Job overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic Clinical Scientist (Synnovis Pay Band 7) to join the Biochemical Sciences department at Synnovis. This role offers an excellent opportunity to work within an experienced and motivated team providing a comprehensive diagnostic service for inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs).
Mass Spectrometry underpins much of the department’s work: diagnosis and monitoring of inherited metabolic diseases including purine metabolism; the delivery of newborn screening for the southeast Thames region; and selected therapeutic drug monitoring. The department is equipped with tandem mass spectrometers, gas chromatography-mass spectrometers and high-performance liquid chromatography analysers.
The successful candidate will be based in the inherited metabolic disease laboratory and potentially also the newborn screening laboratory, supporting the continued delivery and development of these specialist services. The post involves close collaboration with scientists, clinicians and other healthcare professionals providing valuable exposure to the clinical application of laboratory science and the management of patients with metabolic disorders.
Clinical scientist candidates who will soon obtain registration are welcome to apply. Attainment of FRCPath part 1 is encouraged and supported by Synnovis.
Main duties of the job
You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These include, but are not limited to:
1. Day-to-day responsibility for the provision of a range of clinical, technical and scientific diagnostic activities, including interpretation and clinical validation of results; communicating complex information and advice that will aid and determine clinical diagnosis.
2. Supervise and provide specialised training to less experienced employees, students, trainees and other healthcare professionals
3. Undertake research in your own field under the direction of more senior clinical scientist colleagues, contributing to the development of specialist investigations, identifying better ways of working and finding efficiencies in service delivery.
·Participate in research activities and publications; attend and present at regional, national and international meetings.
·Spend a proportion of time focused on quality and UKAS orientated activities, service development and technical and clinical validation of results.
Working for our organisation
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.
What you will do
You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These include, but are
not limited to:
·Day-to-day responsibility for the provision of a range of clinical, technical and scientific
diagnostic activities, including interpretation and clinical validation of results;
communicating complex information and advice that will aid and determine clinical
diagnosis.
·Supervise and provide specialised training to less experienced employees, students,
trainees and other healthcare professionals
·Undertake research in your own field under the direction of more senior clinical scientist
colleagues, contributing to the development of specialist investigations, identifying better
ways of working and finding efficiencies in service delivery.
·Participate in research activities and publications; attend and present at regional, national
and international meetings.
·Spend a proportion of time focused on quality and UKAS orientated activities, service
development and technical and clinical validation of results.
Key Responsibilities
Maintain standards of conduct required by the HCPC to practice as a registered Clinical
Scientist.
·Perform investigations in line with local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including
but not limited to result authorisation, ordering follow-up laboratory procedures, initiating
actions, escalating results when required.
·Perform necessary action on the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS),
ensuring all Information Governance (IG) requirements are met.
·Communicate complex results, including making clinical and differential judgements
involving complicated facts or situations that impact on patients. This will include
exchanging specialist information with colleagues from your own and other disciplines.
·Provide specialist expertise and technical advice to other laboratory and clinical colleagues
as required and within limits of competency.
·Participate in the strategic development and service improvement of the analytical service,
being responsible for the implementation of new techniques, equipment, and tests,
including all verification and validation work. Where necessary this may include analysing
clinical trial samples.
·Keep up to date with new developments by regular literature reviews and attendance at
relevant conferences.
·Undertake research projects in specialised area in collaboration or as requested by
Principal or Consultant Clinical Scientists. Ensure outcomes from research and
development are placed in the public domain by publication and presentation at relevant
local, national and international conferences.
·Ensure all incidents and events are correctly reported by junior staff in Q-Pulse quality
management database and other relevant software and support them in learning quality
procedures and investigations.
·In conjunction with the Quality team, monitor, report and action errors, hazards, and
incidents logged in the CAPA module of Q-Pulse. This may include taking part in
investigations of incidents and providing expert insight into making improvements based
on outcomes.
·Participate in appropriate clinical audits and take part in all Continuous Quality
Improvement (CQI) activity in your area.
·Monitor, and report on EQA and IQC procedures and be responsible for corrective action
on problems that have been identified.
·Ensure compliance with all legislative and quality requirements of regulatory directives,
accreditation bodies, and local management including:
·Care Quality Commission
·UKAS
·Synnovis policies and SOPs
·Any other body in area of responsibility.
·Prepare statistical reports for use in meetings, quality assurance, and development events.
·Develop, prepare, write, and review relevant documents, including SOPs, COSHH and
risk assessments in line with the ISO 15189 standard.
·Provide supervision for employees, including participating in the departmental clinical rota,
potentially including out of hours cover.
·Ensure that all Synnovis policies and procedures are implemented and maintained.
·Encourage junior employees in their scientific expertise, knowledge and professional
development, including the safe use of highly complex and sensitive equipment.
·Deliver training and supervision of less experienced colleagues in your area of specialism.
·Demonstrate professionalism, patience and empathy when explaining complex subjects,
and in particular when communicating with people who do not share same level of
knowledge or understanding.
·Attend, and where required, chair regular departmental meetings and contribute to
effective communication within the department.
·Work closely with Operations Manager to ensure stock inventory compliance.
·Deputise for the Principal or Consultant Clinical Scientist including attendance at meetings,
as required.
·Take part in CPD activities to ensure that your practices and knowledge are always
relevant and up to date to your specific area.
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.
The hub is an eight-storey building, and we are working across 10 floors including the ground and lower ground floors. Synnovis’ corporate function operates from the hub on the 8th floor, above the laboratories underneath. This is a total net internal area of almost 10,000m squared across the 10 floors.
Based in Blackfriars, it’s less than a 5 minute walk from Southwark Tube or Blackfriars station and nestled closely to a vast array of entertainment and fabulous places to dine, relax and meet people.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
4. First or second-class honours degree in relevant scientific subject or Healthcare Science
5. MSc in relevant scientific subject
6. HCPC State registration as a Clinical Scientist
7. Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Desirable criteria
8. Willing to work towards higher levels of professional practice such as PhD or FRCPath Part 1
Experience
Essential criteria
9. Registered clinical scientist with a detailed working knowledge of specific discipline
10. Supervising junior employees
11. Education of physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to specialism
12. Experience in and ability to perform and supervise analysis, interpretation and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
13. Using Laboratory Information Management Systems
14. Maintaining quality systems
15. Resolving troubleshooting activity for highly technical and precision equipment and assays
Desirable criteria
16. Involvement in research and development projects
17. Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, coordinating and managing a team
18. Experience working with mass spectrometry assays
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
19. A high degree of skill, knowledge and judgement where interpretation of results can be highly subjective
20. Well-developed physical skills, demonstrable ability to use precision equipment and consumables
21. Ability to troubleshoot and train those who use the Laboratory Information Management Systems
22. Ability to manage effectively in a dynamic environment with multiple conflicting priorities
23. Competent at communicating verbally and in writing with colleagues, clinical staff and external parties
24. Ability to effectively manage own time, able to prioritise work for self and study
25. Ability to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
26. Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
27. Knowledge of the correct policies and procedures to implement in relation to quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS
28. Knowledge of the management of laboratory procedures in your own areas, including following Health and Safety legislation and procedures
Desirable criteria
29. Good awareness of current issues within pathology locally and nationally
30. Awareness and understanding of current trends in field of expertise
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:
31. Contributory pension scheme
32. Generous annual leave entitlement
33. 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.