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.
- 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.
