Job summary
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within the Clinical Genetics & Genomics Laboratory (CGGL), based at the Royal Brompton Hospital, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS hospitals are the largest heart & lung centres in the UK and among the largest in Europe. We are a partnership of two specialist hospitals which are known throughout the world for our expertise, standard of care and research success.
The CGGL is a genomics diagnostic lab, providing state-of-the-art specialist cardiac & respiratory NGS-based genetic testing as part of the London South Genomics Laboratory Hub (LS GLH).
We are looking for a motivated Genomic Associate with extensive experience in human molecular genetic diagnostics, excellent interpersonal skills, to join our group. We invite individuals who are educated to a degree level in Biological Science, with a strong interest in genetics, to work as a Genomic Associate. The role will include checking referrals, generating and uploading preliminary reports from NGS, sample reception, DNA & RNA extraction, basic laboratory housekeeping tasks, and administration tasks to provide support to our diagnostic work. There will also be an opportunity to prepare simple diagnostic reports and gain some experience in variant assessment.
The CGGL is a UKAS-accredited medical laboratory, currently performing over 6000 diagnostic tests per annum and is also actively involved in research and teaching.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
The Genomic Associate will be required to act as a flexible administrative resource to support the wider multidisciplinary team in delivering a seamless and integrated end to end genomic medicine pathway. The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination of the genomic medicine pathway on a day-to-day operational basis.
o To be responsible to their line manager and other senior laboratory staff, particularly the Duty Scientist.o To collaborate with the other scientific, technical and admin staffo To deal with enquiries from other healthcare professionals,o To liaise with clinical staff and when required, represent the service at multidisciplinary meetings within the Trusto To assist senior laboratory staff with quality issues.o To liaise and produce relevant information for laboratory userso To undertake all laboratory procedures required for the processing of patient samples.o To identify when techniques related to the processing of specimens are not working optimallyo To prepare and check standard and complex abnormal reports for authorisation by senior Clinical Scientists o To participate in internal and external quality control procedureso To assist with investigating reported Datix incidentso To perform the role following documented laboratory protocols and information management systemso To conduct data entry and analysis ensuring the validity and reliability of data at all times.
About us
The Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals are part of Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, with the Heart and Lung Clinical Care Group forming the largest heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. We are a partnership of specialist hospitals which are known throughout the world for our expertise, standard of care and research success. The Clinical Genetics and Genomics Laboratory is also part of the NHSE South East Genomic Laboratory hub and is one of four cardiac and one of three respiratory laboratories, delivering the specialist testing nationally.
The Clinical Genetics and Genomics Laboratory in the Royal Brompton has generated deep expertise in cardiovascular (CV) and respiratory genetics through a large programme of work over the last 7 years and has established infrastructure, expertise and variant repositories on site. The CGGL has developed sophisticated bioinformatic tools and pipelines for the analysis and reporting of different types of sequence data and is actively involved in research to develop new technologies. The diagnostic service collaborates closely with the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College London.
Organisational Values:
Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how we do it. It is important that you understand andreflect these values throughout your employment with the Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In conjunction with senior laboratory staff, the post-holder will undertake the duties and responsibilities of a Genomic Associate role in the provision of a comprehensive, modern, high quality clinical genetics diagnostic service at RBHH.
To assist the Duty Scientists in responding to all generic laboratory correspondence and queries and help organise the various workflows from diagnostic requests, sample reception and the generation of preliminary and final diagnostic reports, to the issuing of diagnostic reports.
- To maintain a high level of accuracy and reliability in defined routine, processing, analytical and associated procedures following documented laboratory SOPs and instructions.
- To check the appropriateness of all referrals, including clinical eligibility and demographics are correct in SQVD and Clarity.
- To check the appropriateness of all referrals, including clinical eligibility and demographics.
- To ensure accurate data entry and data transcription when booking in samples for all referrals in LIMS.
- To support with writing, issuing, generating and uploading of reports from various lab tests.
- To provide technical lab support to clinical scientists in the analysis and recording of lab results (e.g. prelim NGS report generation and Sanger results analysis and recording).
- All duties are undertaken under the supervision of Senior Genetic Technologists/Clinical Scientists following standard protocols, with advice available from peers.
To collaborate and communicate professionally with all members of the department and all multi-disciplinary teams across healthcare services with all matters necessary to achieve the maximum efficiency of the service.
To play a role in the continuous development of the Trust as a member of the CGGL team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In conjunction with senior laboratory staff, the post-holder will undertake the duties and responsibilities of a Genomic Associate role in the provision of a comprehensive, modern, high quality clinical genetics diagnostic service at RBHH.
