NHS TAYSIDE
1.
JOB IDENTIFICATION
Job Title:
Modern Apprentice (MA) as Associate Practitioner
Department(s):
Blood Sciences
2. JOB PURPOSE
This 4 year modern apprenticeship is a learning post which supports professional and
technical staff in the delivery of the Blood Science Service. This is a laboratory based
apprenticeship working mainly in a lab environment participating in routine and urgent
investigations which support patient care.
The apprentice will develop the knowledge and skills to support the practitioners and
professional staff. Under the direct supervision of a qualified member of staff the apprentice
will learn to how to undertake investigations so that at the end of the apprenticeship they will
be able to become a Blood Sciences Associate Practitioner.
The post holder will be required to work across a number of NHS Tayside sites as required.
3. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
The Blood Sciences Department consists of 205 professional and support staff based across
2 main sites – Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary.
Clinical Laboratory
Manager
Associate Service
Manager
Modern Apprentice as
Associate Practitioner,
Blood Science
(this post)
The Modern Apprentice (this post) is managerially accountable to the Clinical Laboratory
Manager.
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4. SCOPE AND RANGE
The apprentice will rotate through the Blood Sciences specialist areas and commit to achieve
relevant and appropriate skills and qualifications relating to the role.
Through practical experience and collating evidence whilst in post the post holder will achieve
an NHC with the support of the support staff/professional staff and Dundee and Angus
College.
Information about the Blood Sciences Service is detailed on the information page.
5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Under the direct supervision of the support/professional staff the apprentice will rotate
into all areas within Blood Sciences and undertake work using a range of specialised
automated analysers and manual techniques.
2. Participate in Specimen Reception and pre-analytical phase work which includes: Specimen acceptance/rejection
 Accurate entry of data onto recording systems
 Ensuring correct patient and specimen identification
 Prioritisation of particular specimens including ‘fast-track’ samples
 Management of specimen storage
3. Maintain the cleanliness, disinfection and preparation for use of analysers for self and
others and also equipment such as centrifuges, pipettes, automated equipment,
pneumatic tube systems and all work benches.
4. Use the laboratory IT system to support timely production of high quality work and
accurate reports.
5. Perform specified delegated operational duties, e.g. inventory and stock control,
health and safety measures and quality assurance procedures
6. Create a portfolio of evidence to support the requirements to fulfil the qualification
requirements of the Modern Apprenticeship.
7. Fulfil all educational and development requirements as identified to support the
learning process throughout the Modern Apprenticeship.
8. Work within and adhere to set occupational policies, procedures and guidelines as set
by the Department of Health, Safety and Security, the Scottish Government and NHS
Tayside.
Induction Standards & Code of Conduct
Your performance must comply with the national “Mandatory Induction Standards for
Healthcare Support Workers in Scotland” 2009; and with the Code of Conduct for
Healthcare Support Workers.
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7. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
Willingness to learn all aspects of Blood Sciences Services along with participation in the
NHC/ Modern Apprentice framework which is supported by Dundee and Angus College.
Rotate through a range of placements within the Blood Science Service (and where required
the wider service), gathering the practical experience and evidence to allow the completion of
the HNC and relevant in-house learning throughout the apprenticeship.
8. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Throughout the apprenticeship the post holder will:

Use and become familiar with the Blood Sciences Laboratory IT systems.

Use and become competent with equipment in the laboratory which is used to support
patient care.
Responsibility for Records Management
All records created in the course of the business of NHS Tayside are corporate records
and are public records under the terms of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937. This
includes email messages and other electronic records. It is your responsibility to ensure
that you keep appropriate records of your work in NHS Tayside and manage those
records in keeping with the NHS Tayside Records Management Policy and with any
guidance produced by NHS Tayside specific to your employment.
9.PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Setting up for and clearing up after laboratory activities
Standing and concentration when using laboratory equipment
Receiving ongoing training and learning information
Matching paperwork under supervision to ensure patient safety
10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
Working in a busy laboratory environment. Being aware of the dangers and precautions
required in terms of Health and Safety, in respect of the equipment used.
11. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
The apprentice will work with the direct supervision of qualified staff.
The apprentice is expected to make simple judgements based on facts/information which are
relevant and appropriate to their stage of apprenticeship.
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12. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
A separate job description will need to be signed off by each jobholder
to whom the job description applies.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Head of Department Signature:
Date:
Date:
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USEFUL INFORMATION
The Modern Apprentice will be working towards becoming an Associate Practitioner in Blood
Sciences. This is a healthcare worker who delivers healthcare by working as part of a multiprofessional team. They are responsible for their own work under the overall supervision of a
HCPC registered practitioner. They use their technical knowledge, skills and experience to
participate in the delivery of a broad range of tasks and specialised analyses in support of NHS
Tayside therapeutic and clinical activities. They demonstrate a high degree of technical proficiency
in supporting the technical and analytical work of the Department in a competent, safe, efficient
and effective manner. They utilise complex equipment and use protocols and algorithms, where
appropriate to troubleshoot within the laboratory/department.
They work in both a routine and non-routine (urgent) context in a patient focused environment
where their activities enable the provision of quality assured laboratory data to clinical (doctors,
nurses, midwives etc) colleagues. The laboratory data will assist and inform clinical colleagues to
make appropriate clinical decisions, such as effective and ongoing diagnosis, management,
treatment and monitoring of patients.
The Blood Sciences Department provides a 24/7 high quality, analytical, interpretive and advisory
diagnostic service, mainly to NHS Tayside Acute and Primary Care Divisions but also to North Fife
and South Grampian. The Department operates on two sites 20 miles apart with the main
laboratory facility being at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and a multi-disciplinary laboratory at Perth
Royal Infirmary. The Department is accredited to ISO 15189 standards by the United Kingdom
Accreditation Service.
205 professional and support Blood Sciences staff deliver clinical laboratory services for
Haematology, Biochemical Medicine and Blood Transfusion (PRI only), Immunology, Virology
(core automated) and Phlebotomy services.
The annual workload of the Department is 1,000,000 patient requests comprising 6,500,000 tests
per annum at two sites. The workload is rising at approximately 5% per annum and the repertoire
is continually expanding. The annual budget £8.6 million comprising of £6.5 million staffing costs
and £2.1 million reagent costs, consumables, equipment and services. The Department offers its
services 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and Specialist Biomedical Scientists carry out
analytical testing of approximately 700,000 patient requests per annum equating to 5,400,000
tests. The service delivered encompasses requests from sources delivering elderly, adult,
paediatric and neonatal healthcare across a very broad range of clinical specialties. The
Department is also a specialist referral centre for a range of analytes serving a national catchment
area and supports extensive Point of Care Testing services. A significant volume of work
associated with service, academic and commercial research and development is undertaken by
the Department.
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