Background

Marie Stopes Uganda is an NGO registered in Uganda. We are affiliated to Marie Stopes International. Together we deliver post abortion care, quality sexual and reproductive health care and family planning to millions of the world's poorest and most vulnerable women. We want to make sure that women have a choice when it comes to having children and that death by unsafe abortion is reduced.

The primary responsibility of this role is to further our Goal: THE PREVENTION OF UNWANTED BIRTHS and its mission of ensuring the individual’s right to: CHILDREN BY CHOICE NOT CHANCE

The Role

Reporting to and working with the Clincal Lead, the Laboratory Manager’s main role is to maintain the high clinical standards expected by MSI and actively work to promote the hospital and contribute to improved financial performance.

It is particularly important that the post holder is able to sustain a close and collaborative partnership with operational staff in the support office and field, so that project deliverables remain a focus of operational activities. This post holder will be able to work productively with the Research, Monitoring & Evaluation, Operations and Social Franchising teams to ensure that programme activities serve the indicators in MSU’s M&E framework

Key Responsibilities

This post has four key responsibilities and related deliverables:

• Client care
• Inventory and Supplies Management
• Budgetary control
• Technical experience
• Records keeping and reporting
• Promotional and External relations Activities
• Team development
• Professional and Ethical Conduct:
• Personnel Management
• Operations & Quality.
• Safety & Compliance
• Strategic Planning
• Core Duties
• Supervision
• Maintenance
• Training

Client care

• Provide comprehensive laboratory services to centre clients.
• Taking necessary steps to ensure that all centre clients are treated with sensitivity, respect, and consideration.
• Promptly refer clients to the Clincal Lead if complaints are raised

Supplies Management:

• In liaison with the Clincal Lead, ensures that adequate, but not excessive stocks are maintained.
• Ensure that Lab stock cards are up-dated regularly.
• Ensures that appropriate spare equipment (e.g. bulbs for microscope, slides, test tubes) is maintained at the centre to avoid inconveniencing clients.
• Ensure that the Clincal Lead is alerted in a timely manner of expiring reagents to allow for timely notice to Support Office and transfer to another centre for usage.

Technical Excellence:

• Based on laboratory request form and recorded client notes, be able to conduct and report on the tests such as: Blood slide for malaria, film commentary, Urinalysis, Microscopy (stool, urine, HVS swabs), occult blood (stool), white cell count, blood grouping, clotting time, ESR, widal tests, VDRL/RPR, HB, Gram Stain, Brucella test, HCG test, Sickling Test, blood sugar, semen analysis, sputum AAFB, HIV rapid tests AND any other relevant tests.
• Ensure that the highest standards of laboratory services are provided to clients as per AMREF, MOH and MSI guidelines.
• Take responsibility and ensure that their laboratory comply with Infection Prevention Guidelines i.e.
  • Correct and orderly storage of reagents and supplies
  • Correct and timely decontamination procedures in place and implemented at all times
  • Correct medical waste management (sorting out general waste and, contaminated waste and sharps correctly)
  • Disposable gloves are worn at appropriate times by the Laboratory Manager
  • Clean and tidy laboratory is including all equipment such as microscope, centrifuge, and fridge, bench-top /sink area at all times.
• Ensure the reagents are correctly transported and stored (including maintenance of cold chain for refrigerated reagents)
• Ensure a warm and attractive laboratory environment for clients.
• Ensure that the laboratory is clean, neat and tidy at all times.

Record Keeping and Reporting:

• Ensure that laboratory test orders and results for company clients are properly recorded on the claim forms.
• Ensure that the laboratory test orders and results for all other clients are clearly and properly recorded
• Ensure that the laboratory registers are correctly and neatly completed (MSU clients, VCT & Outside Contract Work etc)
• Ensure that timely monthly laboratory reports are forwarded to the Clincal Lead.
• Monitor fridge temperature and record the figures (temperature inside fridge) on a daily basis
• Timely and accurate recording and submission of results to medical staff and Clincal Lead accordingly.

Budgetary control:

In liaison with the Clincal Lead:

• Takes responsibility for costs in the laboratory to be contained within the approved annual budget.
• Strives for income from laboratory services to meet or exceed budgeted targets, including providing contract laboratory services for non MSU clients to improve sustainability of laboratory service provision.

Promotional Activities:

• Community Outreach: The laboratory Manager shall participate on community outreach activities as directed by the Clincal Lead. This may include mobile VCT services, and other networking activities.
• Promotion: Fully participates on planned promotional activities as required and directed by the Clincal Lead.

