Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Technical
a. To safely handle blood, urine, faeces, other body tissue, hazardous and or radioactive chemicals.
b. To ensure that appropriate preventative maintenance has been carried out on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations.
c. In collaboration with the team to ensure first line troubleshooting of complex analytical equipment or methods is carried out, to arrange for engineer service visits and to supervise and if necessary to participate in the resolution of equipment or method failures.
d. In collaboration with the team to ensure that reagents are prepared, stored and used according to manufacturer and laboratory procedures.
e. To perform when required highly specialised manual techniques, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations.
f. In collaboration with the team to measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.
g. To undertake technical validation of the results from laboratory investigations to ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory quality procedures and protocols.
h. To take appropriate action when there is a situation which may or has caused a service delivery failure. e.g. to liaise with clinical staff to ensure that priority work is identified and/or make alternative arrangements for an analysis to be done.
i. In collaboration with the Training Officer to train and develop the competence of trainee Biomedical and Clinical Scientists and Healthcare Scientists in the procedures for which the post holder is responsible.]
2. Scientific
a. To undertake method and laboratory instrument evaluation, write SOPs, as directed by the Operations Lead.
b. To participate in the introduction of new equipment or methods to the department.
c. To participate in teaching of all staff within the Department of Clinical Biochemistry.
d. To assist in the development of Immunochemistry related assays in its broadest sense within the department and to facilitate the development and clinical use of analytical methods based upon immunoassay techniques in collaboration with junior and senior colleagues.
e. As required, to develop and/or assess new applications or new techniques in the field of Immunochemistry as applied to clinical biochemistry in collaboration/consultation with senior staff.
f. To undertake specific research and development projects, agreed by the Research & Development or Training Committee of the Department as appropriate, within the bounds of the required service provision and available resources. The laboratory research will be under the direction of a Consultant Clinical Scientist and supervised by a Service Delivery Manager/Divisional Manager or Consultant Scientist/Consultant Chemical Pathologist.
Clinical
a. Provide approved departmental information and advice to other healthcare professionals, patients and the public and to refer on to appropriate specialist requests for information out with their area of responsibility.
3. Quality Assurance
- Maintain the Quality assurance procedures of the section. Measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations in section using appropriate quality control procedures.
b. Investigate adverse incidents and laboratory errors as necessary, communicate findings to the Section Lead, Immunochemistry team, Operations Manager and Quality Manager, and implement any changes agreed to reduce the likelihood of repetition.
- In conjunction with the Quality Manager and Training Officer, educate staff in section of the function and practice of the quality management system.
- The post holder will conduct and present audits to the departmental Quality committee as required by the audit schedule.
- The post holder is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of internal quality assurance schemes in their section (as per IQA SOP). They will present IQA findings to the EQA committee as required.
- The post holder will be responsible for Health and Safety issues in their section and report to the designated H&S officer as required.
- In collaboration with the Section Lead the post holder will ensure that all staff in section read and sign Quality Management Documentation and check compliance through the appraisal system.
- The post holder will be required to delegate various task to the Immunochemistry team as and when required.
- The post holder will be responsible for relevant document management (through the use of QPulse) and ensure no uncontrolled documentation is in use within the section
- To monitor turnaround times of laboratory investigations and act on information to improve the service provided.
4. Risk Management/Health & Safety
a. To be aware of the relevant health and safety and security regulations, guidelines and policies.
b. Work within the Departmental Health and Safety Code of practice. Awareness of hazards inherent in the laboratory and use of adequate precautions at all times.
c. To report adverse incidents as set out in the Trusts adverse Incident Policy.
d. To ensure that the work within the section is performed in accordance with current health and safety regulations and guidance and to take corrective action where necessary.
e. To liaise with the departmental Safety Officer in the assessment, documentation and review of the risks associated with the work performed in the section.
f. To take appropriate action if there is a spillage of body fluids or hazardous chemicals in order to minimise the risk to staff and the public
g. To conduct regular risk assessments and take appropriate corrective action when required.
h. Liaise with department Safety Officer on issues around fire safety within the department.
5. Continuing Professional Development
a. Develop knowledge of the significance of medical laboratory work in order to offer the best possible service to the user.
b. Understands own role and is aware of the management structure of the department.
c. Contributes to service initiatives within the laboratory setting.
6. Laboratory Informatics
a. To comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
b. To maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.
c. To maintain and enhance competence in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software.
7. Staff Training
a. Together with the Training Officer, to support and participate in staff training and development.
b. To participate with supervision of the work and performance monitoring of trainees and students in the procedures for which the post holder is responsible.
8. Administrative
a. To ensure compliance with good work practices in accordance with ISO 15189 standards and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
b. To monitor and control the efficient use of financial, material and staff resources in the section and to take corrective action in consultation with the section manager.
c. To ensure that all results are reported within the agreed turnaround time, and to take appropriate action, for example communicating with colleagues and managers, arranging alternative provision in the event of a situation arising preventing timely reporting of results.
d. To ensure that training schedules are kept up to date and that documentation is validated signed on a regular basis as competencies are achieved.
e. To be responsible for the organisation and delivery of effective stock control of reagents and consumables in the section and to arrange alternative means of obtaining reagents from other sources if necessary.
f. To assist the Operations Lead prepare and monitor management and operational performance data, for example turnaround times, workload and materials consumption, plan and take corrective action if required.
g. To participate in the selection and recruitment of Healthcare Scientists and support staff.
h. The post holder must maintain a flexible approach to the post in order to rapidly assimilate changes in work load, patterns and requirements, and will undertake any other duties commensurate with the post as required by the Operations Lead.
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.
Kings College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UKs leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. Kings has various divisions including Neurosciences, Haematology, Cancer and Cardiovascular sciences, where there are unlimited opportunities to develop and perfect your career.
Over the last 170 years, Kings has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.
