Phlebotomist

Job overview

We are looking to recruit a new Phlebotomist to join our existing team to work primarily in the Community/ Domiciliary/Care Home settings across the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Borough. Plus holiday/sickness cover within hospital and outpatient sites.

Excellent communication skills are essential, together with an empathetic nature.

Successful applicants will have a flexible approach, enthusiasm, proven team player skills and be able to use own initiative.

Phlebotomy experience would be beneficial but not essential as full training will be given.

Please note this vacancy may close earlier than the specified advert closing date if a suitable level of applications are received.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of the Phlebotomy Team collecting/labelling of venous and capillary samples from ward patients, Outpatient Clinic and within Community, Domiciliary and Care Home settings.

To ensure Pathology are provided with a perfect blood sample with every venepuncture.

Post holder may be required to work in other departments across the organisation including across sites.

Working for our organisation

Choose Well – Choose WWL

We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values ‘the WWL Way’.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

• To collect blood samples from adults by venepuncture on Trust and Non-Trust premises both in an in-patient and out-patient setting including Domiciliary premises and Care Homes
• Perform paediatric blood collection on children 12yrs and over on all Trust sites
• Ability to adapt blood taking technique dependent upon individual need of the patient, taking into account medical conditions, needle phobias, cannulation sites, learning difficulties.
• Has a good understanding of the nature and purpose of routine and specialist biomedical investigations required.
• Understands any particular factors that may affect the selection of an appropriate venepuncture site.
• Able to perform venepuncture on sites other than the subcubital fossa.
• Prioritising urgent blood requests and recognising ‘special blood tests’ which require specific testing times and delivery to the lab area.
• Responsible for co-ordinating busy and ever-changing patient clinic lists and flow of patients in the walk-in clinics.
• To work within all of the standard operational policies and health and safety procedures of the department in accordance with Trust standards and policies
• To perform routine technical procedures using the Glucometer and contribute to the Quality Assessment scheme
• Entering high risk / infected areas using appropriate PPE and adhering to Trust Standards and Policies.
• Performing COVID 19 staff and patient swab tests, including 4 hour rapid swab service.
• Ability to work on a one-to-one basis with patients and without direct supervision following competency assessment by the Phlebotomy Senior Supervisor & Trainer.
• To assist in all practical training of new staff.
• To maintain adequate stock levels of the blood collection system both in wards and in out-patient and community departments, ensuring wastage is minimal.
• Participate in changes to clinical practice and undertake new working practices when required
• To work within Infection Control Policies, following strict hygiene in all areas at all times, including sterilisation or patient areas and equipment adhering to ANTT procedures at all times.
• On the job training will be supported by local induction, ongoing e-learning to include basic life support. Portfolio theory training will be implemented within 3 months and annually reviewed.
• Ensure that all data given is checked for accuracy and the correct procedure is used for the labelling of all blood tubes, the relevant protocols should be strictly adhered to with regard to patient identification and labelling.
• Assist the Phlebotomy Manager in collating weekly statistics and performing audits.
• Support trials by laboratory departments where phlebotomy is required.
• Basic MLA reception skills, including bar coding and separating sample pre centrifuge.
• Filter and print inpatient blood forms pre ward rounds.
• Filter and print consultant virtual / face to face clinical blood requests.

• To communicate effectively with laboratory staff, clinical staff, patients, relatives and carers regarding advice/clarification of test requests in a professional and approachable manner.
• To promote and maintain good working relationships with all disciplines of staff.
• Receive complex or sensitive information and instructions in an understandable form. This involves the use of persuasive, motivational and empathic skills whilst being sensitive to an individual’s complex barriers to communication e.g. deaf and non-speaking individuals, those with learning disabilities, cultural differences, pain, fear, altered perception, emotional and psychological problems, expressive and receptive dysphagia and behavioural problems.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• To meet and greet patients in a polite and positive manner, including telephone queries from service users and patients.
• Ability to use own initiative to problem solve.
• Communicate complex or sensitive patient related information to ensure collaborative working within a clinic, domiciliary, care home or ward setting

• Inform the Senior Plebotomist of any shortages of supplies that become apparent.
• Use departmental resources in a cost effective manne

• To display empathy and a pleasant manner to all patients, patient’s relatives, visitors, colleagues and all staff who you come into contact with.
• Each member of the Trust staff is responsible for ensuring that they carry out their duties of their post in accordance with all appropriate Health and Safety Legislation, guidance and procedures. They must not, by any act or omission on their part, create a threat to the health and safety of any other person.
• To assist in the induction of all new phlebotomy staff.
• To comply with mandatory training requirements

• Performs venepuncture following correct procedures.
• Safely handle biological samples, including high risk.
• Prioritise requests according to clinical and analytical need
• Communicate effectively with clinical staff, laboratory staff and patients in giving and receiving information on testing procedures,
• Ensure that a safe environment is maintained at all times for both staff and patients.
• Ensuing appropriate PPE is worn in high risk infected areas.
• Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

• To support and assist in the training of new staff entering the service, including staff within the hospital and community settings

Person specification

Additional

• Must be willing to work flexibly, both as part of a team and on their own
• Must be able to prioritise own workload accordingly
• Ability to work and travel within the Community sites
• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
• Ability to move patients eg. Wheelchair / assist pts in and out of phlebotomy chair
• An empathetic nature
• Occasional exposure to highly distressing / emotional circumstances / extreme noise

Skills

• Manual Dexterity
• Demonstrate or provide evidence of competency in venepuncture
• Must be able to work in a clean, tidy and organized manner, and follow standard operating procedures accurately and safely
• Must have good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to perform tasks of a repetitive nature and stand for long periods of time
• Basic IT skills
• Frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort and working in a restrictive position to obtain blood samples
• Ability to deal with occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions including verbal aggression.

Knowledge

• Understands the role of Phlebotomy within the Healthcare Science environment
• Understanding of WWL aims and values.
• General appreciation of the importance of Health & Safety issues

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent with at least 3 passes grade A to C to include English and Maths
• NVQ 2/3 in Health & Social Care or relevant knowledge and experience
• Willing to accept further training

Experience

• Experience of working within a team
• Understanding of GDPR and the ability to act accordingly.