Clinical Embryologist (NHS AfC: Band 6 or 7) - Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Main area: Clinical Embryologist

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6 or 7

Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity cover)

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (occasional on-call responsibility)

Job overview: Gateshead Fertility have an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Embryologist to join our established team on a fixed-term basis. Band 6 or 7 depending on experience. We are proud to provide a range of fertility treatments to the patients of the North East and North Cumbria and have built our reputation around our compassionate expertise and care as well as our excellent patient outcomes. Our Embryology team participate substantially in service development and have a high degree of patient contact. This NHS fertility unit provides care to a diverse range of patients and the multi-disciplinary team has a shared vision and purpose that drives its continued success.

Main duties of the job:

• BSc degree in appropriate biological science
• HCPC Registration as a Clinical Scientist
• ARCS (Association of Reproductive Clinical Scientists)
• Minimum 2 years relevant practical experience
• Evidence of personal/professional development
• Ability to pursue and direct basic scientific investigations
• Highly developed communication, interpersonal and influencing skills

We would consider applications from candidates with suitable embryology experience who are working towards HCPC registration, against an appropriate role.

Working for our organisation: Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead. Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients. We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region. Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• To perform the relevant laboratory duties according to the protocols and procedures, including:

• Diagnostic semen analysis
• Sperm preparation for DI, IUI, IVF and ICSI
• Oocyte retrieval and insemination
• Assessment of fertilisation and embryo development
• Gamete and embryo cryopreservation
• Maintenance and audit of cryopreserved material
• Out of hours on-call responsibility for cryo-dewars and critical equipment

• Co-ordination of multi-disciplinary activities and scheduling of patient treatments. Acting independently to manage the laboratory workload within clinical and professional guidelines.
• Occasional educational role for trainee midwives, junior medical staff and medical students.
• Performing clinical analyses for diagnostic purposes and presenting highly specialised advice, which contributes to the care and education of patients.
• Communication of highly complex information to patients with potentially distressing outcomes.
• Explaining and obtaining comprehensive legal consent for gamete and embryo storage.
• Contribute to the training and mentoring of junior staff, including pre-registration Embryologists, Embryology Laboratory Associates and Healthcare Science Assistants.
• Implementation of policies and regular revision of standard operating procedures within professional guidelines.
• Recording of patient treatments and outcome details for the HFEA national database.
• Regular equipment testing as part of a quality control programme.
• Frequent audit of laboratory and clinical key performance indicators, including investigating underperformance and suggesting and implementing corrective action.
• Contribute to the evaluation and purchasing of laboratory equipment.
• Accountable for the repair and maintenance of physical assets.
• Organizes the regular invoicing of private patients.
• Participation in out-of-hours on-call response to laboratory alarms.

Person specification:

• Qualifications: HCPC registration (1 = working towards/eligible, 2 = attained) STP graduate
• Experience as Embryologist ICSI trained
• Experience - embryology laboratory experience (1 = overseas/placement, 2 = UK embryology employment)
• Skills - embryology techniques (1 = minimal/placement, 2 = competent in most key skills)

Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date are to assume that their application has been unsuccessful. Applications from job seekers who require Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications where the post is eligible.