Team development:

• Working in consultation with the Clincal Lead towards the centre targets set by the organisation
• Perform any other duties as required by the Clincal Lead. (Teamwork)

Professional and Ethical Conduct:

• MSU laboratory Manager are expected to observe the relevant code of conduct for allied health professionals in Uganda regarding professional and ethical conduct.
• All laboratory services provided must be with the highest standard and safety to clients and staff.

Assets Custodianship

• Ensure effective custodianship and a

• Provide comprehensive laboratory services to centre clients.
• Taking necessary steps to ensure that all centre clients are treated with sensitivity, respect, and consideration.
• Promptly refer clients to the Clincal Lead if complaints are raised
• In liaison with the Clincal Lead, ensures that adequate, but not excessive stocks are maintained.
• Ensure that Lab stock cards are up-dated regularly.
• Ensures that appropriate spare equipment (e.g. bulbs for microscope, slides, test tubes) is maintained at the centre to avoid inconveniencing clients.
• Ensure that the Clincal Lead is alerted in a timely manner of expiring reagents to allow for timely notice to Support Office and transfer to another centre for usage.
• Based on laboratory request form and recorded client notes, be able to conduct and report on the tests such as: Blood slide for malaria, film commentary, Urinalysis, Microscopy (stool, urine, HVS swabs), occult blood (stool), white cell count, blood grouping, clotting time, ESR, widal tests, VDRL/RPR, HB, Gram Stain, Brucella test, HCG test, Sickling Test, blood sugar, semen analysis, sputum AAFB, HIV rapid tests AND any other relevant tests.
• Ensure that the highest standards of laboratory services are provided to clients as per AMREF, MOH and MSI guidelines.
• Take responsibility and ensure that their laboratory comply with Infection Prevention Guidelines i.e. Correct and orderly storage of reagents and supplies, Correct and timely decontamination procedures in place and implemented at all times, Correct medical waste management (sorting out general waste and, contaminated waste and sharps correctly), Disposable gloves are worn at appropriate times by the Laboratory Manager, Clean and tidy laboratory is including all equipment such as microscope, centrifuge, and fridge, bench-top /sink area at all times.
• Ensure the reagents are correctly transported and stored (including maintenance of cold chain for refrigerated reagents)
• Ensure a warm and attractive laboratory environment for clients.
• Ensure that the laboratory is clean, neat and tidy at all times.
• Ensure that laboratory test orders and results for company clients are properly recorded on the claim forms.
• Ensure that the laboratory test orders and results for all other clients are clearly and properly recorded
• Ensure that the laboratory registers are correctly and neatly completed (MSU clients, VCT & Outside Contract Work etc)
• Ensure that timely monthly laboratory reports are forwarded to the Clincal Lead.
• Monitor fridge temperature and record the figures (temperature inside fridge) on a daily basis
• Timely and accurate recording and submission of results to medical staff and Clincal Lead accordingly.
• Takes responsibility for costs in the laboratory to be contained within the approved annual budget.
• Strives for income from laboratory services to meet or exceed budgeted targets, including providing contract laboratory services for non MSU clients to improve sustainability of laboratory service provision.
• Participate on community outreach activities as directed by the Clincal Lead. This may include mobile VCT services, and other networking activities.
• Fully participates on planned promotional activities as required and directed by the Clincal Lead.
• Working in consultation with the Clincal Lead towards the centre targets set by the organisation
• Perform any other duties as required by the Clincal Lead. (Teamwork)
• Observe the relevant code of conduct for allied health professionals in Uganda regarding professional and ethical conduct.
• All laboratory services provided must be with the highest standard and safety to clients and staff.
• Ensure effective custodianship and a

• Level of professionalism maintained in fostering MSU’s image as a high-quality health service provider with skilled staff.
• Commitment to continued technical and personal development
• Correct storage / covering of microscope & centrifuge when not in use (disconnect form power) and ensuring there is proper safety procedures used with laboratory equipment
• Ensuring quality control on all day- to – day laboratory test procedures
• Infection Prevention protocols in place in the laboratory and correctly followed
• Willingness and ability to undertake multitasking and assist clinical staff with all aspects of MSU activities as appropriate
• Excellent timekeeping and time management with assigned duties
• Competent management of emergencies and referrals.
• Frequency of updates to Team members about new drugs and SRH.
• Quality of clinical updates imparted to staff.
• Evidence of Client Referral Network Developed.

• MSU laboratory Manager are expected to observe the relevant code of conduct for allied health professionals in Uganda regarding professional and ethical conduct.