Job responsibilities
The Leeds Genetics Laboratory at St Jamess
University Hospital provides a diagnostic Genetic Service to the population of
Yorkshire and Humber and for the wider region as part of the North East and
Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub. Specialist diagnostic genetic services are
provided at a national and international level, using a current annual budget
of approximately £21million and with over 170 staff, of which 50 are Clinical
Scientists. The laboratory processes over 30,000 genetics samples per year, and
generates around 25,000 reports, many of which are highly complex.
JOB
PURPOSE
Responsible
for delivery and scientific development of a high quality diagnostic
Laboratory Genetics Service.
Scientific
lead in service provision for specified clinical area.
Provide
advice to Consultants and other users.
Participate
in forming national best-practice policy.
JOB
DIMENSIONS
The
post holder will independently discuss, advise and challenge clinicians and
scientists, including Consultants (both from genetics and other disciplines)
and GPs on the complex interpretation of results which may be sensitive or
contentious.
The
post holder will provide input to ensure a high standard of service that is
both cost effective and efficient. This includes suggestions towards
decisions on purchase of items of equipment, reagents or software valued up
to £150,000, for example, specialised genetic analysers. There will be close
day-to-day working relationship with the Translational Genomics Unit (joint
NHS and University facility), the University of Leeds, histopathology, the
Haemological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (HMDS) and other pathology
departments within LTHT, including shared use of space, equipment and other
facilities.
The
post-holder will present scientific findings at national and international
scientific meetings. They will be involved in formulation of national and
international best practice guidelines for genetic tests.
The
post holder will be responsible for the mentoring and training of Clinical
Scientist (clinical genetics) STP trainees.
There
is a teaching relationship with the University of Leeds and the post holder
may contribute towards supervision of project work of Biology and Medical
undergraduates
KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
ESSENTIAL
First
Degree in a Biological subject with a strong genetics component, or
equivalent.
Further
qualification or knowledge equivalent to masters level.
Preparation
towards Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists in Genetics or
Molecular Pathology.
Registration
with Health Professions Council as Clinical Scientist in Genetics,
submodality Molecular Genetics or Cytogenetics.
Advanced
theoretical knowledge of clinical genetics and/or molecular pathology
including routine and specialised analytical methods, quality assurance and
problem solving.
Knowledge
of national, professional and NHS guidelines relating to service provision
and quality.
Understanding
of health and safety procedures/issues.
Understand
issues relating to financial management, resource allocation and procurement.
Advanced
analytical (technical) and interpretative skills and ability to analyse
complex situations.
Well-developed
deductive and intuitive abilities.
To
take personal responsibility for own decisions and advice.
Able
to use and manipulate laboratory computer systems and standard software
packages.
Able
to work as part of a team, and recognise how personal goals relate to those
of the department and Trust.
Good
oral and written communication skills including teaching.
Able
to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information at local,
national or international conferences.
Able
to maintain concentration for prolonged intervals on complex activities
despite frequent interruptions.
Able
to establish and maintain effective networks with professional and clinical
colleagues within and beyond the Trust.
Good
hand eye co-ordination for fine manipulation of instrumentation.
To
maintain self control in difficult and challenging situations.
Able
to troubleshoot under pressure, for instance while performing prenatal or
predictive tests for adult-onset genetic diseases, with limited reporting
timescales.
Able
to identify R & D needs in own area and participate in R & D
activities.
Able
to participate in internal audit activities.
Able
to participate in clinical audit and present reports.
Able
to relate service provision to national best practice guidelines.
DESIRABLE
Doctorate,
or knowledge to equivalent level.
Part
1 Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists.
To
have demonstrated specialist knowledge at a national or international level.
Involvement
in formulation of national, professional and NHS guidelines relating to
service provision and quality.
Experience
of membership of committees at and national level.
CORE
BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
Shares
information openly with other team members and works in partnership with
others to solve a problem.
Open
to new approaches and copes with changing targets.
Helps
others to adjust their behaviour to changing circumstances.
Develops
and initiates strategies in response to change.
Makes
active efforts to influence the work of the team, takes responsibility for
making appropriate decisions.
Relates
well to people at all levels and backgrounds.
Uses
rational argument and data to persuade others.
Manages
conflict diplomatically and calmly.
Establishes
and responds to user needs and requirements.
Monitors
and continuously reviews service processes and outcomes and looks for ways of
improving service quality.
Consistently
attempts to try learning in the workplace and from experiences.
Develops
and maintains effective networks.
Makes
conscious choices about their own personal development identifies their own
strengths and weaknesses and orchestrates appropriate development
opportunities.
Delegates
appropriate tasks and responsibility.
Allows
others the authority to accomplish tasks effectively.
Makes
effective presentations and speaks confidently in front of a group, including
large group or audience, and at national and international meetings of peers.
Consults
appropriately and seeks relevant information, including financial, before
making recommendations.
Remains
objective and rational when dealing with emotive issues.
Sets
deadlines and timescales for managing their own workload.
Plans
actions to achieve objectives to schedule and produces detailed project plans
Anticipates
problems and difficulties and makes contingency plans.
Understands
the long term strategy and objectives of their own department taking into
account of the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation.
Stands
up for their own point of view, even against opposition, and speaks with
Sincerity and conviction.
Shows
enthusiasm for their own initiatives and acknowledges their own successes.
CORE
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Advanced
knowledge of specified range of genetic diseases and disease mechanisms as
described in current literature.
Knowledge
of strategies and methods of molecular genetic analysis, including financial
implications.
Knowledge
of equipment, bioinformatics tools and analysis pipelines used for genetic
testing and analysis,
Understanding
of clinical features of inherited an/or somatic genetic diseases and
counselling and ethical issues.
Understanding
of services provided by other pathology departmentsand other genetic centres.
Knowledge
of internal and external quality assurance and national and international
best practice standards.
Understanding
of health and safety procedures.
Understanding
of department and Trust policies and procedures.
Knowledge
of IT resources in relation to genetic diagnosis, including bio-informatics.
Knowledge
of mathematical approaches to interpret genetic data and determine genetic
risk.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Take
personal responsibility for delivery of laboratory scientific genetics
service for specific diseases and others as required.
Determine
appropriate tests for individual cases. Prioritise testing and reporting to
ensure reporting targets are met for all samples, including urgent predictive
and prenatal tests. Liase with technical staff.
Perform
laboratory technical work as required, for example as part of a development
project or troubleshooting of services.
Ensure
laboratory stocks are maintained, in particular in own areas of work. Analyse
and interpret results of tests, which are often be highly complex or
non-routine, and consider further investigations. For example, variant
classification and risk calculations.
Responsibility
for validating results generated by laboratory staff ensuring internal
quality control.
Use
of specialist bioinformatics tools to process laboratory data, compare
results and interpret data. Interpretation of genetics results in the context
of patient phenotype, published literature, databases and other pathology
tests. Be able to use these results to write clinically relevant
interpretation as part of a integrated report. , taking national and
professional guidelines or equivalent standards into account. Ensure data is
recorded accurately in databases.
Keep
accurate records of all clinically relevant email, telephone and verbal
communications.
Participate
in Duty Scientist rota. This involves gatekeeping all samples received,
prioritisation, co-ordinating DNA extractions with technical staff,
performing data checks, ensuring appropriate action for all samples, and
acting as primary contact for scientific and service enquiries.
