Cellular Pathology Manager (Scientific and Operational)

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

Barts Health supports the Pregnancy Loss Pledge and commits to supporting their staff through the distress of miscarriage.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the leadership team of East and South East London (ESEL) Pathology Partnership in our journey to excellence. Applications are invited for position of Cellular Pathology Manager within the ESEL Network. The successful applicant will need to be enthusiastic, shares our vision of a high-quality Cellular Pathology Service, and must be suitably qualified and highly experienced in Cellular Pathology.

Management & Leadership: The role is to provide management and leadership for the Lewisham and Greenwich Trust (LGT) Cellular Pathology services across the ESEL Pathology network and is accountable for leading and managing the delivery and development of Cellular Pathology service two of the Pathology Partnership sites, and also the further involvement with Cellular Pathology across all the ESEL sites.

Main duties of the job

The post holder plays a major part in the coordination, development and implementation of services and transformation that will improve the efficiency and quality of the Partnership's Cellular Pathology services. Responsibility focussing on the LGT Cellular Pathology projects, planning daily service delivery, and subsequent establishment and maintenance of effective performance management processes that monitors performance against plans and in the event of under-performance, propose rapid and decisive corrective action. There is also a requirement for the individual to attend the Royal London Histopathology site at least one day per week as part of the combined Cellular Pathology management group.

Operational: The successful candidate will have direct line management and provide leadership to the LGT Cellular Pathology Lead within the ESEL Network to develop and lead a highly skilled workforce providing a comprehensive, cost effective and high-quality Cellular Pathology service. The post holder will also Deputise when needed for the ESEL Cellular Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics Divisional Manager, working closely with Hospital colleagues, in accordance with the partnership directive, and UKAS.

Working for our organisation

The NHS East and South East London Pathology Partnership is an arms-length organisation providing pathology services to Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. The Pathology Partnership is hosted by Barts Health.

The Pathology Partnership is based on well-established models for pathology networks, with the Royal London Hospital becoming the main hub laboratory for the network and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) as a minimum at all other Hospital sites.

Pathology is made up of the following services - Blood Sciences including Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Biochemistry; Infectious Diseases including Microbiology and Virology; Cellular Pathology including Histopathology, non-gynae Cytology and mortuary services; Immunology; Cytogenetics and Molecular Haematology; Immunophenotyping; Clinical Transplantation and Retinoblastoma.

The 2020/21 total operating costs across the Partnership were c. £126m per annum with a workforce establishment of circa. 822 WTE. We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Quality and Governance: The post holder will take a strategic lead in the continuing provision of a high quality and responsive service meeting UKAS ISO15189 accreditation and HTA standards and requirements as needed by the Divisional Manager and ESEL Network Pathology Quality & Governance Team to achieve this.

The ESEL Cellular Pathology Manager will work to combine the vision of the ESEL partnership with the recommendations of UKAS and Bart's Health Trust, working towards a 5-year strategy to improve Cellular Pathology Turn around times.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience of Diagnostic Cellular Pathology (Histology)
• Experience of effectively managing staff, including HR issues
• Significant experience at 8a or above level in Cellular Pathology

Desirable criteria

• Experience of business planning, preparing capital bids, and bids for resources to extend the service when required.
• Experience of audit in evaluating and developing a service. Experience of managing a budget

Skills

Essential criteria

• Experience of routine and specialist Cellular Pathology and method development.
• Is fully aware of the principles of clinical governance and their application to Pathology
• Competent in complex laboratory techniques and troubleshooting. Ability to analyse, interpret and present complex data/results/concepts
• Excellent communication skills and presentation skills. Able to communicate effectively (written and verbal)
• Comprehensive knowledge of management of quality within the laboratory and Competent in the use of a Quality Management System
• Flexible approach to new technology and processes and Good understanding of digital pathology

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• H&S legislation and procedures
• Advanced specialist knowledge in Cellular Pathology
• Good knowledge of Quality management system and HTA standards
• Knowledge of current requirements for training and career progression
• Ability to lead and manage staff in a large and complex laboratory
• Knowledge of management theory, including personnel management, risk management and health and safety
• To have effective problem solving skills and ability to initiate and implement change

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BSC
• MSc. Biomedical Science / Cellular Pathology, and/or IBMS Specialist and Special Examination (Fellowship)
• Registration with the Health Care Professions Council
• Evidence of participation in mandatory courses and CPD

Desirable criteria

• Management qualification

Other

Essential criteria

• High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude
• Lead by example, promoting the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, integrity and probity
• Able to prioritise, organise and delegate
• Decisive, using sound judgement in decision making and delivering in a timely and confident manner.
• Commitment to developing a culture of openness and partnership
• High self-awareness, understanding own emotions, strengths and limitations

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment where staff treat one another with dignity and respect. We aim to create an equitable working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer we actively support applications from individuals who apply under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme and will process your application as appropriate.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications has been received and we regret that we are unable to provide notification if your application is unsuccessful.

Barts Health is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and to child protection. The Trust aims to ensure as far as is possible that anyone, paid or unpaid, who seeks to work in our organisation and who gains access to children, is safe to do so. As such, you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Check as part of the recruitment process if appointed to a post with direct access to children or vulnerable adults.

Barts Health promotes active travel as part of its goal to reach Net Zero. Each site is accessible by public transport and the Trust has a cycle to work scheme and some sites have Brompton Hire Pods.