Phlebotomist

**JOB TITLE: PHLEBOTOMIST**

**REPORTS TO: NURSE MANAGERS (Clinically)**

**PRACTICE MANAGER (Administratively)**

**HOURS: 15-20 hrs/week**

**Job summary**:
Working under the direct supervision of the practice nurses and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, the post-holder will be responsible for performing venepuncture to obtain blood samples from patients **only** as the result of a direct referral from a GP or nurse practitioner.

**Duties and responsibilities**:

- Ensuring that the patient is as comfortable and relaxed as possible and confirming their agreement to the collection of a blood sample
- Collection of sample(s) of blood in accordance with training and procedures
- Ensuring samples are stored in appropriate containers
- Accurate, legible labelling of all samples to confirm patient identity
- Checking patient identification against GP/nurse request and confirming with patient whenever possible
- Maintaining accurate patient records on SystemOne in accordance with practice procedure
- Ensuring that samples are dispatched to the appropriate laboratories in a timely fashion
- Ensuring that anomalies are reported to a senior member of staff
- Notifying the GP/nurse of any significant patient issues
- Liaising with and assisting members of the administrative team

In addition to the above, the Phlebotomist may be required to:

- Participate in practice audit as directed by the audit lead
- Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
- Support and participate in shared learning within the practice
- Complete opening and closing procedures in accordance with the duty rota

**Confidentiality**:

- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
- In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

**Health & safety**:
The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management of their own and others’ health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, t and the practice Infection Control policy. This will include (but will not be limited to):

- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
- Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
- Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
- Management and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
- Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
- Safe management of sharps procedures, use, storage and disposal
- Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
- Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
- Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards.
- Undertaking annual infection control training
- Adhering to Waste management protocols including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection
- Adhering to spillage control procedures
- Adhering to decontamination control procedures, and equipment maintenance
- Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

**Equality and diversity**:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

- Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers