Advanced Healthcare Science Practitioner Specialist (XR07)

Integrated Care System; Leeds; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An Integrated Care System in Leeds is seeking an Advanced Healthcare Science Practitioner Specialist to enhance patient outcomes through laboratory services. The role demands significant expertise in genomics and molecular biology, with responsibilities including staff management and service quality assurance. Candidates must possess a relevant degree, considerable experience in diagnostics, and managerial skills. This position offers the opportunity to work within a collaborative environment focused on innovation in genomics.

Qualifications

• Graduate in relevant (2.2 or above) honours degree in science.
• Formal training or accreditation in leadership / management qualifications.
• Extensive experience across diagnostic genomics laboratory platforms.

Responsibilities

• Assist the laboratory service manager in technical work and staffing.
• Manage laboratory activities and ensure delivery of diagnostic services.
• Supervise and train staff within the laboratory.

Skills

Communication Skills

Time Management

Managerial Skills

Education

Honours degree in Biological Science

Masters level qualification or equivalent

Job description

Advanced Healthcare Science Practitioner Specialist (XR07)

Joinus to make a meaningful difference to patients lives.

Ifyour passion is healthcare and you want to be at the forefront of improvingoutcomes for patients, then theres no better place to be.

Applicantsshould have a first degree in a Biological Science subject with aconsiderable Genomics or Molecular Biology content, at least 5 years relevantexperience; ideally in a diagnostic laboratory and have completedregistration with the AHCS or HCPC as a Genetic Technologist or BiomedicalScientist. Management experienceincluding service development, equipment management, quality management andprocurement is essential.

Thesuccessful candidate will need to work in a fast-paced environment,completing work at short notice and delivering the tight deadlines. This role requires excellent communicationskills, good manual dexterity and a high level of attention to detail.Competence in at least one aspect of analysis and reporting is alsorequired.

Main duties of the job

Weare currently recruiting for a dedicated individual to join our team in the

genomicscentral laboratory at St Jamess University Hospital, for a fixed period ofsix months, as an advanced senior genetic technologist (deputy lab servicesmanager). An element of flexible working would be considered in this role.

Workingclosely with colleagues at Leeds and across the wider North East andYorkshire

(NEY)region, the role responsibilities include:

Responsible for assisting thelaboratory service manager in all aspects of laboratory activity related totechnical work and staffing

The post holder will work closelywith the Quality Manager in maintaining and developing all aspects of servicequality.

To manage an assured wet labservice delivering pre-processing of samples from receipt through to DNA andRNA extraction, cell culturing to agreed quality standards and highlyspecialised, new and novel downstream testing.

To manage a highly specialisedtechnical service delivering a group of services to the research anddiagnostic community.

To manage and supervise and trainstaff within the group on a day-to-day basis.

To take responsibility underguidance from the laboratory services manager for all day to day and week toweek delivery of the diagnostic services.

Thepost holder will be required to work 37.5 hours per week full-time

About us

Inresponse to NHS Englands recent Strategy and Service Specification for thefuture of Genomics services in England, Newcastle Teaching Hospitals, LeedsTeaching Hospitals, Sheffield Childrens Trust and Sheffield TeachingHospitals have formed the North East and Yorkshire Genomics Laboratory Hub;an exciting collaboration to provide services for Genomics across Yorkshireand Humber and the North. The combined size of our geography makes this thelargest collaboration in the country with the Trusts offering a range of bothgeneral and specialist hospital services with excellent clinical outcomes forpatients. We have an international reputation for excellence in specialistcare, research and academic training.

LeedsTeaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job advertsare subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or removeadverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in theshortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while thisprocess is completed, and contact the named contact if you have anyquestions.

Job responsibilities

JOBPURPOSE/SUMMARY

Responsible for assisting thelaboratory service manager in all aspects of laboratory activity related totechnical work and staffing

The post holder will work closelywith the Quality Manager in maintaining and developing all aspects of servicequality.

To manage an assured wet labservice delivering pre-processing of samples from receipt through to DNA andRNA extraction, cell culturing to agreed quality standards and highlyspecialised, new and novel downstream testing.