To assist the Duty Scientists in responding to all generic laboratory correspondence and queries and help organise the various workflows from diagnostic requests, sample reception and the generation of preliminary and final diagnostic reports, to the issuing of diagnostic reports.
- To maintain a high level of accuracy and reliability in defined routine, processing, analytical and associated procedures following documented laboratory SOPs and instructions.
- To check the appropriateness of all referrals, including clinical eligibility and demographics are correct in SQVD and Clarity.
- To check the appropriateness of all referrals, including clinical eligibility and demographics.
- To ensure accurate data entry and data transcription when booking in samples for all referrals in LIMS.
- To support with writing, issuing, generating and uploading of reports from various lab tests.
- To provide technical lab support to clinical scientists in the analysis and recording of lab results (e.g. prelim NGS report generation and Sanger results analysis and recording).
- All duties are undertaken under the supervision of Senior Genetic Technologists/Clinical Scientists following standard protocols, with advice available from peers.
To collaborate and communicate professionally with all members of the department and all multi-disciplinary teams across healthcare services with all matters necessary to achieve the maximum efficiency of the service.
To play a role in the continuous development of the Trust as a member of the CGGL team.
Person Specification
Qualifications / Education
Essential
- Educated to Degree level in a relevant subject (e.g. Biology, Genetics, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology) supplemented by specialist training and/or experience.
- Knowledge of the 100,000 Genomes Project and NHS plans for mainstreaming of genomics, and/or other demonstrable interest in genetics
- Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in genetics
- Strong foundation in genetics, inheritance, and rare inherited conditions at Degree level, demonstrated by relevant Undergraduate course modules.
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Experience in a clinical/research/academic environment.
- Experience of some molecular biology techniques (at least PCR-based techniques)
- Experience in Sanger analysis. Knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of molecular genetics
- Knowledge of laboratory accreditation requirements (UKAS) according to ISO15189
Desirable
- Experience of developing and implementing policies and procedures
- Operational experience of working within a clinical genetics service
- Experience of laboratory Quality Management systems
Skills/ Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to demonstrate sensitivity and maturity when faced with difficult personal circumstances and working in a multi-disciplinary team across services.
- Understanding of resource management, health and safety, clinical risk and quality issues
- Strong data management skills
- Strong IT skills, particularly with relation to Microsoft Office packages, e.g. Word, Outlook and Excel.
- Good computer skills and knowledge of relevant molecular genetic databases. An understanding of genome annotation and the use of web-based browsers to interrogate genomic information.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a Multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to organise, prioritise and co-ordinate work of self and others.
- Ability to prepare reports (written and data) using a variety of software packages and present in an easy-to-read format.
Desirable
- Experience of dealing with telephone enquiries.
- Able to give advice on the organisation and management of clinical and research processes.
- Willingness and desire to learn new techniques and analytical methods
Person Specification
Qualifications / Education
Essential
- Educated to Degree level in a relevant subject (e.g. Biology, Genetics, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology) supplemented by specialist training and/or experience.
- Knowledge of the 100,000 Genomes Project and NHS plans for mainstreaming of genomics, and/or other demonstrable interest in genetics
- Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in genetics
- Strong foundation in genetics, inheritance, and rare inherited conditions at Degree level, demonstrated by relevant Undergraduate course modules.
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Experience in a clinical/research/academic environment.
- Experience of some molecular biology techniques (at least PCR-based techniques)
- Experience in Sanger analysis. Knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of molecular genetics
- Knowledge of laboratory accreditation requirements (UKAS) according to ISO15189
Desirable
- Experience of developing and implementing policies and procedures
- Operational experience of working within a clinical genetics service
- Experience of laboratory Quality Management systems
Skills/ Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to demonstrate sensitivity and maturity when faced with difficult personal circumstances and working in a multi-disciplinary team across services.
- Understanding of resource management, health and safety, clinical risk and quality issues
- Strong data management skills
- Strong IT skills, particularly with relation to Microsoft Office packages, e.g. Word, Outlook and Excel.
- Good computer skills and knowledge of relevant molecular genetic databases. An understanding of genome annotation and the use of web-based browsers to interrogate genomic information.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a Multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to organise, prioritise and co-ordinate work of self and others.
- Ability to prepare reports (written and data) using a variety of software packages and present in an easy-to-read format.
Desirable
- Experience of dealing with telephone enquiries.
- Able to give advice on the organisation and management of clinical and research processes.
- Willingness and desire to learn new techniques and analytical methods
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
