Apprentice Associate Genetic Technologist

North Bristol NHS Trust

Bristol, BS10 5NB

Closes in 5 days (Monday 7 October)

Posted on 23 September 2024

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Summary

An exciting opportunity to work as part of our Preparation Teams - the first step in the sample journey through Bristol Genetics Laboratory. The role involves unpacking and sorting biological samples, entering patient data onto our laboratory computer system and processing samples manually or using automated equipment.

Annual wage
£24,071 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

NHS Band 3 - £24,071 - £25,674 per annum

Training course
Healthcare science associate (level 4)
Hours
Fixed Term Monday to Friday with weekends/bank holidays on a rotational basis. Hours within 08:00 - 18:00. Work will be onsite with the potential for home working for study.

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 6 January

Duration

2 Years

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

  • Receive and process samples
  • Accurately prepare, maintain and document adequate supplies of reagents, consumables and plasticware
  • Prepare, extract, and store DNA and RNA from blood or other tissues
  • Participate in specimen reception/booking in and sample send away duties, including assisting with associated administrative and clerical duties in the laboratory
  • Prepare and process samples for cell culture
  • Process samples for FISH and G banding analysis
  • Perform routine genetic analyses on patients referred for a range of genetic disorders

Where you’ll work

Southmead Hospital

Westbury on Trym

Bristol

Bristol

BS10 5NB

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

CSR SCIENTIFIC TRAINING LIMITED

Your training course

Healthcare science associate (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

Course contents
  • Act in line with legislation, standard operating procedures, codes of conduct and ways of working that apply to own role.
  • Work within the scope of the role, the limits of own knowledge and skills and support others to do the same.
  • Act in line with probity requirements and support others to do the same.
  • Promote mental health, wellbeing and resilience in the workplace.
  • Provide technical healthcare-science-based services relevant to own role.
  • Recognise problems and seek technical solutions to them and support others to do the same.
  • Perform a range of equipment management activities appropriate to own role including fault-finding, preventative maintenance, calibration or repair.
  • Contribute to the drafting or revising of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • Support decisions made to initiate, continue, modify or cease using techniques or procedures.
  • Analyse, interpret, record and present healthcare science technical data.
  • Provide or support the provision of person-centred care.
  • Take responsibility for any care provided by yourself and your team members including adhering to duty of care and safeguarding requirements.
  • Apply policy and protocols that relate to informed consent.
  • Protect the dignity, rights, privacy and confidentiality of individuals and support others to do the same.
  • Deliver or support the delivery of high quality technical clinical procedures in the investigation or management of individuals.
  • Convey information using appropriate techniques.
  • Give and receive feedback that informs your own practice and that of others in the team.
  • Use techniques to reduce communication barriers and support others to do the same.
  • Keep accurate, confidential records and produce reliable data, inputting and retrieving information within required governance processes and checking that others do the same.
  • Share information correctly as part of the healthcare science team and the multi-professional team.
  • Use technology to present information.
  • Follow protocols for dealing with or reporting difficult situations and complaints.
  • Work as part of the healthcare science team and the wider healthcare team to provide healthcare science services.
  • Plan, review and report on the work of a team and individuals within it.
  • Follow delegation, reporting and escalation protocols appropriate to own role.
  • Demonstrate leadership skills appropriate to own role and work in partnership with the healthcare science and wider healthcare team.
  • Help create the conditions that assist the team in providing a supportive environment for colleagues.
  • Maintain and check that others maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
  • Participate in the management of risk, supporting others to do the same.
  • Take appropriate action in response to incidents or emergencies, reporting or escalating as required by the situation.
  • Move and transport items safely for example individuals or equipment and items.
  • Adhere to protocols for infection prevention and control and support others to do the same.
  • Follow guidelines and procedures for handling hazardous materials and substances.
  • Demonstrate relevant health, safety or security practices to others in the team.
  • Take part in quality management technical audit processes relevant to own role.
  • Participate in audit or service improvement programmes.
  • Share the outcome of audit or service improvement with others.
  • Support the improvement of healthcare science practice by taking part in innovation or research or service improvement activities.
  • Undertake audit, research or other activities which support quality improvement, innovation and sustainability in healthcare science.
  • Critically reflect on your technical and non-technical practice and how it impacts on the quality and safety of patient care.
  • Work within the limits of your personal competence, keeping up-to-date by engaging in continuing personal and professional development.
  • Take part in mentoring processes with colleagues and students.
  • Respond to appraisal or performance review and feedback in relation to your own development and action plans.
  • Supervise and demonstrate practical skills to others.

    • Your training plan

    • Level 4 Healthcare Science Associate Standard
    • Including a Level 4 BTEC Diploma in Healthcare Science
    • Blended delivery incorporating on-line classes and face to  face assessment in the workplace
    • Inputs delivered one day per week

    Requirements

    Essential qualifications

    GCSE or equivalent in:

    • English (grade 4/C or above)
    • Maths (grade 4/C or above)
    • Any Subject (grade 4/C or above)

    Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

    Skills

    • Communication skills
    • IT skills
    • Attention to detail
    • Organisation skills
    • Problem solving skills
    • Presentation skills
    • Administrative skills
    • Number skills
    • Analytical skills
    • Logical
    • Team working
    • Initiative
    • Non judgemental
    • Patience

    Other requirements

    The role involves handling unfixed biological material – vaccination against Hepatitis B is advised (will be provided by the Trust’s Occupational Health services)

    About this company

    There are over 12,000 reasons why North Bristol NHS Trust is a place to be #NBTProud of. We support and care for every member of staff, every carer, every visitor, and will always put the patient first.

    Disability Confident

    Disability Confident

    A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

    You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

    After this apprenticeship

    On completion, apprentices will be eligible for roles as an Associate Genetic Technologist. They will also be able to apply for a Level 6 Healthcare Science Degree Apprenticeship and then progress to roles as a Genetic Technologist or Biomedical Scientist. Senior roles are available in both these routes - some may require further qualifications/study.

    Ask a question

    The contact for this apprenticeship is:

    North Bristol NHS Trust

    Jennifer Glauert

    jennifer.glauert@nbt.nhs.uk

    The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000278494.

    Apply now

    Closes in 5 days (Monday 7 October)

    When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

    After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.