Operations Manager

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 has involved moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.

The post holder will:-

Line manage employees, including delivering all aspects of people management, such as recruitment, performance management, absence management, learning and development, employee health and wellbeing.

Work with the OSL to support long term objectives of the service including skills gap analysis, workforce development and succession planning.

Participate in the strategic development and service improvement of the analytical service, being responsible for the implementation of new techniques, equipment, and tests, including all verification and validation work.

Facilitate and highlight research, development and evaluation of new techniques in conjunction with OSL, Scientific and Clinical leads. Assess the need for additional resources and new developments, developing business cases and strategies as required.

Plan and organise the work schedules to ensure necessary cover is provided to meet turnaround times and quality objectives including organising temporary resource where necessary.

Manage out of hours rota, adjusting as necessary to ensure the continued provision of a laboratory service 24 hours a day if required.

Encourage junior employees in their scientific expertise, knowledge and professional development, including the safe use of highly complex and sensitive equipment.

Work with the Training lead and ensure appropriate competency training is delivered, including supporting induction, training and competency sign-off of new employees in own area.

Facilitate the provision of technical and operational training and be responsible for ensuring specialist training is delivered to scientific and support staff and other healthcare professionals.

Provide regular updates to the OSL, including submitting Operational Performance data and present at relevant meetings.

Where necessary analyse samples in line with local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including but not limited to recording results and necessary action on the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), ensuring all Information Governance (IG) requirements are met.

Closely support clinical staff in the interpretation, notification and follow-up of clinically significant results, and the clinical authorisation of highly complex results.

Ensure all incidents and events are correctly reported by all employees in Q-Pulse and other relevant software and support them in learning quality procedures and investigations.

In conjunction with the Quality team, monitor, report and action errors, hazards, and incidents logged in the CAPA module of Q-Pulse. This may include taking part in audits and investigations of incidents.

Oversee EQA and IQC performance and ensure corrective action has been taken.

Ensure compliance with all regulatory and quality requirements of regulatory directives, accreditation bodies, and local management including:

o Care Quality Commission

o UKAS

o Synnovis policies and SOPs

o Any other body in area of responsibility.

Develop, and regularly review relevant documents, including SOPs, COSHH and risk assessments in line with the ISO 15189 standard and where necessary propose policy and service changes.

Support in the development and implementation of Business Continuity and Serious Incidents Plans where necessary for your service line(s).

Troubleshoot and resolve technical laboratory problems and manage situations which may result in a service delivery failure, escalating anything that will impact the service continuity.

Demonstrate professionalism, patience and empathy when explaining complex subjects, and in particular when communicating with people who do not share same level of knowledge or understanding.

Maintain standards of conduct required by the HCPC to practice as a registered Biomedical Scientist.

Attend, and chair regular departmental meetings and ensure effective communication within the department and across the service line, deputising for OSL as required. Responsible for departmental budget, including the authorisation of purchases and the reconciliation of delivery notes with purchase orders; ensure appropriate stock levels and equipment within the units are maintained within budgetary limits.

Support Synnovis commercial endeavours by providing accurate costings for laboratory procedures and commercial trials and contracts.

Take part in CPD activities to ensure that your practices and knowledge are always relevant and up to date to your specific area.

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.

Princess Royal University Hospital is a District General Hospital, which proudly provides quality care to patients within the boroughs of Bromley and Bexley as well as Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.

Orpington is located within South East London with a great range of shops, markets and a place where various sports can be enjoyed. It is a great place to live and work.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent
• HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• Specialist portfolio in relevant discipline or equivalent experience (if HCPC Registration via IBMS Portfolio route) or FIBMS
• MSc, FIBMS or equivalent experience in a similar role
• Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Desirable

• Quality or Management qualification

Experience

Essential

• Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, co-ordinating and managing a team
• Line management including all aspects of people management, for example recruitment and rota management
• Acting as owner for escalation and communication to internal and external service users in the event of quality/ analyser/assay failures
• Significant demonstrable discipline specific practical experience
• Education of physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to specialism
• Supervising analysis, interpretation and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results

Desirable

• Cultivating junior colleagues with skills in areas of interest or expertise such as Quality, Health & Safety, Training or IT
• Cultivating Specialist BMS with skills in research, clinical or analytical areas

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to deploy staff flexibly and effectively, to provide an efficient and timely laboratory service able to meet variations in work pattern and clinical demand
• Ability to ensure that all staff, including visiting trainees, are appropriately trained and supervised, and to oversee their training in specialist techniques for the analysis of specimens
• Demonstrate a high degree of skill, knowledge and judgement where interpretation of results can be highly subjective
• Well-developed physical skills, demonstrable ability to use precision equipment and consumables
• Ability to manage the resolution of troubleshooting activity for highly technical and precision equipment and assays
• Ability to troubleshoot and train those who use the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Ability to manage effectively in a dynamic environment with multiple conflicting priorities
• Ability to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
• Knowledge of the correct policies and procedures to implement in relation to quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS
• Knowledge of the management of laboratory procedures in your own areas, including following health and safety legislation and procedures

Desirable

• Good awareness of current issues within pathology locally and nationally

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).