Associate Practitioner

Can you make a difference to each patient’s experience of the NHS?
If you are looking to provide outstanding patient care, happy to go the extra mile and can adapt to a quick paced environment – then you are who we are looking for.
We are very happy to talk informally during your application or would be happy to provide a tour of the Emergency Department.
There are full and part time opportunities available working various shift patterns including weekends, nights and Bank Holidays
Following the successful implementation of an effective point of care testing team to support Covid-19 testing for all patients being admitted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, the team will now become a permanent feature and expand to support a wider range of testing as well as testing at community sites. To support the expanded service provision, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a new team of dedicated professionals .
Working primarily within the Emergency Department you will be responsible for the end to end provision of a range of point of care testing to ensure patients receive their care in the most appropriate place from the start of their journey.
It is not essential to have worked within the Emergency Department or to have experience of working with point of care testing systems to apply for this position. We work together to create a positive team spirit, recognising achievements and celebrating success. We know that happy patients start with happy staff.
Monitor consumable stock levels including updating, checking, storing, reporting and initial stock control.
To be responsible for the cost-effective use of consumables and equipment in the immediate area of work.
To contribute to the care, maintenance and security of laboratory premises and equipment.
Staff
To work as part of a team providing technical laboratory support to the laboratories.
To participate in the training of support staff.
Sustainability is integral to the Trust achieving the NHS Net Zero target. All staff are therefore actively encouraged and supported to implement new ways of working within their field of expertise.
To perform tests and investigations where training has been provided and competency acquired.
Perform support staff duties where appropriate.
To be adaptable to change and to work flexibly in an efficient and timely manner.
To use, maintain, quality control and calibrate complex and expensive laboratory equipment.
To monitor stock levels and inform senior staff when stock requires reordering.
To participate in External and Internal Quality Assurance schemes, as part of the laboratory.
To record incidents and anomalies in conjunction with senior staff as soon as possible.
To participate in the recording and collection of departmental statistics.
To assist in the production of departmental policies and procedures.
To manage the rejection of specimens that fail to meet the specimen acceptance policy criteria.
To maintain high professional standards by keeping up to date with advances in point of care testing.
To be aware of and adhere to the requirements of the Quality Management System of the RCHT Pathology specialty, and to contribute to the programme of continued quality improvements to further meet the needs and requirements of service users.
To demonstrate a positive and responsive attitude to the work of the laboratory, to other members of the team and to service users.
To respond to requests for information in a polite, helpful, and concise manner and to maintain patient or commercial confidentiality.
Safety
To work in a safe manner, in accordance with the Trust and Laboratory safety policies, using Personal protective equipment and other control measures when required.
To work safely with bio-hazardous materials adopting “Universal Precautions” as appropriate.
To use equipment in a safe and responsible manner.
To attend annual mandatory security, safety, fire, and manual handling training.
To observe the immunisation policy of the laboratory.
To report accidents and near misses according to the laboratory protocol.
To observe departmental policies on Manual Handling procedures, Violence and Aggression, COSHH and general H&S.
General cleaning, disinfection and maintenance of laboratory work benches and laboratory equipment.
To observe waste disposal protocols.
To observe departmental and Trust rules on security.
To conduct risk assessments as required.