To manage a highly specialisedtechnical service delivering a group of services to the research anddiagnostic community.

To manage and supervise and trainstaff within the group on a day-to-day basis.

To take responsibility underguidance from the laboratory services manager for all day to day and week toweek delivery of the diagnostic services.

To provide a proportion oftechnical training, support, cover and documentation within the departmentand externally.

Thereconfiguration of Genetic Laboratory service provision in England issupporting the creation of a world class resource in the use of genomics andgenetic technologies within the NHS. It is based around the consolidation ofservices in to a network of Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs) to create agenomic laboratory service infrastructure for the NHS in England.

NEYGLH comprises of a partnership arrangement between several organisations(Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Sheffield Childrens Hospital FT, NewcastleUpon Tyne Hospitals FT and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals FT).

Key responsibilities of NEY GLH:

o Consolidate services to deliversignificant efficiencies

o Operate within a national testingnetwork

o Operate a coherent informaticsinfrastructure

o Sample collection, processing andlogistics

o Technical and analytical platforms

o Bioinformatics, annotation andvalidation

o Clinical interpretation, reportingand returning of results

o Quality management and assurance ofboth processes and data

o Plan & develop workforce for nowand the future

o Organisational governance andpartnership arrangements

o Promotion of research and innovation

NEY GLH will work across definedgeographies to:

o Work with other GLHs to form anational network of genomic laboratories providing a coordinated nationalgenomic laboratory service, which will be part of the planned NHS GenomicMedicine Service.

o Participate in regular meetingsconvened by NHS Englands Genomic Unit as part of the national network.

o Deliver genomic testing, as outlinedin the National Genomic Test Directory.

o Provide the genomic testing servicefor national specialist testing within prescribed GLHs of the nationalnetwork, and will work with the relevant clinicians and genomic MDTs.

o Be responsible for establishing andmaintaining local networks of any subcontracted laboratories and designatedproviders for cancer genomic testing providing a coordinated andcomprehensive service to deliver standardised outcomes, ongoing consolidation,quality improvement, and adoption of new technologies under a suitableoperating infrastructure and partnership agreement.

o Consolidate the existing specialistgenetic laboratories into state of the art, high throughput, high quality andstandardised laboratories through the delivery of the majority of genomictests running through a single laboratory based in Leeds.

o Operate enhanced working practicesto ensure genomic testing services are available to support the delivery ofseven day services, and ensure that genomic technology platforms are fullyoptimised.

o Be responsible for ensuring qualityand the ongoing review of opportunities to further consolidate networkedservices, based on technological advances, the changing evidence base forgenomic testing and the National Test Directory.

o Be accountable to NHS EnglandsGenomics Unit within an agreed governance and operational framework that willoversee the test repertoire, co-ordinate the provision new nationalspecialised testing services, monitor performance and finance.

PRINCIPALDUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibilities

The post holder will be responsiblefor all day-to-day aspects of management of technical staff within thelaboratory and will play an active role in recruitment of such staff.

To gain new knowledge throughexperience, formal study and participation in relevant training schemes.

To keep up to date with newtechnologies within the field of Genomic medicine and participate in theresearch and development of new services and process changes to aid in thecontinued development of the Genetics service both within the central lab,the wider GLH and NHSE.

To be a leading member of a teamproviding an assured clinical technical service provided by the laboratoryincluding developmental aspects, liaison with internal and externalstaff and troubleshooting with regardsto the service.

To work independently when and asrequired by the service and follow departmental SOPs and policies, usingexperience and training to make assessments and judgements regarding theinvestigations and test results, based on current practice, national and localguidelines, patient specific details and laboratory findings.

To be able to focus for lengths oftime on one project or analysis but also be able to work flexibly and beavailable to answer urgent queries as needed.

The post holder will coordinateQuality management, Health and Safety and Training and Development dutieswithin the technical lab including organisation and implementation of atechnical audit calendar and policies and proposes and assesses impact of changesto practices for the wet lab in accordance with best practice guidelines andaccreditation.

Responsible for ensuring themaintenance and proper use of laboratory equipment.

