Clinical Scientist

We are seeking a Clinical Scientist in Clinical Immunology to join our team. This is an opportunity to make your mark, getting involved in major changes and improvements for the future. We want a team player with a strong Immunology background who will bring ideas to the table and who works well with others. Training is fully supported, and we are willing to consider flexible working patterns. We recently consolidated our services at the Synnovis hub in new state of the art laboratories. Our service covers autoimmunity, allergy, monoclonal gammopathies and immunodeficiencies. The successful candidate will be based at the Synnovis Hub at Blackfriars, and occasionally at King’s College Hospital at Denmark Hill.

Main duties of the job

• Working alongside the Clinical Lead, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Principal Clinical Scientists, Operational Service Lead, Operations Manager and other operational, scientific and clinical staff, you will be expected to assist with the organisation, provision and development of the Clinical Immunology service.
• You will be required to support a comprehensive scientific and clinical advisory service by way of interpretation and reporting of results, providing clinical advice, being involved in R&D and the development of new assays.
• You will be expected to get involved in the evaluation and implementation of scientific developments to ensure the Clinical Immunology test repertoire reflects the cutting edge of scientific diagnostic developments, also ensuring that high levels of quality are maintained.
• We expect that you will have the desire to assist with teaching and training in the department.
• You will also be required to play a senior role in adhering to Quality standards, taking part in audits, and ensuring that the ethos of continuous improvement is maintained.

We are a modern automated laboratory with UKAS accreditation, performing approximately 20,000 tests per month, with a team of 25 staff.

Working for our organisation

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. You will also be supported to undertake further training towards the FRCPath.

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. There may be the occasional need to work on the Denmark Hill site.

CORE DUTIES

• Participate in the authorisation and interpretation of Clinical Immunology laboratory reports.
• Contribute to the provision of the clinical advisory and interpretative service for Clinical Immunology by advising clinical teams on investigation, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease.
• Assist the Consultant Clinical Scientist in the Immunology aspects of research and development.
• Keep up to date with developments in Clinical Immunology and assess their potential in relation to our service.
• Assist in selection, verification and implementation of new methods or equipment, and the investigation of any poorly performing methods.
• Contribute to laboratory and clinical audit.

Leadership and managerial

• Participate fully in Management, Quality Assurance and Clinical Governance Meetings as required.
• Contribute to the development of business cases, cost improvement plans, and service improvement plans, as required, in Clinical Immunology.

Educational

• Undertake and maintain evidence of continuous professional development (CPD), ensuring compliance with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) requirements.
• The post holder is expected to engage in their own further development. Clinical Immunology will provide support from senior staff and other sources; however, the post holder is expected to be highly motivated, and willing to undertake some self-directed learning.
• Contribute to the teaching of other healthcare professionals as appropriate.

Person specification

Qualifications Essential criteria

• Master’s Degree in Immunology or related subject.
• Successful certified completion of a formal Clinical Scientist training programme or assessed equivalent, approved as appropriate for registration as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Registered as a Clinical Scientist with the Health Care Professions Council (or within 3 months of obtaining it).
• Demonstration of Continuous Professional Development.

Experience Essential criteria

• Scientific and clinical knowledge regarding interpretation of Immunology assays.
• Wide-ranging practical experience in manual & automated techniques of clinical immunology.

Desirable criteria

• To have experience of clinical audit.
• Experience of presenting complex scientific data to groups of students/staff.
• Ability to teach students, laboratory staff and medical staff.

Skills & Knowledge Essential criteria

• Have excellent practical skills and the ability to use analytical judgement.
• Able to prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient IT skills.

Desirable criteria

• To have a sound basic knowledge in other areas of diagnostic testing relating to the investigation of disease.
• To have an extensive knowledge of routine and specialised analytical methods, quality assurance and problem solving.
• Able to initiate and direct Research and Development activities in relevant areas.

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 development opportunities

King's College Hospital Foundation Trust (KCH)

King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. King’s has various divisions including Neurosciences, Haematology, Cancer and Cardiovascular sciences, where there are unlimited opportunities to develop and perfect your career. Over the last 170 years, King’s has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.

The Hub

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.

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.