Job overview
Are you interested in working in the field of newborn screening? Would you like to become part of a team screening over 55,000 newborn babies per year for inherited and congenital diseases? Do you want to make a difference to babies and their families?
A post is available for a experienced band 6 Specialist Biomedical Scientist in the Newborn Screening Department of Reference Chemistry, Synnovis. You will be joining a team 15 staff working together to provide the Newborn Screening service. You will also work along with over 70 scientists and support staff in the new hub building at Blackfriars, 5 mins walk from Southwark and Blackfriars station
The successful candidate will be a key member of the South East Thames Regional Newborn Screening Laboratory based at the Blackfriars Hub. Providing results for over 55,000 babies a year, the team works closely with other Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants and Clinical Scientists and is part of a network of 18 laboratories across the UK and Ireland providing this vital service.
The post is full time, fixed term (Until 31st March 2027), with 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday 9.00-17.30 working. Please note that for a Biomedical Scientist to be paid at Band 6 it is essential that they have completed their specialist portfolio. We may consider applications from employees who have not completed a specialist portfolio, but if they are successful, they will be paid at Band 5.
Main duties of the job
Our laboratory provides screening for newborn babies using various technologies for the following conditions: congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, glutaric aciduria type 1, isovaleric acidaemia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disorders, Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1, Severe combined immunodeficiency.
Techniques include PCR, HPLC MS/MS, immunoassay and enzymatic techniques. Use of pipettes, centrifuges, plate shakers, and analytical equipment will be part of the role.
Other responsibilities will be to receive, book, sort and archive specimens, maintain and operate analytical equipment, prepare reagents and patient batches. The post-holder will be expected to work in accordance with laboratory quality and health and safety policies and standard operating procedures.
The successful candidate will work closely with Clinical and Senior Biomedical Scientists and must be able to reliably and efficiently communicate with all grades of staff within and external to the department, as well as other external centers, being the point to call for external queries and referrals via telephone and email. Attention to detail and good communication skills are a must in this role. You will be expected to work under pressure as part of a team and independently, maintaining accuracy. You will be accountable to the senior BMS and ultimately the deputy and director of the newborn screening service.
Working for our organisation
Our department works to the guidance and Newborn blood spot screening standards and pathways laid out by NHS England and the national screening committee. The national screening committee is an evidence based programme which means tests offered are continuously evolving over time. Making this department a particularly dynamic.
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.
Purpose of the Job
This role delivers specialist biomedical investigations as part of the laboratory team in Synnovis. Within this you will be processing specimens, analysing and releasing results whilst maintaining local quality systems. Reporting to the Senior Specialist BMS or Operations Manager, you will hold a variety of responsibilities, including supervision and troubleshooting, to ensure the successful delivery of pathology services, in line with our corporate objectives.
What you will do
You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These include, but are
not limited to:
• Complete routine and complex specialist biomedical investigations in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and within specific turnaround times.
• Deliver work autonomously within all regulations and legislative requirements.
• Operate and maintain complex laboratory equipment within all safety standards relevant to your area, including troubleshooting
• Supervise and guide colleagues and answer questions as required.
• Use cost effective methods in your practice and maintain levels of consumable goods and
supplies in your area, and report shortages accordingly.
Key Responsibilities
• Perform and interpret routine and specialist biomedical investigations by participating in regular daily workloads, as directed by management, in line with your skills, experience and competencies.
• Maintain standards of conduct required by the HCPC to practice as a registered Biomedical Scientist.
• Provide technical advice to clinical colleagues as required and within limits of competency.
• Process specimens and handle sensitive information with care and due diligence, such as patient results, in line with local SOPs.
• Propose and implement changes to SOPs, policies and work practice as required.
• Participate in development of new tests, as directed, including alignment with accreditation bodies and local management processes. Where necessary this will include analysing clinical trial samples.
• Participate in verification and validation work when required.
• Day to day supervision of MLAs, APs and BMSs, providing support, training and mentoring to ensure performance is in line with laboratory standards.
• Observe all safety regulations and ensure others are doing the same. This includes holding people to account when standards fall short of expectations and raising concerns about safety in the laboratory.
• Ensure compliance for your area of work 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.
• Participate in quality management activities including inspections, audits, EQA and IQC procedures as required.
• Utilise the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Q-Pulse quality management database and other relevant software to ensure high quality reliable data capture and entry.
• Complete data entry accurately to record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent, long period of concentration whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and following Information Governance (IG) guidelines.
• Work closely with colleagues in the quality team to identify best practice and embed a culture of high quality and performance across your area.
• Report all incidents and adverse events to management and enter the information in the CAPA module of Q-pulse in a timely manner as directed, supervising and assisting junior colleagues with the process.
• Demonstrate ongoing laboratory-based competency against training plans.
• 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.
• Prioritise your workload effectively to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work is delivered to the highest standards possible.
• 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
1. BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent
2. HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist
3. Specialist portfolio in relevant discipline (if HCPC Registration via IBMS Portfolio route) or equivalent experience or FIBMS
4. Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Desirable criteria
5. Willing to work towards higher levels of education
6. IBMS membership
Experience
Essential criteria
7. Significant demonstrable broad-based discipline specific practical experience
8. Analysing, interpreting and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
9. Using Laboratory Information Systems
10. Development of special interest and expertise in one or more areas of the laboratory, for example Quality, Health & Safety, Training or IT
Desirable criteria
11. Experience of working with specialist techniques such as PCR
12. OMNI experience
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
13. Demonstrates a sound understanding of the physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to specialism
14. Demonstrates a high degree of skill and knowledge where interpretation of results can be highly subjective
15. Well-developed physical skills, demonstrable ability to use precision equipment and consumables
16. Ability to troubleshoot highly technical and precision equipment
17. Ability to troubleshoot problems arising on analytical platforms, manual assays and semi-automated procedures: and know when escalate
18. Competent at communicating verbally and in writing with colleagues and clinical staff
19. Ability to effectively manage own time, able to prioritise work for self and others and able to plan activities within area of work.
20. Ability to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
21. Demonstrable knowledge and application of quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS
22. Demonstrable knowledge and application of health and safety legislation and procedures
Desirable criteria
23. Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, co-ordinating and supervising a team
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:
24. Contributory pension scheme
25. Generous annual leave entitlement
26. 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.