Job summary
The post holder will have responsibility for the day to day operation of the Haematology/Transfusion laboratory service with East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT), delivered at Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital sites.
Working in partnership with the Lead BMS for transfusion, the post holder will ensure that the requirements for laboratory accreditation (UKAS), MHRA and the needs of service users are consistently met.
The post holder will provide effective leadership and training to the department.
The post holder will be part of the Quality and departmental management team, and will participate in Transfusion Management, Quality, and departmental meetings .The post holder may also be required to represent the Department and/or Directorate at meetings at Divisional and Trust level.
Main duties of the job
Some duties outlined below
- To assist in managing the delivery of a robust Transfusion laboratory service to ELHT.
- Will work as a key member of the Departmental Management Team, which is responsible for the effective operational management and strategic direction of Haematology/Transfusion at ELHT.
- Will work in partnership with the Lead Biomedical Scientist, Laboratory Operations Manager and other senior staff, to develop and promote efficient and effective systems and processes in the management of the resources including finance, staff, information, equipment and space.
- Will take a proactive role in the continuing provision of a high quality and responsive service meeting both regulatory and accreditation requirements.
- Will promote the continuous improvement in service delivery and quality within transfusion.
- To assist in line managing the BMS and support staff.
- Will set and ensure the development and acceptance of challenging but realistic objectives for staff.
- Will actively participate in meetings within Haematology/Transfusion,
- Take a lead on training within Transfusion
About us
At East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 7,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Working across Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospital in the Blood Transfusion department. The laboratory currently uses both the Grifols Eflexsis analysers and Ortho Vision analysers for Blood Transfusion.
Communication
- To demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity in dealing with patients/clients, visitors/relatives and colleagues, maintaining good customer / client relations.
- Participate in organisational development plans to transform the department to meet the needs of the future; this will include upholding ELHT shared values.
- To demonstrate constructive and cooperative communication skills that avoid conflict arising between the parties involved.
- To liaise internally with key clinical staff e.g. Consultant medical staff, clinical lead nurses, non-clinical staff and their managers, and operational management staff.
- To represent Haematology/Transfusion for issues relating to their particular areas of responsibility, this may involve working with outside agencies and partners.
- Foster the development of teamwork and good communication within Haematology/Transfusion.
- To participate in local management meetings decision making and policy implementation.
- Together with the Clinical Director, Clinical Lead and Directorate Manager, ensure complaints both verbal and written are responded to, preparing preliminary findings and initial drafts; undertake investigation and route cause analysis.
Management and Leadership/Operational Delivery
- To exercise change, management and leadership skills to enable service delivery
- To work with the lead BMS in ensuring Transfusion delivers a quality and responsive clinical and technical service for ELHT and associated stakeholders and partners, providing professional leadership and line management.
- To take a proactive role in implementing long term strategic developments within Transfusion in response to service improvement or clinical demand.
- To analyse demand and capacity and recommend service configuration and change models, which will make the most efficient use of available resources.
Service Development & Planning
- To ensure that Transfusion has access to/knowledge of latest developments in automation and technologies.
- To assist with the co-ordination, submission and implementation of proposals for service development that will improve the effectiveness or efficiency of service provision within Transfusion.
- In conjunction with the Lead BMS be responsible for identifying service pressures and devising action plans or business cases/plans as appropriate.
- To inform and ensure that the Blood Sciences annual objectives are met.
- Be responsible for managing and implementing projects/developments at the discretion of the Lead BMS
- To plan and support the implementation of service improvements in laboratory areas, including skill mix review, demand and capacity planning and process mapping.
Financial
- To manage staffing rotas in a cost effective manner in order to meet service and workload demands.
- To facilitate the cost effective purchasing of all consumables within Blood Sciences and ensure that robust control measures/processes are in place and adhered to.
Quality and Governance
- In conjunction with the Laboratory Operations Manager be responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Quality Management System and appropriate external standards (UKAS,MHRA) are met within
- With the Lead BMS, to be responsible for ensuring Transfusion meets quality targets including turn-around times and consistency of test results.
- Together with the Laboratory Operations Manager, to be responsible for interpreting relevant statutory and accreditation requirements, clinical governance, risk management and quality audit policies and procedures of the Trust and integrating these into standard practice within Transfusion.
- To ensure the procedures for the reporting of all incidents and Serious Untoward Incidents (SUI) are adhered to and reviewed as necessary ensuring, where appropriate, relevant action plans are drawn up and actions completed.
- Working with the Laboratory Operations Manager, ensure that Transfusion has an annual internal audit plan and that the planned audits are completed to agreed timescales, including corrective actions.
- Working with the Laboratory Operations Manager, to follow up on external inspections, develop action plans and verify the completion of corrective action as required by the reports of the inspectors.
- To monitor the requirements of Transfusion users and ensure that they are reflected within defined quality performance measures.
