Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.
We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.
We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.
Job overview
As a Band 8a laboratory manager in the Microbiology Department the post holder will be responsible for the operational and technical delivery of the service and management of all sections of Microbiology including Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology and Molecular Diagnostics, as well as maintenance of UKAS accreditation to ISO The post holder is the Microbiology budget holder and will take a lead role in the management and development of all staff within the Department.
Main duties of the job
The role involves leading the operational, technical and workforce management of the Microbiology Department, ensuring high quality service delivery across Bacteriology, Virology, Molecular Diagnostics, Parasitology and Mycology, maintaining UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation, managing the budget and developing staff.
Working for your organisation
The Pathology Department at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals is part of the Lancashire & South Cumbria Pathology Service, a 4-Trust collaborative network focussed on coordinating services, adopting new technology, achieving best value and improving patient outcomes whilst maintaining pathology services across all sites.
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The post holder will work to meet the objectives of the Pathology Directorate and the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust through effective teamwork, communication, planning, staffing and resource management. As a Band 8a in the Microbiology Department the post holder will be responsible for the operational and technical delivery of the service and management of all sections of Microbiology including Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology and Molecular Diagnostics, as well as maintenance of UKAS accreditation to ISO The post holder is the Microbiology budget holder and will take a lead role in the management and development of all staff within the Department. Additional duties will be undertaken as directed by the Pathology Directorate Manager in consultation with the post holder
Working for our organisation
The Pathology department at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is member of the Lancashire & South Cumbria Pathology Service which is a collaborative pathology network made up of four partner Trusts, they are University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The aim is to transform pathology services and patient pathways by ensuring a coordinated approach for local services that drives the adoption of new technology, seeks best value, service quality and investment to improve patient outcomes. Pathology is essential to the delivery of all patient pathways and will be continued to be delivered on all 4 hospital sites.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty-five-minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac, Haematology and Cystic fibrosis patients.
As one of the United Kingdom's largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents -it's not just a good place to work; it's a great place to live.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To ensure the department is operating in accordance with national guidance and maintain UKAS accreditation ISO 15189 standards & regulatory requirements.
• To be responsible for the technical leadership for service developments which clinical teams and Consultant Microbiologists or Clinical Scientists may wish to introduce.
• To monitor and maintain the high professional standards of the Microbiology service and initiate remedial action where necessary.
• To plan, oversee, perform, and technically validate all Microbiological investigations to a high level of competence.
• To oversee the technical validation of test results prior to reporting, ensuring the standard operating procedures as agreed by the Consultant Microbiologists are followed.
• To be responsible for the data management of results on the laboratory computer systems to ensure they are reported accurately and in a timely manner.
• To implement and monitor Internal and External Quality Assurance Schemes.
• To ensure the effective and timely commissioning of new equipment in Microbiology to ISO 15189 standards.
• To give technical support and guidance to all Microbiology staff, clinical staff and for research / clinical trials involving Microbiology.
• To implement Microbiology polices and maintain all documentation.
• To ensure stock levels are maintained to the required level within Microbiology.
• To ensure equipment within the department is fit for purpose, monitored, working at optimal performance and support collation of maintenance records.
• To implement new methodology into Microbiology in accordance best practice and accreditation and regulatory requirements.
PERSONAL
• To ensure the effective deployment of Biomedical Scientists in the department.
• To ensure comprehensive EWP rotas are prepared in a timely fashion.
• To develop close working relationships and communicate effectively with the Consultants and Clinical Scientists in the Microbiology Department.
SUPERVISORY / MANAGEMENT DUTIES
• To be a member of the Pathology Management team and deputise for the Pathology Directorate Manager as required.
• To represent the Microbiology Department at the Pathology Directorate meetings
• To be named Quality Lead for the department.
• To be named Health and Safety lead for the department.
• To work with the Pathology Directorate Manager and other local heads of service to develop strategic plans and policy for Microbiology/Pathology, including technical leadership for any collaborative working across the network.
• To contribute to the planning of decisions regarding laboratory repertoire and equipment procurement.
• To provide statistical information within Microbiology and produce written reports.
• To contribute to the recruitment, appointment, and retention of staff in line with Trust polices and guidelines.
• To take the lead in control of staff deployment and maintain discipline in Microbiology according to Trust Policy.
• To ensure compliance with statutory regulations, Health and Safety, fire etc. in the section.
• To conduct annual appraisal for the Team leaders and ensure all staff have an appraisal once a year and ensure developmental needs are actioned.
• To undertake responsibility for counselling, grievance, and welfare matters.
• To contribute to the analysis and workforce planning needs of the Microbiology establishment and skill mix as appropriate to the safe provision of service.
• To organise staff in covering the 24-hour working patterns of Microbiology.
• To oversee the monitoring and recording of attendance, holidays, special leave, and sickness absence.
• Monitor cost effectiveness with the Microbiology budget and contributing to Waste Reduction Schemes
• To lead on business case development for staff, equipment purchases or new service or strategic developments.
TEACHING / DEVELOPMENT / COMMUNICATION
• To co-ordinate induction, training and development of all staff in Microbiology.
• To ensure personal compliance with regards to mandatory, professional and personal development according to service needs.
• To ensure personal compliance with professional codes of conduct and personal development according to service needs.
• To facilitate two-way communication between higher management and staff.
• To promote the service and enhance the reputation of the department.
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• To develop appropriate links with colleagues in the Pathology Clinical Network and Public Health Agencies and other stakeholders.
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of methodology and technology in all aspects of Microbiology.
• To ensure all staff are competent to perform microbiological techniques and relevant tasks and maintain up to date records of the staff competencies.
• To provide mentorship to technical staff within Microbiology and to encourage continual professional and personal development.
• To provide support and supervision for staff engaged on work related study including portfolios and apprenticeships.
• CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
• To be the Departmental Quality Lead
• To ensure that incidents and complaints are investigated in a timely manner and appropriate actions implemented.
• To ensure that Quality Management Systems are maintained as scheduled.
• To work within regulatory and accreditation requirements, Trust policies and protocols.
• To ensure confidentiality is maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
FINANCE
• To be responsible for the Microbiology budget, producing a balanced budget and achieving financial control and improvement targets
For further details / informal visits contact:
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Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form.
If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50.
You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures.
Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.
DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.
By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed.
The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.
Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.
Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.
Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking.
The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.