JOB PURPOSE:
Reporting to the Senior Director, Forensic Pathology the incumbent provides comprehensive evidentiary and technical support to the Forensic Pathology Branch, accessioning, documentation, packaging, storage, transportation, and disposition of biological samples, specimens, retained organs, and evidentiary items collected during autopsies. The Evidence Technologist manages in house storage of retained biological materials, coordinates external forensic and ancillary testing, and ensures full compliance with established SOPs, health and safety protocols, quality assurance standards, and chain-of-custody requirements to meet evidentiary standards of the courts of Jamaica.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Management:
- Complies with all quality assurance policy guidelines and work within the prescribed quality standards for the mortuary service.
- Liaise with Contracted Funeral Homes owners to ensure issues identified are addressed effectively.
- Ensures that items are shipped for external testing;
- In-house management of retained/stored items;
- Proper record keeping is maintained for all samples and evidence collection;
- Provides technical support in the delivery of forensic autopsies to support the requirements of the justice system in Jamaica;
- Assists Forensic Pathologists with the documentation and tracking of all case related materials, including, but not limited to: documents/samples/trace evidence/biological specimens/personal effects/retained organs, ensuring accurate labelling and packaging of all items collected for examination, testing and/or storage;
- Data entry in laboratory information management system, including the use of bar code scanners and printers. Confirms items collected/retained are appropriately sealed, labelled, and packaged.
- Manages the in-house storage of biological samples using laboratory refrigerators and freezers; Maintains inventory of stored items;
- Daily monitoring of laboratory refrigerators and freezers to ensure the integrity of items are maintained;
- Advises Operations Manager if equipment issues/malfunctions arise;
- Oversees and tracks disposition of retained items in compliance with departmental retention protocols, industry standards of practice, and laws of Jamaica re disposition of biological items;
- Retrieves, packages, and arranges transport for samples/evidence required for ancillary testing, ensuring correct documentation/paperwork is included and maintained, and that appropriate protective packaging is present prior to release from facility; Items to be sealed and/or placed in evidence bags to maintain continuity/chain-of-custody;
- Places personal effects in secure storage after autopsy (if required) and correctly documenting their release to police and/or funeral homes;
- Follows established health & safety practices and policies and complies with program area SOPs;
- Ensures work area is stocked with appropriate supplies (eg. forms, evidence bags, seals, gloves/masks, containers for transport etc.); retrieve supplies from supply room(s) as required;
- Cleaning and disinfection of all work areas, to include: computer equipment, bar code scanner/printer, and work counters; Cleaning and disinfection of tubes/jars/containers/evidence bags used for the collection of samples/trace evidence/biological specimens/retained organs prior to storage and/or disposition;
- Ensures work area is clean and tidy to support a safe work environment;
- Communicates and collaborates effectively with staff, stakeholders, and testing agencies.
Administrative:
- Maintains proper documentation and retention of case related information, ensuring confidentiality and continuity/chain-of-custody are met to support the legislative requirements of the justice system in Jamaica;
- Uses computer software to enter data in the laboratory information management system, utilizes bar code scanner/printer for data entry and printing labels for samples/evidence/specimens/organs etc;
- Follows standard operating procedures (SOPs) and departmental policies to ensure work complies with known standards of practice in evidence collection/storage/retention/disposition, forensic pathology, and, the justice system of Jamaica;
- Creates, documents, and monitors inventory of retained biological and evidentiary items.
- Ensures all evidentiary materials are tagged/labelled/packaged appropriately, and double checked for accuracy prior to storage or disposition; Uses evidence bags and/or forensic seals;
- Creates correspondence with staff and stakeholders as it relates to the storage, testing, and disposition of all evidentiary items and case related material;
- Performs any other related duties that may be assigned from time to time by the Operations Manager or Forensic Pathologists.
Technical:
- Participates in the information of the Branch’s Strategic Plan and Budget;
- Plans, directs and manages the activities within the Office;
- Ensures the proper functioning of office systems and equipment;
- Assists the technical laboratory team in the delivery of forensic pathology service operation to support the requirements of the justice system of Jamaica;
- Responsible for advising the Operations Manager of sensitive issues/matters;
- Maintains stringent health and safety practices and policies, ensuring compliance with program area standard operating procedures (SOPs), industry standards of practice, and established health & safety protocols.
- Advises Senior Director, Forensic Pathology, when discrepancies/errors are noted, resolving all issues prior to storage and/or disposition of case related evidentiary items.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:
- Good oral and written communication skills;
- Good planning and organizing skills;
- Strong customer and quality focus skills;
- Goal/results oriented;
- Good problem-solving and decision-making skills;
- Teamwork and co-operative;
- Ability to use own initiative;
- Integrity;
- Analytical thinking;
- Excellent leadership skills;
- Change Management;
- Good use of Technology;
- Team building skills;
- Conflict resolution, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills;
- Ability to work independently under minimal supervision;
- Dignity and respect in working with human remains;
- Integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Technical:
- Working knowledge of relevant computer systems and applications;
- Sound judgment;
- Knowledge of justice system requirements for the handling and storage of forensic evidence to maintain continuity/chain of custody and ensure the integrity of case-related items;
- Ability to be resourceful and creative in approach to resolving issues;
- Fine motor skills, manual dexterity, and physical ability to dissect tissue, collect evidence/samples, operate equipment, and manipulate/lift/transfer human remains;
- Excellent computer skills to enter and track data, create documents, and troubleshoot issues;
- Excellent analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to determine appropriate actions/methods/techniques to be used to analyze work in order to ensure conformance to quality standards, and to resolve issues or problems;
- Ability to multitask, prioritize and work under pressure.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelors of Science Degree in (Biology, Health Sciences, or equivalent)
- Experience with Forensic Pathology/Mortuary operations or in a similar position;
- Three (3) years related working experience;
- Training in Project Management would be an asset.
Special Conditions of the Job:
- Normal Office/Morgue Settings;
- May be required to work on weekends;
- Requires daily exposure to, handling of, and contact with tissues of infants, children and adults that may be contaminated, decomposed, and/or arthropod (insect) infested;
- Requires daily exposure to the extremes of trauma in infants, children, and adults;
- Requires frequent exposure to putrid odours;
- May involve exposure to biohazardous and infectious pathogens (e.g. viruses and bacteria, including HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, COVID-19 etc.);
- Requires daily exposure to highly graphic and emotionally disturbing crime-scene information;
- May be required to work outside the normal working hours outside the normal working hours due to the exigencies of the service.
Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
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