- Work with the Lead BMS and Quality manager to ensure that the Departments submits annual SABRE and MHRA compliance reports for both RBH and BGH sites
- Work with the LEAD BMS to report all transfusion related incidents to the SABRE database
Human Resources
- To participate in the recruitment and selection of staff for the Haematology/Transfusion team.
- To manage, design and deliver training to staff within the department and to any relevant external areas (theatres, wards, etc).
- To manage competence assessment for staff in the Haematology/Transfusion team.
- To manage staffing rotas of the staff in Haematology/Transfusion, ensuring staffing levels are appropriate for effective service delivery.
- Undertake return to work interviews
- To carry out staff Personal Development Reviews consistent with Trust policy.
- To encourage and motivate staff, providing the skills and leadership qualities necessary to manage the change process towards excellence both in service and culture.
- To utilise and manage staff in the most cost effective and efficient manner.
- To ensure that performance appraisal is implemented as required for all staff to enhance team and individual performance.
- To maintain an environment of constructive, cooperative and non-confrontational communication with all members of the Haematology/Transfusion
- To identify development opportunities for all appropriate staff and encourage participation in such opportunities.
- To develop team morale and motivation through effective personal leadership, ensuring views and decisions are communicated both up and down the management structure.
Personal/Education
- To maintain HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist.
- To make decisions in setting your own personal targets and objectives as part of the Trusts PDR system.
- Able to develop and improve own specialist expertise, which may be via a CPD programme. Maintain a portfolio of relevant developments achieved.
- To demonstrate knowledge of all Trust Policies and procedures.
- Knowledge and ability to interpret National and Local Strategy and policy drivers relevant to Haematology/Transfusion.
Freedom to act
- Work autonomously, able to interpret Local, Trust and National policies.
Scientific / Clinical
- To be familiar, at an expert level, with all scientific work and systems within Transfusion, to be able to identify and rectify problems.
- When required, perform analytical work within the department as part of a 24/7 working pattern including weekend and night time working.
- To have a detailed understanding of Transfusion and offer up advice as the Trust lead for any issues that might arise.
- Work with the Pathology IT manager to ensure the discipline specific modules of the LIMS are maintained and fit for purpose
Other Duties
- To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested.
PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL DEMANDS
- Line management duties requiring negotiation and persuasion.
- High level of manual dexterity is required whilst working.
- Use of display screen equipment (e.g. computers) frequently throughout the day.
- Required to sit or stand for lengthy periods of time.
- Some exposure to unpleasant and hazardous working conditions - chemicals, solvents, body fluids and potentially infectious materials.
- The demands of the service require working to strict deadlines in a high-pressure environment with numerous distractions, for example frequent telephone queries and questions from other departmental staff.
- Long periods of intense concentration are required due to the complex and intricate nature of the work.
- Required to deal with results and clinical situations, which may cause distress.
- May be required to take part in a 24/7 shift system which includes weekend and night time working.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Working across Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospital in the Blood Transfusion department. The laboratory currently uses both the Grifols Eflexsis analysers and Ortho Vision analysers for Blood Transfusion.
Communication
- To demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity in dealing with patients/clients, visitors/relatives and colleagues, maintaining good customer / client relations.
- Participate in organisational development plans to transform the department to meet the needs of the future; this will include upholding ELHT shared values.
- To demonstrate constructive and cooperative communication skills that avoid conflict arising between the parties involved.
- To liaise internally with key clinical staff e.g. Consultant medical staff, clinical lead nurses, non-clinical staff and their managers, and operational management staff.
- To represent Haematology/Transfusion for issues relating to their particular areas of responsibility, this may involve working with outside agencies and partners.
- Foster the development of teamwork and good communication within Haematology/Transfusion.
- To participate in local management meetings decision making and policy implementation.
- Together with the Clinical Director, Clinical Lead and Directorate Manager, ensure complaints both verbal and written are responded to, preparing preliminary findings and initial drafts; undertake investigation and route cause analysis.
Management and Leadership/Operational Delivery
- To exercise change, management and leadership skills to enable service delivery
- To work with the lead BMS in ensuring Transfusion delivers a quality and responsive clinical and technical service for ELHT and associated stakeholders and partners, providing professional leadership and line management.
- To take a proactive role in implementing long term strategic developments within Transfusion in response to service improvement or clinical demand.
- To analyse demand and capacity and recommend service configuration and change models, which will make the most efficient use of available resources.
Service Development & Planning
- To ensure that Transfusion has access to/knowledge of latest developments in automation and technologies.
- To assist with the co-ordination, submission and implementation of proposals for service development that will improve the effectiveness or efficiency of service provision within Transfusion.
- In conjunction with the Lead BMS be responsible for identifying service pressures and devising action plans or business cases/plans as appropriate.
- To inform and ensure that the Blood Sciences annual objectives are met.
- Be responsible for managing and implementing projects/developments at the discretion of the Lead BMS
- To plan and support the implementation of service improvements in laboratory areas, including skill mix review, demand and capacity planning and process mapping.
