Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified individual to join Microbiology and Virology Services as a Healthcare Scientist. The successful candidate will possess significant knowledge of serology and/or virology and will also have leadership qualities. They will be responsible for the smooth operation of the virology laboratory, supporting the team to deliver an effective and timely service. They will be HCPC registered and have previous experience in diagnostic virology. They will initially be responsible for serology and then transition to also lead the molecular section within 12 months of recruitment.
- Interview Date: 10 October 2023
-
37 hours 30 minutes/week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will attend departmental, directorate and regional meetings as the virology representative. They will contribute to leadership, governance, service development and staff training in the virology sections of the department. They will be fully accountable for the virology service and provide support to other members of the team with producing policies, standard operating procedures and carrying out quality assurance on all procedures performed in the virology laboratories.
The role requires the individual to work closely with departmental colleagues, consultant virologists/ microbiologists and other service users.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- In collaboration with the Clinical Head of Department, Laboratory Manager and Operational Manager, lead the day to day functions of the virology department to ensure the technical and managerial functions are delivered efficiently and effectively, in order to provide a high-quality scientific/technical service, so meeting service and Trusts objectives
- To provide specialised scientific knowledge and act as virology scientific lead and to perform highly specialised test within this section
- To carry out research and development in the field of clinical virology
- To provide advice and interpretation and to perform final authorisation of patient reports for hospital and the private sector.
Scientific Responsibilities
- Ensure diagnostic virology services are maintained
- Ensure business continutiy plans are enacted with support of Operational Manager and Laboratory Manager
- Be responsible for the strategic development and scientific/technical delivery of virology services.
- Be responsible for the planning and organising testing services in conjunction with other departments, clinical services, or professional bodies.
- The post holder will take responsibility for the efficient and effective use of staff, for service delivery and development. Staff responsibilities include supporting recruitment, career development, day to day discipline, and work evaluation.
- Be responsible for organising and planning the departmental testing repertoires to ensure they meet the needs of the service, organisation, and other stakeholders.
- Be responsible for allocating and re-allocating workloads when workloads fluctuate as part of demand management.
- Be identified as the scientific lead for the Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Screening (IDPS) programme.
- Undertake evaluation of new methods and procedures in relation to diagnostic processes/equipment.
- Oversee validation and verification work in conjunction with Quality Management system or team
- Initiates and coordinates R&D
Clinical Responsibilities
- Maintain knowledge of current scientific, professional, policy and commercial issues that may impact upon clinical service delivery working with the Integrated Laboratory Medicine Service Managers, Operational Leads and Clinical Colleagues to develop future service proposals.
- Facilitate service and policy development and improvements through change, best practice and service improvement and modernisation ensuring all services comply with current UKAS standards, national and European legislation, and all discipline specific regulatory bodies.
- Work with the Clinical Virology team to ensure that the service is fully patient centred, and development focused on key patient care priorities.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- In collaboration with the Clinical Head of Department, Laboratory Manager and Operational Manager, lead the day to day functions of the virology department to ensure the technical and managerial functions are delivered efficiently and effectively, in order to provide a high-quality scientific/technical service, so meeting service and Trusts objectives
- To provide specialised scientific knowledge and act as virology scientific lead and to perform highly specialised test within this section
- To carry out research and development in the field of clinical virology
- To provide advice and interpretation and to perform final authorisation of patient reports for hospital and the private sector.
Scientific Responsibilities
- Ensure diagnostic virology services are maintained
- Ensure business continutiy plans are enacted with support of Operational Manager and Laboratory Manager
- Be responsible for the strategic development and scientific/technical delivery of virology services.
- Be responsible for the planning and organising testing services in conjunction with other departments, clinical services, or professional bodies.
- The post holder will take responsibility for the efficient and effective use of staff, for service delivery and development. Staff responsibilities include supporting recruitment, career development, day to day discipline, and work evaluation.
- Be responsible for organising and planning the departmental testing repertoires to ensure they meet the needs of the service, organisation, and other stakeholders.
- Be responsible for allocating and re-allocating workloads when workloads fluctuate as part of demand management.
- Be identified as the scientific lead for the Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Screening (IDPS) programme.
- Undertake evaluation of new methods and procedures in relation to diagnostic processes/equipment.
- Oversee validation and verification work in conjunction with Quality Management system or team
- Initiates and coordinates R&D
Clinical Responsibilities
- Maintain knowledge of current scientific, professional, policy and commercial issues that may impact upon clinical service delivery working with the Integrated Laboratory Medicine Service Managers, Operational Leads and Clinical Colleagues to develop future service proposals.
- Facilitate service and policy development and improvements through change, best practice and service improvement and modernisation ensuring all services comply with current UKAS standards, national and European legislation, and all discipline specific regulatory bodies.
- Work with the Clinical Virology team to ensure that the service is fully patient centred, and development focused on key patient care priorities.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- BSc (Hons) degree in relevant science degree or equivalent qualification
- Health and Care Professions Council registration
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) Specialist Portfolio, IBMS Diploma of Specialist Practice, Councils for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) Logbook or equivalent qualification
- MSc, FIBMS or equivalent qualification.
Desirable
- Post graduate management qualifications
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience and in-depth specialist knowledge of Virology
- Previous experience as a Clinical scientist or Advanced Biomedical Scientist in Diagnostic Virology
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and safety measures
- Familiarity of current UKAS Accreditation standards
- Participative approach to change management and problem solving.
- Experience in Research and Development.
- Willingness to promote and partake in Continuous Professional Development.
- Experience of conducting appraisals
Desirable
- Significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite, Ideagen Q-Pulse and other IT Systems
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical, organisational and planning skills
- Ability to work autonomously, with creativity, drive and flexibility
Desirable
- Coaching and/or mentoring skills
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- BSc (Hons) degree in relevant science degree or equivalent qualification
- Health and Care Professions Council registration
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) Specialist Portfolio, IBMS Diploma of Specialist Practice, Councils for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) Logbook or equivalent qualification
- MSc, FIBMS or equivalent qualification.
Desirable
- Post graduate management qualifications
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience and in-depth specialist knowledge of Virology
- Previous experience as a Clinical scientist or Advanced Biomedical Scientist in Diagnostic Virology
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and safety measures
- Familiarity of current UKAS Accreditation standards
- Participative approach to change management and problem solving.
- Experience in Research and Development.
- Willingness to promote and partake in Continuous Professional Development.
- Experience of conducting appraisals
Desirable
- Significant proficiency in use of MS Office Suite, Ideagen Q-Pulse and other IT Systems
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical, organisational and planning skills
- Ability to work autonomously, with creativity, drive and flexibility
Desirable
- Coaching and/or mentoring skills
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
