Senior Assistant Technical Officer

Applications are invited for a Senior Assistant technical Officer, within a friendly, busy and supportive team based in the Scientific Research and Innovation department at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, operating between the hours of 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday.

The Scientific Research and Innovation department runs a clinical cytokine service that is accredited to ISO15189, and provide pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical services for our Biomarker research studies.

Senior Assistant Technical Officers are Clinical Support Workers who work as part of a team within the laboratory setting. After appropriate training and demonstration of competence, the post holder will undertake clinical, and research and development activities in the department and assist the section scientists and laboratory manager with the day-to-day operation of the laboratory, delivering scientific services to ISO15189, GCP and HTA guidelines.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone to work within our scientific team and busy clinical research laboratory supporting our NHS, clinical, academic and commercial sponsors. The varied workload makes for an interesting environment and a natural professional development platform, with experience in clinical testing, specialised study specific sample processing, automated biomarker analysis and the opportunity to assist with quality, and health and safety initiatives.

The main duties pertain to pre-analytical, analytical and post analytical processing of clinical samples, and include the receipt, sorting and labelling of samples, performing manual laboratory tests, operation of laboratory analysers and entry of test and patient data on to the laboratory computer system.

Analysers used within the department include the Protein Simple Ella, Werfen DS2, Siemens Immulite 2000 XPi, and the Roche Cobas 8000; so experience with analysers and analytical skills will be an advantage. Full in-service training will be provided.

The post holder will interact with fellow healthcare professionals, trial coordinators and other healthcare workers.

Concentration and attention to detail are essential qualities required for this post. The post holder will offer a helpful and professional service to Biomedical and clinical co-workers, fellow healthcare professionals, trial coordinators, other healthcare workers, visitors, patients and telephone callers and will contribute towards the department providing a high quality service.

Although unable to support the completion of an IBMS Specialist portfolio, there are a large number of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.

Technical

To safely handle, use and dispose of serum, plasma, other body fluids or hazardous chemicals under supervision

To undertake preventative maintenance on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations

To prepare, store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations

To perform manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations

Ensure quality control measures are carried out to monitor analytical performance, take corrective action where applicable and report any failures to senior staff

To report to the operations manager any instance or event which may cause a service delivery or quality assurance failure

To ensure samples received for R&D studies are correctly received, logged onto appropriate spreadsheets / systems and stored under suitable conditions

To receive, sort and log patient samples on to the laboratory information system, where appropriate

To file samples following appropriate protocols and keep records as required

To ensure samples are labelled and numbered in accordance with laboratory procedures and specific procedures associated with research studies and clinical trials

Preparation of samples for analysis, including preparing relevant assay sheets and paperwork

To store, process or dispatch patient samples according to laboratory procedures

To prepare, process and pack samples for despatch to other laboratories, including complex sample processes for Central Laboratory Commercial Clinical Trials

To maintain manual and computerised records including Excel spreadsheets, scanning and filing of request forms

To maintain, monitor and report temperature logs for Contract Research and Development rooms, fridges and freezers

Dispose of tested samples according to departmental protocols

Attend and support clinics and satellite labs as and when required

To ensure work is processed in a timely manner under the guidance of the operations manager and scientist staff

Ensure that errors, quality failures and incidents are recorded according to laboratory protocol

Ensure sample filing and discard is carried out in accordance wi