Apprenticeship and Placement Coordinator

Job overview

Are you an experienced state registered Biomedical Scientist, looking for a dynamic role within Advanced Diagnostics? Are you keen on being part of a major London Histology laboratory where you will have the opportunity to contribute to changes leading to the enhancement of patient care? The Advanced Diagnostics department is looking to fulfil its Specialist BMS roles and now is an excellent time to join our lab as we prepare, design and move to a new state of the art Hub. Don’t miss out. Be part of it.

This laboratory-based role will give you job satisfaction that comes from knowing that no two days are the same. You will be joining a group of Scientists who are experts in Immunohistochemical, Renal histological and Molecular techniques within Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals Foundation trusts. The specialist biomedical scientists assist the senior biomedical scientists and operations manager in the day-to-day running of the department and will be expected to participate in and advise on the routine Advanced Diagnostics workload, which includes a large range of complex (highly specialised) histological and pathological testing.

Main duties of the job

• Main duties are commensurate with those of a Band 6 Biomedical Scientist within Advanced Diagnostics and might include (but are not limited to) undertaking immunohistochemistry, renal histopathology, cryotomy, molecular pathology techniques and quality tasks.
• To work closely with a team of Medical Laboratory Assistants, Biomedical Scientists, and Trainee Biomedical Scientists within the department.
• To perform and assist with various validations and verifications of procedures, techniques and equipment in the current setting and for the move to the Hub and Spoke model.
• To provide an expert level of theoretical and practical knowledge to the Advanced Diagnostics Service.
• To ensure that all areas of responsibility comply with the requirements of Medical Laboratories UKAS 15189:2022 and our immunohistochemistry flexible scope.
• To participate in the frozen section and renal histology service at Guy’s Hospital.
• To undertake research, conduct trials, produce reports and present findings to the Healthcare professionals as required.
• To continue with personal development through academic or practical experience.

Working for our organisation

The department is situated in a major teaching hospital, and cancer referral centre. Processing over 32,000 surgical cases per year, the Histology department is currently in a dynamic state of growth with more clinics set to be established resulting in more surgical samples. The Advanced Diagnostics department performs the immunohistochemistry techniques on the Leica BOND III and Roche Ventana Ultra platforms with a growing repertoire. We also prepare tissue for downstream molecular pathology techniques and perform DNA extraction and Clonality studies in Guy’s Hospital. We provide the Renal pathology service for GSTT, assisting clinicians at site and also a referral centre for other external hospitals covering renal histology and IHC. The department provides a service for frozen sections in lung and gynae specialities at Guy’s Hospital.

Your development and learning

You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development 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.

The Specialist Biomedical Scientist is an experienced scientific and technical professional who has developed their own skills and theoretical knowledge to a high standard, performing a highly complex role. They will be continuously developing scientific and technical practice within the Advanced Diagnostics (AD) section of the Histopathology department and have competency in immunohistochemistry and excellent microtomy skills. They will have attained a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science or equivalent first degree acceptable to Health Professions Council.

The post holder will work at the Guy’s and St. Thomas’, Advanced Diagnostics Unit that is part of the Department of Tissue Sciences. Advanced Diagnostics provides a Molecular Service, Immunohistochemistry Service, Renal biopsy service (St Thomas’ and Guy’s) as well as providing a Frozen section service to Guy’s Hospital. Support to the Main laboratory of the Histopathology Department may also be required. Although this post is based at St Thomas’s Hospital, there may be an operational requirement for the post-holder to cover Histopathology laboratory services based at the Guy’s Hospital site.

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.

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!

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:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Ground breaking personal development opportunities

Person specification

• BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science or equivalent first degree acceptable to Health Professions Council
• HCPC Registration (Histopathology Specialisation)
• Specialist portfolio in histopathology or equivalent experience
• Membership of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences

Experience

• Experience and competency in routine histopathology laboratory techniques
• Familiar with Quality and Health and Safety
• Competent in immunohistochemistry
• Experience in supervision, training and teaching
• Experience with renal histology and frozen sections
• Experience with molecular techniques

Skills & Knowledge

• High degree of numeracy
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken English
• Good interpersonal and team working skills
• Excellent organisation and planning skills
• Familiar with Laboratory Information Systems
• Working knowledge of QPulse

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.