Job overview
This is a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for 3 years as a Trainee Clinical Scientist - Scientist Training Programme in the Cancer Genetics department.
For applicants on a fixed-term contract, this will be offered as a fixed-term appointment; for applicants on a permanent contract, it will be offered as a secondment opportunity
Healthcare science is one of the most exciting and dynamic areas to work in. Join a unique team who are inspired to apply their exceptional scientific knowledge and skills to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease and the rehabilitation of patients.
Excellent training opportunities are offered within the Scientist Training Programme (STP) which is a national postgraduate training programme located in hospitals and health services throughout England. This is a 3 year postgraduate programme and successful candidates will be employed by an NHS trust or other healthcare provider for the duration of their training. Trainees are also enrolled for a fully funded part-time vocational master’s degree in their chosen specialty.
Entry Requirements for In-service Applicants:
Main duties of the job
The trainee will undertake the full training programme in order to progress through the modules of the training scheme. In so doing they will learn how to perform and interpret clinical, and specialist scientific processes underpinned by theoretical and applied knowledge and practical experience and will learn how to:
1. Carry out complex scientific and clinical roles, including those working directly with patients.
2. Analyse, interpret and compare investigative and clinical options.
3. Make judgements, including clinical and differential judgements, involving complicated facts or situations that impact on patients.
4. Initiate and undertake innovation, improvement and R&D and be involved in the education of healthcare science trainees and other learners in the workplace.
They will be expected to complete all work-based training and assessment alongside the academic master’s course to exit the programme with eligibility for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and use of the protected title of Clinical Scientist. In addition, they will be expected to undertake work-based experience to enable them to communicate complex technical, scientific and sensitive information to colleagues within their department in both verbal and written forms.
Trainees must meet the HCPC’s standards for training, professional skills, behaviour and health.
Working for our organisation
Your development and learning
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The ACCE competencies programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.
Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scientific and clinical practice
5. Undertake a range of clinical and scientific investigations as appropriate to the role. These may include the processing of blood and other samples, direct clinical measurements on patients, and procedures involving ionising and non-ionising radiation.
6. Acquire and maintain a high level of professional competence in the performance of all tests, investigations and measurements carried out.
7. Interpret and act upon results of tests, investigations and measurements in accordance with departmental policies, procedures and quality systems.
8. Comment and advise on new proposals and protocols, especially for service improvements.
9. Assist in the provision of advice to medical, nursing and other healthcare staff on the optimal and safe use of scientific procedures and highly complex equipment, including assisting in the design of new facilities.
10. Assist with the procurement, acceptance and use of medical devices and consumables.
Be responsible for the safe use of complex scientific and medical equipment, including recording all maintenance and calibration procedures performed and any corrective actions undertaken.
11. Use reagents, consumables, hazardous materials and equipment safely and in accordance with Health and Safety policies.
12. Participate in risk management procedures including risk assessment and the investigation and reporting of adverse incidents.
13. Participate in internal and external audit processes and quality systems.
14. Undertake R&D within the department as an integral part of training and acquire relevant skills to undertake clinical audit.
15. Assist with supervision and training of support staff, students and new appointees, and participate in departmental seminars and scientific meetings to disseminate knowledge acquired through study or research.
Education and Learning
16. Successfully progress and complete the training and assessment programme in conjunction with the local Training Coordinator/Officer and National School of Healthcare Science to achieve certified competence awarded by the Academy of Healthcare Science. Undertake suitable training within the host department and other placements to successfully acquire core competencies and thereafter maintain the required standards of competence when undertaking duties.
17. Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including appraisal, supervision, academic course and problem based learning and maintaining a personal portfolio of learning.
18. Ensure that own learning needs, identified with the Training Coordinator/Officer and reflecting the requirements of the curriculum, are met.
19. Retain sufficient flexibility and adaptability in learning in order to ensure full contribution to improving services in response to changing health care needs.
20. Maintain knowledge of recent scientific developments and undertake supplementary training to develop both knowledge and skills.
21. Attend mandatory training (both vocational and academic) as required.
22. Participate in internal and external assessment processes.
Patient Management and Clinical Care
Delivery of patient care – experience and contribution in the following areas:
23. Provide support to specialist clinics and specialist treatment interventions.
24. Perform, report and interpret a range of investigations undertaken indirectly for or directly with patients within a range of care settings.
25. Specialist care and treatment interventions for patients across the range of clinical pathways and health care settings.
26. Appropriate clinical and scientific advice and interpretation of analytical results.
27. Participate in multidisciplinary meetings.
28. Apply and promote evidence based practice and use of relevant clinical protocols and procedures.
29. Ensuring that all equipment used on patients and the public is handled and applied in accordance with health and safety requirements and other national or international guidelines.
30. In some specialties trainees will be involved in the collection and processing of clinical samples from patients.
Communication
31. Communication and interpretation of complex clinical, scientific and technical information to a wide range of people including clinicians, managers, patients and the public.
32. Liaise with senior scientists and clinical users of the service on appropriateness of investigations, interventions and tests.
33. Communicate scientific innovation and service redesign.
34. Communicate research and development findings in written and oral formats to internal and external contacts.
Quality Audit
35. Contribute to audits to inform patient management and clinical care.
36. Contribute to quality audits relating to accreditation and regulation.
37. Perform quality assurance, process and outcomes audits relevant to the specialty.
38. Develop an audit report and prepare an action plan for any issues that arise from the audit process.
39. Contribute to the design of audits to improve the cost effectiveness of the service to patients.
Clinical Governance
40. Maintain standards for health and safety procedures.
41. Comply with quality and governance procedures within the department including risk management and risk mitigation.
42. Maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct.
Ensure that patient safety and experience and effectiveness of service are maximised
Occasional Duties
43. To carry out any other reasonable duties to achieve learning and experience that may be required, which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the post.
44. This job description outlines the main current duties and responsibilities of the training post. The job description will need to be reviewed and subsequently may be altered. Any resulting changes will be subject to consultation.
45. In addition to regular assessment and planning meetings, the trainee will have an annual meeting to discuss progress and to consider issues relevant to the wider national training programme.
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.
The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
GSTT
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Women’s Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy’s site.
You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!
KCH
King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. King’s has various divisions including Neurosciences, Haematology, Cancer and Cardiovascular sciences, where there are unlimited opportunities to develop and perfect your career.
Over the last 170 years, King’s has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
46. 1st or 2:1 either in an undergraduate honour’s degree or an integrated master’s degree, in a pure or applied science subject relevant to the specialty for which they are applying or equivalent
Desirable criteria
47. Evidence of research experience, e.g. in the form of a higher degree or equivalent evidence of scientific and academic capability
Experience
Essential criteria
48. Minimum 6 month prior service with Synnovis
Desirable criteria
49. Experience in a Genomics laboratory
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
50. Ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures accurately and the ability to develop and validate new techniques
51. Understanding of the role of their chosen specialty in healthcare and disease and its application in a healthcare setting
52. Ability to handle patient samples, hazardous reagents and chemicals in a safe manner in accordance with Health and Safety regulations
53. Ability to work under pressure (emotional resilience and ability to prioritise and plan work)
54. Demonstrates values and principles of the NHS Constitution as a whole with a focus on patient centred care
55. Ability to meet the travel requirements of the training role and the clinical rotations
Desirable criteria
56. Understanding of quality control and management assurance in a science or work-based context
Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.
Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.
For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.
All employees are entitled to:
57. Contributory pension scheme
58. Generous annual leave entitlement
59. Ground breaking development
opportunities
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.