Associate Practitioner Virology Band 4

Job Description

Associate Practitioner Virology (Band 4) – 37.5 hrs per week The Virology Department at St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey (Berkshire Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS), has a vacancy for an Associate Practitioner to work in the laboratory. The department is a large and busy hub laboratory serving the five hospitals that make up Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS). BSPS is formed by St Peter’s Hospital Chertsey, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Frimley Park Hospital, Wexham Park Hospital and Royal Berkshire Hospital. It currently provides diagnostic pathology services for these five hospitals and the surrounding GPs serving a population of over 2 million people. Current activity for BSPS is approximately 23 million tests a year with a workforce of 670 staff. The laboratory is UKAS accredited to ISO 15189 and is well equipped with a number of analysers. These include Abbott Architect, Hologic Panther and Panther Fusion, Diasorin Liaison, Vidas, Elite InGenius. The laboratory opening hours for COVID are 7am – 11pm, 7 days a week.You will, with the Senior BMS, be responsible for the participating in the organisation and performance of all aspects of the Virology Laboratory including the COVID Service provided by the Virology Department for BSPS recently established within BSPS.This post involves routine laboratory duties to support the department including the receipt of samples from specimen reception and tracking, disposal of samples/reagents, responsibility for the referral of samples to other laboratories and entry of results into the laboratory computer information system (LIMS). The senior pathology support workers answer telephone/email queries and perform maintenance of equipment. In addition you will also receive full training to use and maintain automated equipment in the department to perform immunological assays, rotating through sections of the laboratory under the supervision of biomedical scientists.You must be keen to embrace new ways of working and develop your knowledge and skills in order to grow in the role. You will be working with the Virology senior team to ensure a co-ordinated and effective service is provided by best use of staff and resources to continue to provide a service to UKAS ISO 15189 standards.We are looking for an energetic, enthusiastic and well-motivated candidate with appropriate qualifications and/or relevant experience to join the team of the Virology department for Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS). We are looking for a candidate who has experience in specimen reception and laboratory skills for the accurate and safe use of laboratory equipment and reagents. To be successful the candidate, as well as being friendly and reliable, will need a flexible attitude towards work with good organisational skills, attention to detail and communication. They must have the ability to work under pressure and work well within a team.Our staff benefit from a strong commitment to training and development, minimum 27 days holiday, access to a final salary pension scheme, flexible working, subsidised restaurant facilities and childcare facilities (onsite Nursery).You must demonstrate motivation and interest for joining this busy expanding Virology Department. This is If you would like further information, please contact Gemma Brahams, Acting Lead BMS, .Closing date: 20th December The Trust may close any advertised post before the stated closing date once enough applications are received. We recommend that you apply as soon as possibleInterview date: 8th January