L Medical Scientist, Staff Grade

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will support the principle that care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree
• Maintain awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.
• Performance management systems are part of the role and you will be required to participate in the Group’s performance management programme
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, national Standards for the prevention and control of healthcare Associated infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
• Carry out his or her duties under the direction of the Chief Medical Scientist and Consultant Haematologist.
• To participate in the analytical work of the section, with responsibility for equipment performance, maintenance, condition, quality control and record keeping of all instruments and analysers within the section.
• Responsible for monitoring consumables and reagent stocks supplies associated with the section.
• Contribute to the evaluation, procurement, validation and implementation of new analytical equipment, methods and software.
• Participate in the delivery of a Laboratory service that supports the clinical needs of our patients and is consistent with the mission, vision, values and strategic plan of the Hospital.
• Perform routine work to the highest professional standards.
• Participate in the implementation of a ‘Quality Management’ programme, which is patient centred and which measures and audits performance and client satisfaction.
• Actively participate in and promote continuing education and research activities consistent with the position.
• Participate in staff training as required. Facilitate arrangements for education and training undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Promote open communications throughout the hospital.
• Observe the strictest confidence when dealing with all aspects of patient or hospital information.
• Be responsible for the quality of their work and carry out their duties in accordance with Laboratory and Hospital policy.
• In cooperation with the Consultant Staff, Laboratory Manager, Chief Medical Scientist and other designated senior staff, participate in the introduction of new ideas and methods according to hospital policy.
• Receive and record details concerning mishaps, complaints and defects in supplies and equipment, investigate the circumstances with appropriate team members and take the necessary actions and report findings as required, as determined by the Chief Medical Scientist.
• Actively participate in internal and external quality control and quality assurance and other quality strategies and initiatives including the introduction and implementation of accreditation.
• Make the most effective and efficient use of developments in information technology for both patient care and administrative support in a manner which integrates well with systems throughout the organisation.

KPI’s

• The identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospital’s service plan targets.
• The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets.
• Driving and promoting a Performance Management culture.
• In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of a Performance Management system for your profession.
• The management and delivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:

• Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.
• Attendance at and completion of mandatory training as specified by the department Manager is required.
• All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately.
• Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.
• In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.
• In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Buildings is not permitted.
• Hospital uniform code must be adhered to.
• Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

• The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.
• The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.
• The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas:
• Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives
• Document Control Information Management Systems
• Risk Management Strategy and Policies
• Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards
• Decontamination Code of Practice
• Infection Control Policies
• Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure
• Data Protection and confidentiality Policies
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and that they comply with the Group’s Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.
• The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.
• It is the post holders’ specific responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety this will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your line manager.
• The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others.
• The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.
• The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.
• It is the post holder’s responsibility to be aware of and comply with the HSE Health Care Records Management/Integrated Discharge Planning (HCRM / IDP) Code of Practice.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

Candidates must have at the latest date of application: -

(a) Candidates for appointment must:

(i) Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Medical Scientists Register maintained by the Medical Scientists Registration Board at CORU.

AND

(ii) Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

AND

(iii) Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Medical Scientists Register maintained by the Medical Scientists Registration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued.

2. Annual Registration

(i) On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Medical Scientists Register maintained by the Medical Scientists Registration Board at CORU.

AND

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. Health

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Character

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Other requirements specific to the post

A flexible approach to working hours is required in order to ensure deadlines are met and successful candidates will be expected to participate in laboratory weekend cover.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

Candidates must demonstrates the following:

Knowledge & Professional Knowledge

· Demonstrate good theoretical and practical knowledge of general hospital laboratory practice with professional competency in Haematology/Blood Transfusion.

· Demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of Best Practice in delivering a quality medical laboratory service.

· Demonstrate Up-to-date knowledge of best practice in delivering a Quality Laboratory Service and awareness of the requirements of ISO 15189

· Demonstrate knowledge of laboratory accreditation; participate in the development and authorship, and/ or review and revision of SOP’s.

· Demonstrate understanding of the role of quality assurance, quality management and process improvement principles in laboratory operation and planning.

· Demonstrate understanding of the major features of a laboratory information system.

· Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development

· Demonstrate evidence of computer skills and a willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role

Planning & Organising

· Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills

· Demonstrate the ability to manage self in a busy working environment

· Demonstrate the ability to evaluate information, solve problems and make effective decisions.

· Demonstrate the ability to identify and resolve system failures and anomalies

· Demonstrate ability to manage deadlines

Commitment to a Quality Service

· Demonstrate a strong commitment to the provision of a quality service

· Demonstrateup-to-date knowledge of best practice in delivering a Quality Laboratory Service

· Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to job and service developments

· Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the service user and the patient

· Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change.

Team Skills

· Demonstrate evidence of ability to work as a member of a team.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

· Demonstrate interpersonal skills in functioning as a member of a Health Care Team.

· Demonstrate principles of confidentiality with all information.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking / Short Listing / Interview

A ranking and or short listing exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Code of Practice

The Health Service Executive / Public Appointments Service will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates”.

Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates” or on www.cpsa.ie.

The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.