Financial
- To manage staffing rotas in a cost effective manner in order to meet service and workload demands.
- To facilitate the cost effective purchasing of all consumables within Blood Sciences and ensure that robust control measures/processes are in place and adhered to.
Quality and Governance
- In conjunction with the Laboratory Operations Manager be responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Quality Management System and appropriate external standards (UKAS,MHRA) are met within
- With the Lead BMS, to be responsible for ensuring Transfusion meets quality targets including turn-around times and consistency of test results.
- Together with the Laboratory Operations Manager, to be responsible for interpreting relevant statutory and accreditation requirements, clinical governance, risk management and quality audit policies and procedures of the Trust and integrating these into standard practice within Transfusion.
- To ensure the procedures for the reporting of all incidents and Serious Untoward Incidents (SUI) are adhered to and reviewed as necessary ensuring, where appropriate, relevant action plans are drawn up and actions completed.
- Working with the Laboratory Operations Manager, ensure that Transfusion has an annual internal audit plan and that the planned audits are completed to agreed timescales, including corrective actions.
- Working with the Laboratory Operations Manager, to follow up on external inspections, develop action plans and verify the completion of corrective action as required by the reports of the inspectors.
- To monitor the requirements of Transfusion users and ensure that they are reflected within defined quality performance measures.
- Work with the Lead BMS and Quality manager to ensure that the Departments submits annual SABRE and MHRA compliance reports for both RBH and BGH sites
- Work with the LEAD BMS to report all transfusion related incidents to the SABRE database
Human Resources
- To participate in the recruitment and selection of staff for the Haematology/Transfusion team.
- To manage, design and deliver training to staff within the department and to any relevant external areas (theatres, wards, etc).
- To manage competence assessment for staff in the Haematology/Transfusion team.
- To manage staffing rotas of the staff in Haematology/Transfusion, ensuring staffing levels are appropriate for effective service delivery.
- Undertake return to work interviews
- To carry out staff Personal Development Reviews consistent with Trust policy.
- To encourage and motivate staff, providing the skills and leadership qualities necessary to manage the change process towards excellence both in service and culture.
- To utilise and manage staff in the most cost effective and efficient manner.
- To ensure that performance appraisal is implemented as required for all staff to enhance team and individual performance.
- To maintain an environment of constructive, cooperative and non-confrontational communication with all members of the Haematology/Transfusion
- To identify development opportunities for all appropriate staff and encourage participation in such opportunities.
- To develop team morale and motivation through effective personal leadership, ensuring views and decisions are communicated both up and down the management structure.
Personal/Education
- To maintain HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist.
- To make decisions in setting your own personal targets and objectives as part of the Trusts PDR system.
- Able to develop and improve own specialist expertise, which may be via a CPD programme. Maintain a portfolio of relevant developments achieved.
- To demonstrate knowledge of all Trust Policies and procedures.
- Knowledge and ability to interpret National and Local Strategy and policy drivers relevant to Haematology/Transfusion.
Freedom to act
- Work autonomously, able to interpret Local, Trust and National policies.
Scientific / Clinical
- To be familiar, at an expert level, with all scientific work and systems within Transfusion, to be able to identify and rectify problems.
- When required, perform analytical work within the department as part of a 24/7 working pattern including weekend and night time working.
- To have a detailed understanding of Transfusion and offer up advice as the Trust lead for any issues that might arise.
- Work with the Pathology IT manager to ensure the discipline specific modules of the LIMS are maintained and fit for purpose
Other Duties
- To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as requested.
PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL DEMANDS
- Line management duties requiring negotiation and persuasion.
- High level of manual dexterity is required whilst working.
- Use of display screen equipment (e.g. computers) frequently throughout the day.
- Required to sit or stand for lengthy periods of time.
- Some exposure to unpleasant and hazardous working conditions - chemicals, solvents, body fluids and potentially infectious materials.
- The demands of the service require working to strict deadlines in a high-pressure environment with numerous distractions, for example frequent telephone queries and questions from other departmental staff.
- Long periods of intense concentration are required due to the complex and intricate nature of the work.
- Required to deal with results and clinical situations, which may cause distress.
- May be required to take part in a 24/7 shift system which includes weekend and night time working.
Person Specification
Qualification/Professional registration
Essential
- HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist
- IBMS approved Honours degree
- MSC in Biomedical Science or FIBMS by examination in Transfusion (if registered before 1994)
Desirable
- Previous experience within a Haematology/Transfusion department (min 6 years post registration)
- Experience of training and competence assessment of laboratory staff.
- Extensive knowledge of transfusion techniques and equipment.
Person Specification
Qualification/Professional registration
Essential
- HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist
- IBMS approved Honours degree
- MSC in Biomedical Science or FIBMS by examination in Transfusion (if registered before 1994)
Desirable
- Previous experience within a Haematology/Transfusion department (min 6 years post registration)
- Experience of training and competence assessment of laboratory staff.
- Extensive knowledge of transfusion techniques and equipment.
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).
