Senior Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Vauxhall

We are seeking an experienced, HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS) with leadership skills and a special interest in quality management to join our Liver Histopathology team at a senior level. The Department is part of the Institute of Liver Studies at King's College Hospital and provides a fully UKAS accredited, specialist liver and HPB histology service to our host clinicians and to a great number of national and international referring centres.

The successful applicant will perform all analytical procedures necessary for the histological, immunohistochemical and cytological diagnosis of disease. As one of two Senior BMSs, the post holder shall act as section lead for the Department on a rotational basis, performing and/or monitoring procedures and ensuring that they are performed to accredited standards. The post holder will liaise with pathologists, clinicians and laboratory staff to ensure delivery of a professional and efficient diagnostic service. The post holder will be required to supervise staff and take responsibility for the maintenance of quality in the section, reporting directly to the Operations Manager for the laboratory. The post holder must have experience of compliance with standards as required within work duties such as ISO 15189 (2022) and other relevant professional and legislative bodies.

Main duties of the job:

• To maintain competency in all routine laboratory tasks (such as equipment maintenance, microtomy, cryotomy, immunocytochemistry, special stains, cytology, quality assurance, specimen reception and biopsy transfer) and participate as and when required.
• To organise and supervise the laboratory team on a rotational basis within the department.
• To act as quality lead for the Department.
• To provide an expert level of theoretical and practical knowledge to the Histology Service.
• To participate in the training and competency assessment of colleagues and new staff members.
• To participate in the training of junior colleagues undertaking IBMS Registration and Specialist Portfolios, spotting skills gaps and closing them with the support of Operations Management.
• To ensure that all areas of responsibility comply with the requirements of Medical Laboratories UKAS 15189:2022.
• To continue with personal development through academic or practical experience.
• The post holder must also have a willingness to participate in a mandatory out-of-hours on-call service based on the provision of frozen sections to facilitate confidence in the suitability of donor livers for transplant (this aspect of the service is currently under development).

About us:

The Institute of Liver Studies at King's encompasses clinical service and academic activities (undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and overlapping research) in adult and paediatric hepatology, hepatobiliary surgery and liver transplantation. It was established in 1966 and is the largest specialist centre in Europe for the treatment of liver disease. The Liver Histopathology section provides a specialist histopathology service to the liver transplantation service, adult hepatobiliary services and paediatric liver services, and is an internationally recognised centre of scientific investigation. Liver Histopathology is one of the ultra-specialist laboratories within the Synnovis analytics core service. The laboratory is ISO 15189:2022 accredited (No. 8805) and is approved by the IBMS to provide training for both registration and specialist (cellular pathology) portfolios.

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.

Job responsibilities:

• Analyse samples in line with local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including but not limited to recording results and necessary action on the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), ensuring all Information Governance (IG) requirements are met.
• 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.
• Participate in the strategic development and service improvement of the analytical service, be responsible for the implementation of new techniques, equipment, and tests, as directed including all verification and validation work. Where necessary this will include analysing clinical trial samples.
• 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 as required and directed.
• Monitor, and report on EQA and IQC procedures and be responsible for correcting problems that have been identified.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and quality requirements of regulatory directives, accreditation bodies, and local management.
• Provide supervision for all employees, including participating in early, late and weekend shifts if necessary and as required.
• Line manage employees, as required. This includes delivering all aspects of people management, such as recruitment, performance management, absence management, learning and development, employee health and wellbeing.
• Encourage junior employees in their scientific expertise, knowledge and professional development, including the safe use of highly complex and sensitive equipment.
• Develop, prepare, write, and review relevant documents, including SOPs, COSHH and risk assessments in line with the ISO 15189 standard.
• Demonstrate ongoing laboratory-based competency against training plans.
• To educate, train and involve the laboratory's staff in quality principles and practice.
• Ensure that all Synnovis policies and procedures are implemented and maintained.
• 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 Operations Manager 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.

Person Specification:

Qualifications:

• Essential: BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent
• HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• Specialist portfolio in relevant discipline or equivalent experience (if HCPC Registration via IBMS Portfolio route) or FIBMS
• MSc or working towards MSc, FIBMS or equivalent experience in a similar role
• Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
• Desirable: Quality or Management qualification
• Willing to work towards higher levels of professional practice
• IBMS membership

Experience:

• Essential: Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, co-ordinating and managing a team
• Experience of supervising junior employees
• Significant demonstrable discipline specific practical experience
• Experience in the education of physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to specialism
• Experience in and ability to supervise analysis, interpretation and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
• Desirable: Cultivating junior colleagues with skills in areas of interest or expertise such as Quality, Health & Safety, Training or IT
• Cultivating Specialist BMS with skills in research, clinical or analytical areas
• Acting as owner for escalation and communication to internal and external service users in validation of routine, complex and specialist results
• Lead in quality as an area of special interest and expertise

Skills:

• Essential: Advanced working knowledge of classical histological and immunocytochemical techniques
• Well-developed physical skills, demonstrable ability to use precision equipment and consumables
• Manage the resolution of troubleshooting activity for highly technical and precision equipment and assays
• Ability to manage effectively in a changing dynamic environment with multiple conflicting priorities
• Ability to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
• Knowledge of the correct policies and procedures to implement in relation to quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS
• Desirable: Good awareness of current issues within pathology locally and nationally
• Experience in cytology

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.