Medical Laboratory Aide WTE

Medical Laboratory Aide

Cúntóir Saotharlainne Leighis.

Job Specification & Terms and Conditions

Job Title and Grade

Medical Laboratory Aide 0.50 WTE (20hrs/week)

Grade code: 4077

Campaign Reference

SCH/ 065 /2025

Closing Date

Wednsday 15/10/2025 @ 17:00HRS

Proposed Interview Date (s)

Interviews will be held as soon as possible after the closing date. Candidates will normally be given at least one week’s notice of interview. The timescale may be reduced in exceptional circumstances

Remuneration

The salary scale for the post is: of March 2025

€40,710

€41,772

€42,906

€43,993

€45,156

€46,353

€47,588

New appointees to any grade start at the minimum point of the scale. Incremental credit will be applied for recognised relevant service in Ireland and abroad (Department of Health Circular 2/2011). Incremental credit is normally granted on appointment, in respect of previous experience in the Civil Service, Local Authorities, Health Service and other Public Service Bodies and Statutory Agencies.

Taking up Appointment

To be advised at job offer stage - CV’s will not be accepted

Organisational Area

HSE Dublin South East

Location of Post

Assignment will be to the Laboratory in St. Columcille’s Hospital for 5 mornings a week -

Mon-Fri: 9am–1pm

A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign for Medical Laboratory Aide, St. Columcille’s Hospital.

Informal Enquiries

Cariosa Power, Chief Medical Scientist, St. Columcille’s Hospital.

Email: cariosa.power@hse.ie

Details of Service

St. Columcille’s Hospital (SCH) is a Model 2 117 bed hospital providing services to the population of South Dublin and the county of Wicklow. SCH is one of 10 hospitals within the Health Regional Authority Dublin & South East area. Patients transfer between St. Columcille’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) according to their needs.

St. Columcille’s Hospital provides the following Services:

• General Medicine including Medicine for the Elderly

• Medical Assessment Unit

• Local Injuries Unit

• Sunflower Suite

• Endoscopy

• Minor Operating Procedures

• Centre of Obesity Management

• Diabetic Clinic

• Transgender Clinic

The Laboratory provides analysis of patient specimens for inpatient and outpatient clinics. It also provides referral services for specialised testing outside the remit of the Laboratory.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to the Laboratory Chief Medical Scientist for operational duties.

Purpose of the Post

To perform appropriate assigned tasks under supervision of medical scientists using established procedures ensuring the achievement of agreed targets and standards for which training will be provided.

All procedures are in accordance with Good Laboratory Practices and ISO 15189 standards.

The fundamental philosophy guiding this position is to preserve the hospital’s mission, values and ethos.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

· The person holding this post is required to support the principle that the 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 throughout the Group’s awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.

· Performance management systems are part of role and you will be required to participate in the Group’s performance management programme

All duties will be performed according to written laboratory procedures and after appropriate training by a designated supervisor.

The Medical Laboratory Aide will:

Administrative

· Recording of blood specimens and histology specimens, ensuring that samples and request forms are correctly matched as per laboratory policy.

· Participate in training for Laboratory Information Systems as necessary.

· Delivery of reports throughout the hospital as required.

· Taking, recording and delivering phone messages as required.

· Filing of histology slides.

Technical

· Collect and/or receive specimens into laboratory, cross check details from request forms & labelled specimens.

· Verify that samples adhere to the minimum acceptance criteria.

· Sort and separate specimens according to priority.

· Date and time stamp all received specimens.

· Prepare equipment as directed by appropriate scientific/technical laboratory staff

· Preparing, collecting and disposing of all laboratory waste in accordance with Waste Management policies.

· Cleaning of laboratory equipment as required. eg. fridges, centrifuges, as per laboratory procedures and policy.

· Preparation of transport and ‘out of hours’ transport boxes according to Transport of Dangerous Goods guidelines.

· Preparation of blood culture packs for the hospital wards.

· Dispersion of swabs etc. to hospital wards as required.

· Perform stocktake and stock rotation for specific stock items for the Laboratory & Mortuary. Reporting stock shortages to senior laboratory staff and/or requesting stocks from stores as appropriate.

