Associate Practitioner

Technical Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Senior BMS and following departmental written procedures: - To participate in the routine Cellular Pathology rotas. Rotating through all areas of the laboratory as directed by senior staff, including: o Specimen reception o Cut-up assist o Embedding o Microtomy o Haematoxylin &Eosin (H&E) staining o Internal Quality Control (IQC) o Specimen Decalcification o Special Stains o Immunohistochemistry Rotation will take place within the scope of individual practice, determined by training received and competence level assessment by senior members of the team. To follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at all times. To participate in the departmental training programmes, gaining competence in all areas of routine Cellular Pathology. Receive, label and prepare specimens prior to processing. To check the validity of sample labelling and type. Assist in the Specimen Reception section when required to meet the operational needs of the department. To troubleshoot simple laboratory problems, seeking advice and support from senior staff when appropriate.

Such issues would include

Mislabelled samples Poor performing assays and equipment Queries from service users To adhere to Trust Policy regarding Data Protection, Information Governance and Freedom of Information. To adhere to Trust and Departmental Health & Safety policy including wearing of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) when required. To maintain and promote high standards of Health & Safety within the workplace. To dispose of specimens and other material in accordance with H&S guidelines, RCPATH recommendations and local Pathology protocols. To provide the Health & Safety Leads with support in implementing policies and audit procedures. To support the Quality Lead in audits, EQA, raising and closing non-conformities on Q-Pulse and reviewing documents. To support the Training Lead with the delivering of the training programme where appropriate. To report and remedy, within scope of practice, any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure. To report any risks, clinical and non-clinical accidents and incidents/potential incidents promptly to senior members of staff and using the DATIX system if appropriate and co-operate with any investigations undertaken. To support the Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLA) or other Trainee staff, and to assist qualified Associate Practitioners and Biomedical Scientists in their roles. Package and send away samples for referral when required. Maintain the adequate storage of samples and their correct disposal at the appropriate time. Perform routine operative maintenance on laboratory instruments and undertake corrective maintenance and troubleshooting when appropriate. Undertake manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations, following set protocols and procedures to prepare and quality control stained histology tissue slides. To progress to performing specimen transfer of RCPath Category A specimens following a period of training and competency assessment. Prepare reagents required for use in the laboratory and other related areas. Weekly/ Monthly stock control duties of laboratory supplies and reagents