Job summary
Do you want to gain experience in Haematology laboratory operations?Do you have what it takes to get involved in one of the largest and most exciting projects to help create a state-of-the-art Haematology service in the heart of London?
If you are you a skilled Haematology Biomedical Scientist who has previously worked at Senior BMS or at Service Lead level with experience of people management, read on.
Synnovis, in partnership with a number of large NHS Trusts is taking pathology to the next level with the development of a hub and spoke operating model to deliver a first-class service to our patients and customers.
We have an opportunity for a Haematology Operations Manager on fixed term contract to oversee the laboratory service within Blood Sciences across the Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital sites as we move forwards with a new operating model.The GSTT laboratories are now equipped with a brand-new IT system - EPIC beaker which is fully integrated into the Trust systems as well as new Sysmex Haematology analysers.The successful applicant will work with Clinical and Scientific Leads to optimise a Haematology laboratory service for the future. As Operations Manager, you will focus strongly on the people within your team to ensure they are ready to perform at their best.
Main duties of the job
This is a fixed term post for 12 months
The Operations Manager is responsible for the provision of the core Haematology laboratory service of the Blood Sciences Laboratories at Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals. There are a variety of clinical specialties associated with both of these prestigious teaching hospitals including the Evelina Children's Hospital and Guy's Cancer Centre.
Dealing with operational management of service delivery and staffing issues, the post holder will be the professional head of biomedical scientists and support staff working within Haematology and will ensure appropriate staffing levels, grading, skill mix, equipment, training and work practises within the department to ensure maintenance of quality standards required for accreditation and good laboratory practice.
The post holder will also be the Training Lead for Blood Sciences and will work closely with the Synnovis Learning & Development Team to facilitate a good learning culture.
The laboratory service is fully accredited to UKAS 15189 standards and is accredited as a training laboratory for the IBMS portfolios.
The laboratory has undergone an equipment refresh moving from Beckman Coulter analysers to Sysmex XN haematology systems. Along with this change, Epic software has also been implemented as part of the Trust's Apollo Programme for a new electronic health record. By the end of 2023, all of the main Synnovis Haematology laboratories will be aligned by automation and IT.
About us
Your development and learning
Looking towards the future hub and spoke operating model, there will be state of the art laboratory facilities and many opportunities to help shape a cutting edge service.
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.
Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.
Job description
Job responsibilities
At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London.
For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.
Main duties and responsibilities of the role:
Organisational
- Contribute to the maintenance and development of the management structure of the department.
- Provide local laboratory induction for new staff.
- Implement Organisational and Departmental policies and procedures including sickness absence, annual and special leave, capability, disciplinary and Health and Safety.
Communication
- Liaise with other Blood Sciences Operational Managers on a regular basis to resolve issues which impact on service delivery.
- Lead laboratory staff meetings and provide effective communication within the department relating to service issues, training needs and process changes.
- Service issues resolved in a timely manner or referred to the service delivery Manager where appropriate, ensuring clear and effective lines of communication with all staff.
- Provide and receive complex information relating to the clinical condition and treatment of patients and/or the results and interpretation of diagnostic tests to and from work colleagues or users of the service.
- Assess the clinical importance and urgency of test requests and results which impact on patient care and communicate these effectively to appropriate agencies.
- Prioritise and plan laboratory workload and communicate own work priorities within the team. Demonstrate flexibility in carrying out own work priorities within the team context.
- Liaise with users of the service as necessary, maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of national guidelines and regulations.
- Develop and maintain a customer-oriented work environment, which can be highly contentious as communication with all levels of users from health care assistants to lead consultants.
- Maintain courteous and professional conduct at all times with staff, patients and visitors.
- Contribute to and participate in departmental processes, planning and local policy formulation including attending Departmental Meetings, Health and Safety and Quality meetings.
- Communicate any disruption of service due to IT or analyser failure to appropriate users.
- Be the technical lead for quality failure investigations. Developing and reviewing systems to provide excellence in quality systems.
Technical
- Direct the day-to-day operation of core Haematology department within BSL including delegating and supervising the scientific and technical work of laboratory staff, based on the assessment of the laboratory status and requirements conducted on a daily basis
- Provide a comprehensive and appropriate diagnostic service to users through the performance of, manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures
- Ensure work is completed in a timely manner and to satisfactory standards, results are reported within the agreed turnaround times and in accordance with the relevant Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
- Communicate pre-analytical requirements to clinical teams, phlebotomists, central specimen reception and log any problems and support any training required.
- Ensure outstanding work lists and turnaround times of laboratory investigations are monitored and act on information to maintain and/or improve the service provided. To develop and provide the service to improvements and best quality situations.
- To analyse data from External Quality Assessment Schemes, communicate performance from this to staff in the laboratory and take appropriate action where the data suggests deterioration in performance. Review and improve and develop and implement quality services to reflect best practice.
- Undertake technical validation of highly complex results from laboratory investigations where necessary using judgemental expertise and ensuring accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols and quality procedures.
- In conjunction with Senior Biomedical Scientist, provide support for staff utilising highly specialised equipment, including assistance with maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Implement and maintain the Quality Assurance Procedures in the laboratory to measure and monitor the accuracy and precision of laboratory investigations. Working closely with the Synnovis Quality team to standardise process in accordance with ISO 15189.
- Ensure documentation, analysis and graphical display of all Quality Assurance data generated by the work area.
- Review, assess and initiate corrective action when Quality Control procedures indicate loss of performance.
- Assess, initiate and monitor appropriate action when a situation may cause service delivery failure. Report back these service deliveries to line and quality manager. Review and develop service to prevent these failures.
- Ensure laboratory SOPs are reviewed and revised on a regular basis.
