Job responsibilities
- Expert knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry usually acquired through extensive post registration experience.
- Specialised and advanced technical training in the use of large multi-channel Biochemistry analysers.
- Detailed knowledge of Health and Safety legislation applicable to work practice
- Detailed knowledge of financial policies and procedures required for extracting and monitoring financial expenditure
-Background knowledge of the Organisation and the functioning of both the Trust and the wider healthcare community
- Detailed knowledge of HR policies and procedures required for personnel management
- Expert knowledge of Quality Management Systems, UKAS accreditation and their application to a pathology laboratory.
- Expert knowledge of departmental digital systems, including governance, testing, training, networking and troubleshooting.
-Experience in working as a lone worker and working unsocial hours
-Extensive experience in supervision, team building and motivation of staff
- Extensive experience in handling conflict and counselling performance issues
Extensive experience in implementing change
- HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist
- Masters level qualification in Biomedical Science or equivalent
- Management qualification (ILM level 5 or equivalent)
- Desirable - FIBMS, certificate of expert practice, higher specialist diploma
- Act as lead specialist in Clinical Biochemistry and its application in clinical practice.
- Act as line manager for the staff in the Department to include all Biomedical Scientists, Trainees, Associate Practitioners, Medical Laboratory Assistants and Admin & Clerical Staff. This will include all HR functions including sickness and performance management, disciplinary and grievance resolution.
- Be responsible for the operational management of the Clinical Biochemistry Service.
- Deploy staff effectively and ensure adequate cover and skill mix to provide a 24/7 service to both sites.
- Leading quality as part of a team, ensuring the quality of the service and conformance/compliance with standards (including UKAS ISO 15189), guidelines and legal requirements. Maintain accreditation and meet national and Trust objectives through management of the departments Quality Management System.
- Implement improvements/developments, ensuring the service meets the needs of patients and users, including large scale procurements.
- Responsible for managing the pay and non-pay budgets of the Clinical Biochemistry Service.
- Deputise for Laboratory Manager in all aspects of the service including attending Department, Trust (Management Board, Finance, Divisional, Operational etc), ICB, ICS & Regional meetings.
- Analytical skills commensurate with a highly skilled Biomedical Scientist
- Organisational skills sufficient to manage a highly complex service across two sites and manage a diverse workforce
- Project management skills necessary for implementing organisational and departmental change both within and outside the department.
- Interpret complex statistical information to ensure evidence-based practice, monitor key performance indicators and provide relevant information for strategic planning
- Judge knowledge and performance of staff to assess their competence and ability to practice
- Manage conflicting demands for resources within the department
- Risk assesses issues and judge when escalation is required
- Able to manage expensive equipment, plan and secure replacement and manage the physical assets of the department
- Knowledgeable in research methodology, with experience in clinical audit and trials research Level of planning / organisational skills required
Work with the laboratory management team to ensure the laboratory is equipped to support the Trusts research and Innovation aims, as well as the departments.
Frequent communication involving complex, challenging and sometimes controversial material is required. This may involve all methods of communication including; verbal, one to one, electronic, meetings, presentations. Working relationships will include:
- All members of the Clinical Biochemistry department across both sites
- Members of other Pathology Departments including Consultant Heads of Department, Lab Managers, Pathology Service Manager & Pathology Quality Manager.
- Clinicians, GPs, nurses and other hospital professionals.
- Trust Senior Management: Specialty Director for Pathology, Chief of Service D&S, Divisional leads, Nursing Administration & Training, Clinical Risk & Effectiveness, Finance & Procurement depts. etc.
- Other hospital departments Procurement, Paymasters, Health & Safety Services, CITS/Digital department, Estates, Medical Engineering etc.
- Senior management and personnel of other trusts and organisations e.g. Gloucestershire ICB, One Gloucestershire, GHC, ICS etc
- Patients, External Professionals, Company Sales Representatives, Technical Specialists & Service Engineers.
- Expert knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry LIMS system.
- To act as subject matter expert in communications between the department and LIMS support and to influence system design.
- Expert knowledge of Software applications used within the department.
- To liaise between product and LIMS suppliers to ensure viable IT communications
- Expert use of Quality Management Software to lead the department in its Quality Management Systems
- Skilled use of Trust reporting software (eg Datix)
- Skilled in use of general office software including data manipulation to provide complex reports to the department, pathology, Division, Trust and wider healthcare community.
- Frequent long periods of intense concentration (writing reports, references and SOPs, and leading or participating in a variety of meetings) with constant interruptions.
- Need to vigorously challenge managerial opinions, maintaining conviction in own knowledge and opinions.
- On a weekly basis direct staff, including staff outside the department, to change some aspect of work procedures or priority. This will occasionally involve confronting staff with issues they do not agree with, and the use of persuasion and motivation skills.
- Requirement for manual dexterity and good hand to eye co-ordination involved in the handling of patient samples & maintenance of equipment.
- Handle potentially infectious blood and body fluids, faeces etc with unpleasant smells/odours together with the risk associated in handling hazardous chemicals.(1-2 x weekly)
- Working on contaminated equipment or work areas. Potential of sharps injury. (1-2 x weekly)
- Working in hot conditions with protective clothing, coats, gloves and goggles. (1-2 x weekly)
- Make repetitive movements (1-2 x weekly)
- Limited amount of lifting, bending and standing (1-2 x weekly).
- Frequent long periods of use of a VDU (daily)
- Deal with a variety of staff personal problems.
