JOB DESCRIPTION
1.
SERVICE
NHS Orkney
2.
SERVICE
DIRECTORATE/DEPARTMENT
Medical Directorate
3.
JOB TITLE
Medical Laboratory Assistant
4.
GRADE
Band 2
5.
LOCATION
Laboratory
6.
REPORTING TO
Deputy Laboratory Manager
7. JOB PURPOSE
To work in specimen reception and to assist in the efficient and effective processing of clinical samples
from the point of receipt of samples to analysis.
To ensure the effective functioning of the sterilisation and disinfection processes for clinical waste and
adhere to the laboratory cleaning schedule.
8.
ORGANISATION CHART
Laboratory
Manager
Deputy Laboratory
Manager
Laboratory
Administrator
Biomedical
Scientist
x4
Medical Laboratory
Assistant
x3
9. KEY RESULT AREAS
 To receive, sort, label, prepare and distribute clinical samples to appropriate section of the
laboratory. This involves ensuring accuracy of information provided on samples and request forms,
matching the two and adequate labelling for analysis according to the sample acceptance criteria
set by the laboratory standard operating procedures (SOP’s).
 To prepare samples prior to analysis i.e. 60% of blood samples require centrifugation.
 To prepare samples, work lists and scanned documents for sample referral to reference
laboratories.
 To receive mail, specimens and packages at specimen reception.
 To deliver mail, specimens and packages to mailing rooms.
 Entering patient, sample and test data onto host computer system.
 Receiving telephone requests for test results and general laboratory enquiries.
 Retrieving and communicating authorised test results to users of the service whilst maintaining
patient confidentiality.
 To load and unload samples onto and from analysers according to laboratory SOP’s.
 To assist in the inoculation and preparation of samples in each discipline as instructed by the
biomedical scientists and laboratory SOP’s.
 Supporting biomedical scientists in the preparation and supply of reagents and consumables within
each discipline i.e. biochemistry, haematology, microbiology and blood transfusion.
 Monitoring and ensuring continued supply of laboratory consumables used by laboratory staff on a
daily basis for each discipline.
 Ensure a safe and efficient waste management system for the day to day running of all the
disciplines within the laboratory at bench level.
 Placing orders for authorisation by the biomedical scientists for laboratory consumables from the
hospital central stores.
 To receive and acknowledge delivery notes for goods ordered, store and distribute consumables on
receipt from the central stores.
 Maintaining daily log sheets for daily activities and audits as determined by the laboratory manager,
NHS Orkney management and ongoing clinical audits.
 Perform and log scheduled routine maintenance of equipment e.g. disinfection of centrifuges.
 Ensuring the efficient sterilisation, disinfection and disposal of clinical waste.
 Logging of information for all sterilisation cycles, source of clinical waste and disposal.
 Reporting any problems, malfunctions, anomalies and operational hazards to the biomedical
scientists and laboratory manager.
 Ensuring general cleanliness and disinfection of work surfaces, instruments and areas of work.
 Receive communication via the post, email, fax and telephone as part of the routine service
provision of the laboratory.
 Receiving and delivering confidential laboratory reports including dealing with patient / specimen /
result data as required.
 Work with the laboratory manager and other laboratory staff to prepare documents, Standard
Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and reports as required.
 To provide training on the use of blood collection system in use by the laboratory for SHO’s,
medical and nursing staff.
10. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
The post holder whilst directly reporting to the deputy laboratory manager will have a degree of
autonomy to deliver their agreed personal objectives.
The post holder will have a core set of responsibilities each month with additional tasks being
added and removed as projects move on. The post holder will have supervision available all of
the time.
As an employee of NHS Orkney the post holder is required to adhere to NHSO:



policies with regard to the data protection and confidentiality of information
Health and Safety and Risk Management policies
policy on Equal opportunities and Diversity
The post holder will undertake any training as necessary to carry out the duties of the post.
13. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder has regular contact with internal and external stakeholders and will frequently
be the public face of the laboratory and by extension, the Health Board.
Excellent communication skills are an essential element of this post.
Sensitive information relating to staff may be seen, this must be handled in a confidential
manner.
14. MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB
 Working in an environment that handles potentially hazardous and infectious clinical samples and
chemicals using personal protective equipment provided by the laboratory.
 Organising workload with the need for flexibility and simultaneously maintain efficiency and
effectiveness.
 Frequently working under pressure to meet the demands of the service.
 Providing training for phlebotomy services.
 Working towards the process for Accreditation.
15. SYSTEMS
 Entering and retrieving patient and test data onto the laboratory information system (LIMS) –
Labsystems (Masterlab) from Clinisys. The level of understanding includes the generation of
softcopy (screen) and hardcopy (paper) reports and worksheets.
 Scanning of laboratory request forms, test worksheets and other documents and therefore requiring
basic knowledge of operating the scanner.
 Use of computer software to perform basic daily tasks including Adobe Acrobat (file reader),
Primasoft (label/envelope printer) and FTP (File transfer protocol), Intranet, Internet and Outlook for
emails.
 Operation of the laboratory autoclave requiring an understanding of the functions and mechanisms of
the equipment.
 Use of some basic point of care instruments not requiring interpretation of results i.e. not performing
subjective tests.
 Operate and have an understanding of some basic laboratory equipment, manual and semiautomated and not requiring complicated operational knowledge e.g. centrifuges, hand held pipettes,
shakers, hotplates, water-baths, fridges, freezers and incubators.
 Use of office and communications equipment e.g. telephone, fax, email, Intranet and Internet,
scanner, photocopier and printers.
16. PHYSICAL EFFORT




Working intermittently at the computer workstation, on occasions for prolonged periods.
Having a degree of manual dexterity in order to operate the basic laboratory equipment.
Basic manual handling of supplies and stocks
Working in enclosed environment of high humidity, temperature and foul smells
.
17. MENTAL EFFORT
Prioritisation of a very diverse workload on a daily basis.
18. EMOTIONAL EFFORT
Dealing with emergency requests via telephone, email or in person.
19. WORKING CONDITIONS
Working Conditions:
Office environment
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title:
Medical Laboratory Assistant
Department:
Laboratory
Location:
Balfour Hospital
FACTOR
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
QUALIFICATIONS
TRAINING
RESEARCH
PUBLICATIONS
Minimum of 4 Standard Grades or
educated to Higher level
EXPERIENCE
Experience of working in a laboratory Health or public sector
environment or demonstrable
experience.
knowledge of the operation of a
modern laboratory
KNOWLEDGE AND
SKILLS
IT skills, experience, confidence and
proficiency with Microsoft packages,
particularly Word, Excel and Access
Excellent communication and
organisational skills
Demonstrable numeracy and literacy
skills
Evidence of experience of working to
tight deadlines as well as having the
ability to multi-task.
PERSONAL
QUALITIES
Demonstrable evidence of drive for
improvement
Demonstrable ability to manage self
Evidence of self awareness
Demonstrable evidence of sense of
integrity
SVQ in Health and Social
Care