Specialist Biomedical Scientist POCT inLiverpool inLiverpool PUBLISHED THU 7 NOV 2024

The post holder will act as an experienced state registered Biomedical Scientist to provide a comprehensive POCT service. They will perform routine and specialist procedures and investigations as an aid to the effective diagnosis and management of patients.

The work consists of: analysis of biological specimens using scientific methods utilizing various manual and automated techniques and equipment; reporting of results and treatment based on own and others analysis; certification of analytical processes and technical validity of investigations; liaison with medical, scientific, nursing, medical staff and other NHS Trusts and outside agencies.

The post holder will participate in developing a comprehensive POCT training programme ensuring healthcare workers are trained and competency assessed to the UKAS standards. The successful applicant will be expected to work with clinical areas to implement new services.

In this role you will be responsible for ensuring that critical devices are maintained such has the blood gas analysers. You will be expected to maintain devices, carry out both simple and advance troubleshooting on devices; you will be responsible for contacting and following the instruction of the manufactories when unable to fix malfunctioning devices. You will also be responsible for organising and working with manufacturer engineers to ensure that devices are fixed in a timely fashion and that services only have minimal downtime.

The successful applicant will be expected to have excellent communication skills and time management skills. You will be required to communicate with variety of people such has doctors, nurses, Biomedical Scientists, Clinical Scientists and engineers. You will also be critical in ensuring that the services provided are compliant with governance in place, you will also be helping to support the department has it work towards obtaining UKAS accreditation.

About us

Key responsibilities

• Provide timely and accurate test results using appropriate equipment both automated and manual.
• Routine and specialist Blood Sciences analyses, validation, interpretation and reporting of results
• Maintain complex analytical equipment
• Involved in the supervision, teaching, advising and informing off all grades of staff
• Comply with Standards of Proficiency for State Registration
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with all aspects of Caldicott

Knowledge and Personal Development

• Build upon the post holders acquired technical and analytical knowledge achieved through specialist training and experience.
• Maintain specialist technical and analytical knowledge by participating in CPD
• Maintain state registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC) by complying with Standards of Proficiency and Conduct.
• Ensure compliance with all local and national standards of work practice e.g. Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA)
• Maintain the knowledge and expertise necessary to perform specialized procedures during rotation through the highly specialized laboratories associated with a teaching hospital
• Maintain the necessary specialist knowledge and skills sufficient to work independently, seeking advice only when deemed necessary.
• Participate in Personnel Development Plans and Appraisals

Communication and Relationships

• Assess the suitability and appropriateness of samples received, liaise with medical staff as necessary.
• Deal sympathetically during liaison with colleagues, other healthcare professionals and staff from external organisations
• Use empathy and understanding to ensure that technical, clinical and linguistic barriers to understanding are overcome.
• Negotiate with service users resolving contentious issues that conflict with laboratory service targets.
• Report and explain results to clinicians, biochemists and other service users
• Provide specialist advice to clinicians and other service users regarding specimen types, investigations required and appropriateness of test and timing of collection of specimen and turnaround times.
• Provide advise and guidance to students, trainees and newly qualified Biomedical Scientists
• Ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of a conflict of priorities relating to concurrent demands placed upon the service

Scientific and Technical

• Use specialist knowledge across a range of procedures, authorize test results integrating and initiating further tests as appropriate. Validates results according to POCT Standard Operating Procedures.
• Take responsibility for finishing, checking, validating and authorizing colleagues work as necessary.
• Check validity and reliability of analytical processes, maintaining and monitoring satisfactory performance by internal quality control and external quality assessment to ensure accuracy and precision of POCT equipment.
• Manipulation of materials and objects such as microscopes and pipettes, for accurate and reliable determination of results.
• Monitors Quality control and reagent logs in ward areas and utilizes resources cost effectively.
• Assists with monitoring and managing POCT Data Management Systems.
• Check and monitor POCT consumables and storage facilities i.e. on ward/departmental areas and laboratory areas.
• Responsible for maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of Point of Care Testing ward based analytical systems, across Trusts and Community practices. Reporting major faults to Trust POCT Manager.
• Participate in flexible working when the service demands i.e to accommodate early morning or late evening staff training sessions.
• Provide support for analytical procedures performed outside of the Pathology Laboratory including training, monitoring, quality management and Health and Safety.

Resources

• Ensure data integrity when entering demographics and results into the laboratory information system using specialized laboratory software.
• Liaise with IT support in resolving any computer system difficulties.
• Make suitable alternative arrangements in the case of equipment malfunction
• Monitor and store consumables, and reagents in appropriate conditions. Audit fridge/freezer temperature in POCT areas.
• Authorise the use of transport for exchanging faulty/checking performance of POCT Equipment, EQA samples distribution and delivering consumables to POCT services across sites.