Responsible for reviewing andupdating relevant SOPs and other laboratory documentation.

Develop and implement policies forown area of responsibility and work with other teams to ensure they do notimpact negatively on other areas and participate in the development ofpolicies that impact on own area of responsibility.

To demonstrate and apply a highlevel of understanding and expertise of the scientific and technicalprinciples involved in the delivery of the service which includes analysis,interpretation of results and resolving complex quality issues.

To have a high level ofunderstanding of the processes within the technical laboratory and be able touse their understanding and experience to effectively and efficientlydiagnose and resolve problems.

To supervise the management of alldiagnostic samples within the laboratory, including the processing ofbiological samples.

To oversee and deliver a variety ofhighly specialised techniques involving the use of complex and costlyequipment and reagents (>£30K).

In partnership with the LaboratoryManagement and Practitioner/Technologists, to be responsible for theaccuracy, timeliness and appropriateness of a variety of routine andnon-routine specialist genetic tests.

To organise and manage a variety ofhighly specialised technical processes including the WGS service and thesending of samples both routine and urgent to areas both within the GLH andexternal agencies and providing accurate advise and support in the deliveryof these services.

In consultation with the laboratory services manager, to liaisewith other laboratory departments in relation to delivery of services at alocal and regional level to ensure that the service is maintained and developedappropriately.

To be confident and proficient tobe able to exchange specialist information with colleagues at a regional andnational level and also from other disciplines.

To ensure that any problems orissues that arise are rapidly identified and dealt with or reported to thelaboratory service manager if they cannot be overcome immediately.

Analysis and interpretation ofpatient samples to produce Genetic test results. The post holder willundertake diagnostic testing and ensure that the results of such testing areprovided in a timely and effective manner.

The post holder will participate inan annual Personal Development Review process as well as all necessarymandatory training.

Together with the LaboratoryManagement team, to have responsibility for research, development andvalidation of new methods and technology important for the service.

To participate in internal andexternal quality control procedures and to abide by all Codes of Practice,Safety Regulations, Protocols and Operational Policies of the department andthe service at a level in excess of that required by UKAS.

Liaising with external agenciessuch as equipment manufacturers and engineers, suppliers of consumables.

Meeting commercial representativesand developing good working relationships with these representatives for theongoing development of the wet of the wet lab services and research goals.

Managerial

Inconsultation with the Laboratory services manager

The post holder will provideday-to-day line management of senior technical staff within the Laboratory,and be able to deal with staff compassionately. This will includeparticipation in recruitment and selection, sickness absence, grievance,disciplinary, appraisal and managing poor performance as required.

To deputise for the Laboratoryservices manager in matters relating to wet laboratory services as required.

To supervise and manage the wetlaboratory service to agreed standards, providing appropriate advice andsupport to the Scientists and Practitioners/Technologists where needed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Graduate in relevant (2.2 or above) honours degree in science or additional postgraduate qualification if not appropriate degree
• Formal training and accreditation to masters level or recognised leadership / management qualifications / programme of study or equivalent
• Clear evidence of continued professional development including short courses and appropriate study days
• Registered in appropriate scheme for Healthcare Practitioner (HCPC, AHCS etc)

Skills & behaviours

• Experience of showing good communication and interpersonal skills to a wide range of people both within and outside the discipline
• Evidence of effective report writing skills
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Ability to supervise and manage a service and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work under pressure

Experience

• Extensive evidence of experience across a range of platforms within a diagnostic genomics laboratory through CPD
• Experience in managing staff
• Experience of project planning, costing, development and delivery
• Extensive experience of Health and Safety, quality management and UKAS requirements in a laboratory environment
• Evidence of theoretical knowledge of genetic disorders gained from short courses and appropriate study days as well as from previous laboratory experience
• Evidence of high level knowledge of laboratory procedures, including experience with automated laboratory processes
• Experience in training laboratory staff
• Evidence of expertise in genomic analytical and reporting processes
• Knowledge of a wide range of platforms and techniques including resolving complex technical issues

Additional Requirements

• Good laboratory bench skills
• Good hand / eye coordination

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.