· Disseminate Goods Inwards and follow procedure for same.

· Preparation of appropriate disinfectant solutions for laboratory use.

Other Duties

· Adherence to security of laboratory premises

· Other appropriate duties as may be assigned from time to time by the laboratory and/or hospital.

· Keep work areas tidy and clean shelves, bench tops and sinks.

· Assist Medical Scientists as necessary.

· Undertake any other task responsibly, which may reasonably be allocated by a designated supervisor.

Accreditation/ Standards/ Regulatory

· Demonstrate behaviour consistent with the values of the hospital.

· Be responsible for the quality of work undertaken and carry out duties in accordance with Hospital Policy, Good Laboratory Practices and in accordance with ISO 15189 standards.

· Participate in personal development plan: stated objectives and plans of the laboratory; roles and responsibilities of the staff member; personal objectives of the staff member; training and development needs of the staff member.

· Lead by example by setting high standards of work and commitment.

Confidentiality/ Impartiality

· Respect information obtained in the course of duties performed and refrain from disclosing such information without the consent of the employee/ patient, or person entitled to act on their behalf, except where disclosure is required by law or by order of the court, or is necessary in the public interest.

· As a member of the laboratory staff, will operate impartially and not engage in activities which might conflict with its independence of judgement and integrity in relation to the laboratories testing activities.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:

· Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.

· 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 Acts 2005 and 2010 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.

· Monitor and maintain up-to-date personal training/ retraining records in accordance with Laboratory policy.

· 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:

o Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives

o Document Control Information Management Systems

o Risk Management Strategy and Policies

o Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards

o Decontamination Code of Practice

o Infection Control Policies

o Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure

o 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 the area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.

· The post holders’ responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety 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.

· Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self, patient and others.

· At all times comply with the requirements of the Laboratory Safety Statement.

· Participate in risk assessments, identify risks, propose and implement appropriate remedial measures.

· Report incidents and near misses as appropriate.

· Cooperate with staff attendance at fire training lectures and observation of fire orders.

· Dispose of contaminated materials including sharps in a safe manner as per health and safety protocols.

· 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.

The above Job Description 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 on the closing date:

Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc

(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

i. Have previous experience of work in a hospital laboratory or science laboratory.

Or

ii. Be currently employed with no less than twelve months experience in the publicly funded Irish Health Service.

Or

iii. Hold a qualification to minimum standard of Quality & Qualifications Ireland Level 5 (or higher) in Laboratory Skills.

And

(b) Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.

Health

A candidate 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.

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character

Post Specific Requirements

· No less than twelve months experience in an Health Service hospital laboratory.

· Demonstrate knowledge in sample receipt and sample preparation as relevant to the role.

· Availability to work mornings.

Other requirements specific to the post

Flexibility with regard to service provision.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

Candidates must demonstrate:

Professional Knowledge

· Demonstrate practical knowledge of laboratory procedures.

· Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices in delivering a quality laboratory

service.

· Show awareness of ISO 15189 requirements and their application.

Communication Skills

· Exhibit strong communication and interpersonal skills, including effective

telephone communication.

· Present information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.

Teamwork

· Display effective team collaboration and interpersonal skills.

· Contribute positively as a team member and support colleagues in achieving

shared goals.

Planning & Organisational Skills

· Demonstrate effective planning and organisational abilities.

· Manage workload efficiently in a busy environment.

· Adopt a structured, methodical approach to tasks, ensuring deadlines and

procedural guidelines are met.

· Problem-Solving & Decision-Making

· Assess information critically to solve problems and make well-informed decisions.

· Show initiative, flexibility, and problem-solving skills, particularly in adapting to

changes within the laboratory and healthcare services.

Commitment to Quality Service

· Exhibit a strong commitment to delivering high-quality service.

· Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change.

· Show motivation and an innovative approach to job responsibilities and service

improvements.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking/Shortlisting/ 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.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.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Medical Laboratory Aide, St Columcille’s Hospital

Tenure

The current vacancies available will be indicated at “expression of interest” stage. The posts are pensionable.

A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign for Medical Laboratory Aide, Mayo University Hospital from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled

Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004 and Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Amendment Act 2013.

