Job Specification for Medical Laboratory Aide

National Drug Treatment Centre

Job Title and Grade / Medical Laboratory Aide
Grade Code: 4077
Campaign Reference / NRS1071
Closing Date / 18 March 2014
Proposed Interview Date(s) / Week commencing 7 April 2014.
Taking up Appointment / To be indicated at job offer stage.
Location of Post / HSE National Drug Treatment Centre (NDTC)
McCarthy Centre, 30-31 Pearse Street, Dublin 2
Organisational Area / HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster
Details of Service / The current vacancy available is a specified purpose contract (temporary job), with an end date of 31/10/2015. A recruitment panel will be formed from this campaign for future temporary and permanent, whole time and part time, posts.
The HSE-NDTC laboratory is the leading centre for drugs of misuse testing in Ireland providing a nationwide service to the HSE Addiction Services, Hospitals, General Practitioners Voluntary Organisations, Department of Education (juvenile detention centres), the Probation Service, the Courts Service, the Medical Council, an Bord Altranais and various occupational health departments.
The laboratory currently carries out over 1 million immunoassay screening tests and circa 5391 samples tested using confirmatory analyses in 2012.
Analytical techniques used by the laboratory include Immunoassay, Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA).
The Laboratory is accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) to ISO/IEC 17025 standard.
Reporting Relationship / Reports to a Senior Biochemist or his/her deputy and ultimately to the Manager of the Laboratory.
Purpose of the Post / To provide administrative support and carry out assigned laboratory duties, tests and checks as appropriate
Principal Duties and Responsibilities / Administrative
  1. To receive, unpack and log in specimens.
  2. To participate in the laboratory’s accreditation procedures and processes.
  3. To complete test worksheets and other Laboratory records and check same as required. To keep such records appropriate to the post.
  4. To train new and existing staff where directed.
Technical
  1. To sort, label and decant specimens and Input patient and test information into computerised Laboratory Information Management system (LIMS) ensuring accuracy of data entry.
  2. To wash /clean laboratory glassware according to proper procedures and to keep washing areas clean and clear of glassware/plastics.
  3. To prepare samples, equipment and reagent as required for testing biological samples for drugs and related tests and dispose of specimens and contaminated materials (including sharps).
  4. To use and operate equipment such as centrifuges and automated equipment as designated.
  5. To perform tests under supervision and record results of such tests.
  6. 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.
Accreditation / Standards / Regulatory
  1. Keep the laboratory, instruments within the laboratory, the cold room, the storage area and the fume cupboards clean and tidy at all times.
  2. Perform all duties according to written laboratory procedures and meeting accreditation standards
  3. Comply with laboratory safety policy at all times.
  4. Comply with the operational policies of the HSE-NDTC and be aware of fire precautions as outlined in the Health & Safety Statement.
Confidentiality / Impartiality
  1. 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.
  2. As a member of the laboratory staff you 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.
The range of work allotted to the Laboratory Aide is not exclusive to them and may at any time be performed by any member of laboratory staff. 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 possess:
Leaving Certificate at Level 5 on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland framework (QQI) with not lower than grade D 2 in Maths, English and Biology or Chemistry
Or
A relevant equivalent qualification
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.
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age.
Other requirements specific to the post / None
Skills competencies and/or knowledge / Demonstrate the following:
  • The ability to work as a member of team and make positive contributions to that team
  • An organised, methodical and structured approach to work including the ability to meet deadlines and work within guidelines and procedures
  • A commitment to providing a quality service
  • Initiative, flexibility and problem solving skills especially with regard to working in the changing environment of the Laboratory and Health Services.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills including telephone skills.
  • Computer skills including the ability to operate the National Drug Treatment Centre data bases and other computer applications
  • A basic knowledge of the National Drug Treatment Centre and the services provided.

Campaign Specific Selection process
Shortlisting / Interview / Short listing may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for 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 shortlisting stage of this process (where applied) will be called forward to interview.
Code of Practice / The Health Service Executive 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 Codes also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, feedback facilities for candidates 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 in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, Information For Candidates” or on
Note / 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.

HEALTH SERVICES EXECUTIVE

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Medical Laboratory Aide

Tenure / The current vacancy is to a specified purpose, whole time post with an end date of 31/10/2015. The post is pensionable. At the end of the recruitment campaign it is intended to create a panel from which any permanent or special purpose, whole-time or part-time position, will 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.
Remuneration / The Salary scale for the post is:
A.For existing Irish Public Service Medical Laboratory Aide on or before 31/12/2012 - €28,651 - €29,005 - €30,029 - €31,092 €32,192 - €33,333 - €34,514.

B. New entrants to the Irish Public Service on or after 01/01/2011- €25,786 - €26,104 - €27,026 - €27,983 - €28,973 - €29,999 - €31,063 as at 01/01/2011 (revised rates with 10% pay reduction, as per circular 2/2011 Department of Health & Children).

Working Week / The standard working week applying to the post is 39 hours (to be confirmed at job offer stage).
This 39 hour commitment will normally be delivered across a span of 12 hours between the hours of 8.00 a.m. and 8.00pm Monday to Friday.
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 is 28 days per annum (to be confirmed at job offer stage), and as determined by the Organisation of Working Time Act.
As this is a temporary post the annual leave will be granted on a pro rata basis, in line with the length of employment contract.
Superannuation / This is a pensionable position with the HSE. The successful candidate will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Please be advised that 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 wfere entitled to at 31st December 2004.
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.
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.

NRS1071 Medical Laboratory Aide Job Spec V2

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