- Problem solving of issues relevant to the laboratory and clinical area. Liaise with clinical users to define problems and solutions.
- Recommend, develop, improve and implement quality improvements
- To manage and implement changes and report these to line manager.
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.
The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
GSTT
Guys and St Thomas Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Womens Services, Foetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Childrens Hospital and Guys Cancer.
You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!
Job description
Job responsibilities
At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London.
For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.
Main duties and responsibilities of the role:
Organisational
- Contribute to the maintenance and development of the management structure of the department.
- Provide local laboratory induction for new staff.
- Implement Organisational and Departmental policies and procedures including sickness absence, annual and special leave, capability, disciplinary and Health and Safety.
Communication
- Liaise with other Blood Sciences Operational Managers on a regular basis to resolve issues which impact on service delivery.
- Lead laboratory staff meetings and provide effective communication within the department relating to service issues, training needs and process changes.
- Service issues resolved in a timely manner or referred to the service delivery Manager where appropriate, ensuring clear and effective lines of communication with all staff.
- Provide and receive complex information relating to the clinical condition and treatment of patients and/or the results and interpretation of diagnostic tests to and from work colleagues or users of the service.
- Assess the clinical importance and urgency of test requests and results which impact on patient care and communicate these effectively to appropriate agencies.
- Prioritise and plan laboratory workload and communicate own work priorities within the team. Demonstrate flexibility in carrying out own work priorities within the team context.
- Liaise with users of the service as necessary, maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of national guidelines and regulations.
- Develop and maintain a customer-oriented work environment, which can be highly contentious as communication with all levels of users from health care assistants to lead consultants.
- Maintain courteous and professional conduct at all times with staff, patients and visitors.
- Contribute to and participate in departmental processes, planning and local policy formulation including attending Departmental Meetings, Health and Safety and Quality meetings.
- Communicate any disruption of service due to IT or analyser failure to appropriate users.
- Be the technical lead for quality failure investigations. Developing and reviewing systems to provide excellence in quality systems.
Technical
- Direct the day-to-day operation of core Haematology department within BSL including delegating and supervising the scientific and technical work of laboratory staff, based on the assessment of the laboratory status and requirements conducted on a daily basis
- Provide a comprehensive and appropriate diagnostic service to users through the performance of, manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures
- Ensure work is completed in a timely manner and to satisfactory standards, results are reported within the agreed turnaround times and in accordance with the relevant Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
- Communicate pre-analytical requirements to clinical teams, phlebotomists, central specimen reception and log any problems and support any training required.
- Ensure outstanding work lists and turnaround times of laboratory investigations are monitored and act on information to maintain and/or improve the service provided. To develop and provide the service to improvements and best quality situations.
- To analyse data from External Quality Assessment Schemes, communicate performance from this to staff in the laboratory and take appropriate action where the data suggests deterioration in performance. Review and improve and develop and implement quality services to reflect best practice.
- Undertake technical validation of highly complex results from laboratory investigations where necessary using judgemental expertise and ensuring accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols and quality procedures.
- In conjunction with Senior Biomedical Scientist, provide support for staff utilising highly specialised equipment, including assistance with maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Implement and maintain the Quality Assurance Procedures in the laboratory to measure and monitor the accuracy and precision of laboratory investigations. Working closely with the Synnovis Quality team to standardise process in accordance with ISO 15189.
- Ensure documentation, analysis and graphical display of all Quality Assurance data generated by the work area.
- Review, assess and initiate corrective action when Quality Control procedures indicate loss of performance.
- Assess, initiate and monitor appropriate action when a situation may cause service delivery failure. Report back these service deliveries to line and quality manager. Review and develop service to prevent these failures.
- Ensure laboratory SOPs are reviewed and revised on a regular basis.
- Problem solving of issues relevant to the laboratory and clinical area. Liaise with clinical users to define problems and solutions.
- Recommend, develop, improve and implement quality improvements
- To manage and implement changes and report these to line manager.
Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.
The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.
The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.
GSTT
Guys and St Thomas Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Womens Services, Foetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Childrens Hospital and Guys Cancer.
You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- State Registration as Biomedical Scientist (Haematology) with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Higher Haematology qualification e.g. MSc Biomedical Science (or equivalent).
- Track record of effective performance as manager at a senior level
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Previous experience at band 8 level (or equivalent)
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working within a diagnostic clinical haematology laboratory
- Demonstrable experience of staff management.
- Experience of development and introduction of new methods/techniques.
- Experience in data handling and report writing.
- Experience in teaching and training of scientific, medical staff and support staff
- Experience of change management.
Desirable
- Financial management expertise
- Training Lead experience
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Competent in management & training of staff & the service delivery of a Diagnostic Haematology Laboratory
- Competent in the interpretation, technical validation and investigation of abnormal results.
- Technical problem solving skills e.g. equipment failure, quality control failure (IQC/EQA).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- State Registration as Biomedical Scientist (Haematology) with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Higher Haematology qualification e.g. MSc Biomedical Science (or equivalent).
- Track record of effective performance as manager at a senior level
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Previous experience at band 8 level (or equivalent)
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working within a diagnostic clinical haematology laboratory
- Demonstrable experience of staff management.
- Experience of development and introduction of new methods/techniques.
- Experience in data handling and report writing.
- Experience in teaching and training of scientific, medical staff and support staff
- Experience of change management.
Desirable
- Financial management expertise
- Training Lead experience
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Competent in management & training of staff & the service delivery of a Diagnostic Haematology Laboratory
- Competent in the interpretation, technical validation and investigation of abnormal results.
- Technical problem solving skills e.g. equipment failure, quality control failure (IQC/EQA).
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).
