

The Blood Sciences department is looking for bank staff to support their Main Reception with numerous shifts across a 24/7 period. Part- and full-time positions will be considered.
Based within Blood Sciences, you will be working mainly in specimen reception processing samples received from the Hospitals and General Practitioners. This is an area which can be very busy and requires precise working, under time pressures.
Keyboard skills and experience of data input would be a particular advantage, as would previously working in a Pathology lab, although this is not essential., Work as part of a team supporting and supervised by a Health and Care Professions Council registered Biomedical Scientists. Booking and preparing patient samples and requests for analysis, and carrying out basic laboratory duties.
· The Blood Sciences Department is a demand led service, processing over 4000 patient samples every weekday.
· The workflow is unpredictable such that there are significant peaks and troughs throughout the day in the number of samples arriving for processing.
· This requires a high level of tolerance to repetitive work. The need to maintain high levels of accuracy and attention to detail throughout prolonged periods of concentration are required.
· In sample processing, MLA's must work to deadlines to assist in achieving defined analysis turnaround times to provide an effective clinical service to wards departments and GP surgeries and a fast response service to the emergency departments.

Working for our organisation
We have a tight knit team in Specimen Reception. Your role will be to work alongside other MLA's in a fast paced environment. You will receive on the job training. The laboratory service at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is delivered 24/7 at Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital sites.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Sample Preparation
1. Receive and sort pathology samples.
2. Distribute samples to departments.
3. Label samples and prepare them for analysis.
4. Record and inform service users and senior staff of requests received that do not comply with the Specimen Acceptance Criteria
Data Handling
1. Enter data onto the laboratory computer system.
Housekeeping and Maintenance Tasks
1. Dispose of clinical and non-clinical waste in accordance with Trust and departmental policies
2. Clean and decontaminate working areas and equipment in accordance with laboratory protocols and record such actions.
3. Assist with the use and maintenance of some laboratory equipment.
4. Maintain adequate stocks of consumables and ensure any stock is stored in a timely manner.
Communication
1. Communicate with a limited range of Trust staff in person, eg passing of information to colleagues within Pathology
2. Be expected to communicate in a pleasant and caring manner at all times whilst maintaining confidentiality.
3. Attend department meetings as required, to ensure an awareness of developments within the work area.
4. Maintain an effective communication network; verbal, written and electronic, keeping registered practitioners informed.
5. Assist in maintaining, recording and storing information, including patient records, in line with Trust policy.
Training and Development
1. Training is provided and assessed in the department as defined in the Training Manual for Specimen Reception
2. Be trained to have a working knowledge of all health and safety procedures
3. Participate in the appraisal process and, as part of the appraisal, in discussion with the line manager, develop an annual Personal Development Plan to identify training and development needs in line with personal and organisational objectives
4. Develop own skills and knowledge.
5. Attend mandatory training as directed.
6. Assist in the training of new staff when required.
Organisational Responsibilities
1. General clerical and administrative duties including scanning request forms, photocopying, filing and shredding confidential waste.
2. Completing records in Specimen Reception, for example fridge temperatures in compliance with laboratory protocols
Professional Responsibilities
1. Maintain confidentiality at all times, ensuring information is only divulged to authorised sources and by appropriate means.
2. Exercise independent judgement and initiative by taking appropriate action to resolve any problems when they arise.
3. Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others.
Dear Potential Applicant,
It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
+ Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
+ This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
+ Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
+ Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS)
If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained.
The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed.
The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £42.90 and for a Standard Disclosure £22.90 which includes a small handling fee.
This cost is not applicable for a Volunteer post

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.
We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.
We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.
We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.