Remuneration

The salary scale for the post is: as of March 2025

€40,710

€41,772

€42,906

€43,993

€45,156

€46,353

€47,588

New appointees to any grade start at the minimum point of the scale. Incremental credit will be applied for recognised relevant service in Ireland and abroad (Department of Health Circular 2/2011). Incremental credit is normally granted on appointment, in respect of previous experience in the Civil Service, Local Authorities, Health Service and other Public Service Bodies and Statutory Agencies.

Working Week

The standard working week applying to the post is 20 hours( 0.50 WTE) mornings.

HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).

Annual Leave

The annual leave associated with the post will be confirmed at job offer stage

Superannuation

This is a pensionable position with the HSE. The successful candidate will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Pension scheme membership will be notified within the contract of employment. Members of pre-existing pension schemes who transferred to the HSE on the 01st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are no less favourable to those which they were entitled to at 31st December 2004.

Age

The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act, 2018* set 70 years as the compulsory retirement age for public servants.

* Public Servants not affected by this legislation:

Public servants recruited between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 (new entrants) have no compulsory retirement age.

Public servants recruited since 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Pension Scheme and have a compulsory retirement age of 70.

Probation

Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.

Protection of Children Guidance and Legislation

The welfare and protection of children is the responsibility of all HSE staff. You must be aware of and understand your specific responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015, the Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 in accordance with Section 2, Children First National Guidance and other relevant child safeguarding legislation and policies.

All Mandated Persons under the Children First Act 2015, within the HSE, are appointed as Designated Officers under the Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998.

Mandated Persons such as line managers, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, social workers, social care workers, and emergency technicians have additional responsibilities.

Infection Control

Have a working knowledge of 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.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

The HSE is an equal opportunities employer.

Employees of the HSE bring a range of skills, talents, diverse thinking and experience to the organisation. The HSE believes passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to its success – we aim to develop the workforce of the HSE so that it reflects the diversity of HSE service users and to strengthen it through accommodating and valuing different perspectives. Ultimately this will result in improved service user and employee experience.

The HSE is committed to creating a positive working environment whereby all employees inclusive of age, civil status, disability, ethnicity and race, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, religion and sexual orientation are respected, valued and can reach their full potential. The HSE aims to achieve this through development of an organisational culture where injustice, bias and discrimination are not tolerated.

The HSE welcomes people with diverse backgrounds and offers a range of supports and resources to staff, such as those who require a reasonable accommodation at work because of a disability or long-term health condition.

Read more about the HSE’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

Protection of Children Guidance and Legislation

aware of and understand your specific responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015, the Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 in accordance with Section 2, Children First National Guidance and other relevant child safeguarding legislation and policies.

Some staff have additional responsibilities such as Line Managers, Designated Officers and Mandated Persons. You should check if you are a Designated Officer and / or a Mandated Person and be familiar with the related roles and legal responsibilities.

Visit HSE Children First for further information, guidance and resources.

Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998

As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.

Health & Safety

It is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that the management of safety, health and welfare is successfully integrated into all activities undertaken within their area of responsibility, so far as is reasonably practicable. Line managers are named and roles and responsibilities detailed in the relevant Site Specific Safety Statement (SSSS).

Key responsibilities include:

· Developing a SSSS for the department/service, as applicable, based on the identification of hazards and the assessment of risks, and reviewing/updating same on a regular basis (at least annually) and in the event of any significant change in the work activity or place of work.

· Ensuring that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is integrated into day-to-day business, providing Systems Of Work (SOW) that are planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised as appropriate, and ensuring that all safety related records are maintained and available for inspection.

· Consulting and communicating with staff and safety representatives on OSH matters.

· Ensuring a training needs assessment (TNA) is undertaken for employees, facilitating their attendance at statutory OSH training, and ensuring records are maintained for each employee.

· Ensuring that all incidents occurring within the relevant department/service are appropriately managed and investigated in accordance with HSE procedures.

· Seeking advice from health and safety professionals through the National Health and Safety Function Helpdesk as appropriate.

· Reviewing the health and safety performance of the ward/department/service and staff through, respectively, local audit and performance achievement meetings for example.

Note: Detailed roles and responsibilities of Line Managers are outlined in local SSSS.