Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY
To assist in delivery of a quality, cost effective and patient focussed service from a combination of specialist areas within the department.
Working under the guidance of the NE&Y GLH lead bioinformatician to provide highly specialised bioinformatics expertise to support the diagnostic platforms being used within NE&Y GLH. This will include implementation of methods of data handling, analysis and interpretation of data that will ultimately have a direct impact on patient care.
To work with the lead bioinformation and within the NE&Y GLH virtual team based across the different NE&Y GLH sites to plan activities and develop the bioinformatics capability of NE&Y GLH.
To provide highly specialised advice and interpretation, to enable and support the authorisation of patient reports for hospital and primary care clinical staff.
To carry out research and development and audit in the field of genetics and bioinformatics
To communicate accurately sensitive and/or highly complex information to users of the service in a manner that is in accordance with departmental and GLH procedures. This may include providing specialist clinical technical advice to clinical teams.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Background
The reconfiguration of Genetic Laboratory service provision in England is supporting the creation of a world class resource in the use of genomics and genetic technologies within the NHS. It is based around the consolidation of services in to a network of Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs) to create a genomic laboratory service infrastructure for the NHS in England.
NE&Y GLH comprises of a partnership arrangement between several organisations (Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Sheffield Childrens Hospital FT, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals FT and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals FT).
Key responsibilities of NE&Y GLH:
- Consolidate services to deliver significant efficiencies
- Operate within a national testing network
- Operate a coherent informatics infrastructure
- Sample collection, processing and logistics
- Technical and analytical platforms
- Bioinformatics, annotation and validation
- Clinical interpretation, reporting and returning of results
- Quality management and assurance of both processes and data
- Plan & develop workforce for now and the future
- Organisational governance and partnership arrangements
- Promotion of research and innovation
NE&Y GLH will work across defined geographies to:
- Work with other GLHs to form a national network of genomic laboratories providing a coordinated national genomic laboratory service, which will be part of the planned NHS Genomic Medicine Service.
- Participate in regular meetings convened by NHS Englands Genomic Unit as part of the national network.
- Deliver genomic testing, as outlined in the National Genomic Test Directory.
- Provide the genomic testing service for national specialist testing within prescribed GLHs of the national network, and will work with the relevant clinicians and genomic MDTs.
- Be responsible for establishing and maintaining local networks of any subcontracted laboratories and designated providers for cancer genomic testing providing a coordinated and comprehensive service to deliver standardised outcomes, ongoing consolidation, quality improvement, and adoption of new technologies under a suitable operating infrastructure and partnership agreement.
- Consolidate the existing specialist genetic laboratories into state of the art, high throughput, high quality and standardised laboratories through the delivery of the majority of genomic tests running through a single laboratory based in Leeds.
- Operate enhanced working practices to ensure genomic testing services are available to support the delivery of seven day services, and ensure that genomic technology platforms are fully optimised.
- Be responsible for ensuring quality and the ongoing review of opportunities to further consolidate networked services, based on technological advances, the changing evidence base for genomic testing and the National Test Directory.
- Be accountable to NHS Englands Genomics Unit within an agreed governance and operational framework that will oversee the test repertoire, co-ordinate the provision new national specialised testing services, monitor performance and finance.
- Fulfil the membership criteria for UKGTN, UKAS ISO accreditation and any additional requirements as specified by the NHS England Genomics Unit.
The post holder will be:
- A member of the NE&Y virtual team based across the different NE&Y GLH sites to plan activities and develop the bioinformatics capability of NE&Y GLH.
- Expected to work in accordance with standard operating procedures and to contribute to the further development of these procedures and quality standard in areas relevant to the expertise of the post holder.
- To participate in equipment procurement and evaluation.
- To provide education to support, technical, scientific and medical staff.
- To actively participate in laboratory quality assurance and risk management programmes.
- To participate in laboratory audit processes.
- To contribute to general departmental and GLH management by performing, subject to consultation, such tasks as delegated by the head of department.
Managerial
In order to work effectively in the role you as the job holder must be able to demonstrate a number of attributes and abilities. These will include:
- Gain new knowledge through experience, formal study and participation in relevant training schemes.
- Work independently.
- Communicate clearly and effectively whether orally, graphically or electronically.
- Plan, prioritise, interpret, validate and authorize your workload of the section and coordinate this with work undertaken by other team members.
- Work with precision and follow accurately the documented laboratory standard operating procedures.
- Operate highly complex laboratory equipment safely and efficiently.
- Input, manage, extract and interpret patient data using the laboratory computer system.
- Contribute to the education and professional development of colleagues through departmental and external education activities.
- Contribute actively towards the improvement of general service quality by participation in clinical audit, technical evaluation and business planning.
- Maintain competence through continuing professional development.
- Participate actively in the departmental appraisal scheme.
- Participate actively in other people governance procedures that are consistent with Trust HR policies.
- Take account of changes in service delivery by demonstrating a flexible approach to work.
Analytical and Judgemental
Judgemental skills will be required when providing bioinformatic services as part of the overall service provided by Y&NE GLH. This will require a good level of understanding of the other areas of specialist expertise within the department and how they contribute to the service as a whole. Your level of knowledge and understanding of these procedures allow you to recognise and investigate system failures and errors. You will understand the need to report adverse events in the event of errors and failures.
Analysing, interpreting and comparing technical data plus exercising judgement in identifying problems and then solving them.
As the job holder you will acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding to:
o Have knowledge and understanding of current national legislation and guidelines relevant to the speciality.
o Participate actively in departmental internal and external quality assurance schemes. Your level of knowledge and understanding will allow you to recognise when expected levels of quality have not been met together with the ability to recommend appropriate improvements. This will require understanding of the regulatory environment and quality management systems.
o Participate in the maintenance of a safe working environment. This will include an awareness of the hazards associated with your work. In addition you will be aware of any suitable actions to take in the event of breaches in health and safety. Such hazards include fire, manual handling, breaches of security, controlled and uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials.
o Maintain patient confidentiality. You will recognise the absolute requirement to protect sensitive information that is related to patient care.
o Observe the requirements of departmental policies relating to service provision, for example sample labelling and adverse event reporting.
o Observe the requirements of Trust policies relating to clinical and people governance.
Planning and Organisational
The post holder will be required to:
- Organise, prioritise and manage activities and projects.
- Conduct audit and re-audit of elements of the bioinformatics service.
- Implementing planned changes to the service in accordance with business plans of the GLH.
Patient / Client Care
The post holder will be required to provide highly specialised bioinformatics expertise to support the diagnostic platforms being used within Y&NE GLH. This will include implementation of methods of data handling, analysis and interpretation of data that will ultimately have a direct impact on patient care.
To be an active member of the Y&NE virtual team, delivering the bioinformatics capability of Y&NE GLH.
To identify and report adverse incidents through the designated channels
Policy and Service Development
The post holder will be required to implement agreed polices within the department and assist in development of departmental policies and protocols, contributing to policy change as appropriate.
Carry out audit programmes to underpin research and development within the department.
