Healthcare Science Support Worker (Higher Level)

The role of the Healthcare Scientific Support Worker is to provide a support role to the qualified Biomedical Scientists.
This will include housekeeping duties including stock control of reagents and generally maintaining a clean and safe environment for all staff, to prepare and maintain equipment, to manage the processing of blood and urine samples and to perform some manual testing of samples.
The successful candidate will need to be pro-active in their role and use their initiative to work independently, though always supervised. Being able to organise work and prioritise duties is essential. Working with colleagues is necessary to ensure the daily tasks are completed, The HSSW team report to the Biomedical Scientists who are responsible operationally for the Biochemistry Laboratory service.
Duties include stock control of reagents, analyser maintenance, processing quality control samples and external quality assurance material.
Working to standard operating procedures at all times.
Performing manual testing procedures.
Entering test results on to the laboratory information system
Assisting with UKAS accreditation
Dealing politely and effectively with phone calls,.
Liaising with company engineers and other service users.
Our staff are our most valuable asset. We are committed to making staff feel appreciated, supported and included in the Trust's successes. Our mission is to be an outstanding place to work providing the very best care for our patients and excellent career opportunities for our staff. Everything we do is guided by our core values and behaviours, identified by our staff and embedded throughout the organisation.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement
We have the highest CQC rating of all Acute NHS Trusts in Kent and Medway (Good). The CQC highlighted that managers promoted a positive culture that supported, valued staff and created a sense of common purpose based upon shared values.
The Trust is a great place to work, stay, develop a career and enjoy a healthy work life balance. We have made and are delivering on a wide range of commitments to staff; health and wellbeing; equality; diversity and inclusion; access to education and career development. During 2020 we sett up quality councils, driven by our staff to create a culture of shared governance and quality improvement.
We have a strong focus on innovation and improvement. Part of Guy's and St Thomas' (GSTT) 'Healthcare Alliance' we are introducing new models of care to improve clinical outcomes for patients. Our association with GSTT also gives staff wishing to develop their skills excellent opportunities to work across numerous specialities.
As our local population increases, our services and skills are expanding and adapting to meet demand. We are continuously looking at best practice models to enhance and improve the services we offer.
The Trust provides services at Darent Valley Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital, for a local population of over 500,000 people.
If you would like to be part of our innovative and forward thinking team putting patients at the centre of all we do, we invite you to #joinourfamily.
The NHS are striving towards "we work flexibly" as a workforce, we want to ensure that you can work in a way that is best for us, our patients, and importantly for you. We offer many flexible working opportunities, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement for you and if it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note this vacancy may close earlier than stated to aid efficient processing of applications. To ensure your application will be considered please submit it at your earliest convenience. If you have not heard from us within 21 days of the closing date please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.
Please note, that due to the limited number of car parking spaces, car parking permits will be allocated subject to compliance with the Trusts eligibility criteria and availability of spaces. Permit holders are not guaranteed a car parking space.
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is a smoke free organisation. To improve public health smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere on the hospital site.

Applications are invited for the post of Healthcare Science Support Worker, Higher Level (Band 3).
We are looking for Healthcare Science Support Workers with experience of working in an NHS pathology laboratory (or equivalent) to join our Biochemistry Department in Blood Sciences at Darent Valley Hospital.
In partnership with Beckman Coulter UK (BCUK) our newly designed and refurbished pathology laboratory houses a range of equipment including: Beckman Coulter DxI and AU5800 analysers operating on a fully automated track system at the Darent Valley site.
Successful applicants will be expected to participate in an ongoing quality programme to maintain compliance with the United Kingdom Accreditation Standards (UKAS)
The Department covers a 24/7 shift system to support future service delivery. The successful applicant will be expected to fully participate in the shift system in accordance with Agenda for Change (AfC) terms and conditions.
Applicants should have NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience of laboratory practices and should be able to communicate well (see person specification for further details).
The Biochemistry Department is a vibrant and busy laboratory where the team are expected to work together to ensure we provide a quality service for the benefit of the patient.
There is an opportunity to learn how to maintain the high-throughput equipment we use as well as to learn a variety of biochemistry techniques for testing samples.