laboratory support worker

Preparing specimens (mainly but not exclusively blood and urine) for analysis in the diagnostic laboratories of the hospital.

Most patients in the hospital and many patients in general practice will require laboratory tests to diagnose or monitor treatment for a range of conditions. All the specimens need careful handling when arriving into the laboratory and during preparation for testing. This job - a laboratory support worker - will undertake this critical role that required to support patient care.

We receive samples 24 hours a day for critically important testing for those patients arriving in ED or newborn babies through to routine monitoring tests in primary care for common conditions., Equipment: Be proficient in the use, maintenance and monitoring of the equipment as required and specified by the Departments.

Problem solving: Solve day-to-day problems e.g. mislabelled and lost samples

Personal responsibility for:

To act as the first point of contact for the pathology department, dealing with a wide range of enquiries including confidential matters.

To receive and assess the suitability of laboratory pathological specimens for analysis.

To check patient identification details and assign a laboratory number.

To distribute specimens to relevant pathology sections, fast-tracking urgent, clinic, and labile samples as appropriate.

To input patient demographics, clinical details and assay requests into the laboratory computer system.

Preparation of samples for diagnostic testing, including centrifugation, aliquoting and allocation to appropriate analyser racking.

Printing, sorting and despatching of laboratory reports.

Distribution of Pathology consumables from main stores.

To maintain confidentiality of information regarding the patient at all times.

To assist in keeping the workplace clean and tidy, including preparation of laboratory disinfectants.

To work within the Pathology Reception Standard Operating Procedures and general laboratory policies and procedures.

Is fully conversant with appropriate departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), ensuring that personal performance complies with UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation and other professional standards.

Material assets:

To perform basic stock control duties and to alert the senior staff

of low or excessive stocks.

Risk prevention

To help in the safe disposal of used specimens and waste products and to assist with the daily cleaning of the work surfaces within the laboratory.

Work within Health and Safety guidelines at all times.

Maintaining confidentiality, The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications are invited for the post of laboratory support worker to work primarily in the John Radcliffe Hospital Biochemistry Laboratory, which is part of the Clinical Biochemistry Department of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Full time and Part time hours will be considered. Full time hours are mainly 9:00 to 17:30 but shift options can include early (6:30) or late (13:00) starting. Part time working needs to match our busy times in the afternoon and early evening. There would be a requirement to work occasional night and weekend duties. You will provide assistance in the specimen reception area where duties include preparation and sorting of patient samples, requesting information onto the laboratory computer system and general house keeping of the area. Occasional light physical work is required. Characteristics we are seeking include an attention to detail and common sense. Keyboard skills and experience in a laboratory or hospital environment would be
advantageous. Training will be provided to enable the role to be fulfilled.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence., Sexual Safety Charter: In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles

Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.