Clinical Scientist

Synnovis Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Synnovis Group seeks a registered Clinical Scientist to join the Liver Molecular Genetics service at King's College Hospital. In this role you will interpret complex results, validate diagnostics, and support training, QA, and service development within Synnovis Analytics.

You will work alongside Principal and Consultant Clinical Scientists, contributing to clinical interpretation, investigations and research while upholding high standards of quality and patient care.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration as Clinical Scientist (essential).
• Degree in a relevant scientific subject is essential.
• Active CPD and professional development expected.

Responsibilities

• Perform clinical, technical and scientific diagnostic activities in Liver Molecular Genetics.
• Interpret and clinically validate complex results and communicate them to colleagues.
• Train and supervise junior staff, trainees and students.
• Contribute to QA/IQC, CQI, audits, and UKAS/ISO 15189 compliance.
• Develop and implement new techniques, equipment and tests.

Skills

Clinical interpretation

Communication of complex results

Training & supervision

Quality improvement

Education

Degree in a relevant scientific subject

Tools

LIMS

Job description

Job summary
Are you a registered Clinical Scientist looking to apply and develop your expertise in a specialist molecular genetics service? The post is based within the Liver Molecular Genetics service at King's College Hospital and forms part of Synnovis Analytics, responsible for providing Pathology testing services to Synnovis' patients and customers.

This role is key to the delivery of Clinical Science as part of the laboratory team within Synnovis Analytics. Working alongside experienced Principal and Consultant Clinical Scientists, you will have a high level of responsibility across a range of clinical, technical and scientific diagnostic activities.

You will play an important role in the interpretation and clinical validation of results, communicating complex information and specialist advice that aids and determines clinical diagnosis. Alongside your diagnostic responsibilities, you will contribute to training and supervision, EQA/IQC and quality processes, service development and research.

This is an opportunity to build on your existing Clinical Scientist experience within a specialist discipline, contribute to the development of investigations and new ways of working, and support the delivery of a high-quality service for patients and clinical teams.

Main duties of the job
Our UKAS-accredited laboratory is a small specialist team providing more than 2,000 tests annually. We use Next Generation Sequencing to provide specialist gastrohepatology panels, supporting high-quality diagnostic services for patients and clinical teams.

You will provide a range of specialist clinical, technical and scientific diagnostic activities within Liver Molecular Genetics. Applicants will therefore be expected to demonstrate relevant knowledge, qualifications and experience in molecular genetics, including the interpretation and clinical validation of complex and specialist results.

The role will involve day-to-day responsibility for investigations, result authorisation and follow-up laboratory procedures, communicating complex results and specialist advice to laboratory and clinical colleagues. You will also contribute to the development and implementation of new techniques, equipment and tests, including verification and validation work.

As part of the laboratory team, you will support and train less experienced colleagues, trainees, students and other healthcare professionals. You will also contribute to research and development, quality assurance, clinical audit, Continuous Quality Improvement and activities supporting UKAS and ISO 15189 requirements.

About us
Synnovis is a partnership between SYNLAB UK & Ireland, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Our organisation brings together clinical, scientific and operational expertise, underpinned by our commitment to science for life, collaboration for the benefit of everyone, innovation and quality.

Working within Liver Molecular Genetics at King's College Hospital, you will be part of a specialist service while benefiting from the opportunities available across the wider Synnovis partnership.

Your development and learning will be supported through a suite of opportunities, including The ACCE competencies programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy, through which you can receive funding and support for advanced qualifications.

You will also have opportunities to contribute to research, publications, symposiums, conferences and peer group meetings. Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to help develop innovative scientific projects and service improvements for the benefit of patients.

Job responsibilities
Purpose of the jobThis role is key to the delivery of Clinical Science as part of the laboratory team within Synnovis Analytics, specifically within Liver Molecular Genetics, based at Kings College Hospital. Synnovis Analytics is responsible for the provision of Pathology testing services to Synnovis patients and customers.

Reporting to the Principal or Consultant Clinical Scientist, you will have a high level of responsibility, including training, management of EQA/IQC processes, quality activities, research, service development and the delivery of clinical, technical and scientific diagnostic activities.

What you will do

• You will hold a variety of accountabilities within the Liver Molecular Genetics laboratory environment. These include, but are not limited to
• Day-to-day responsibility for the provision of a range of clinical, technical and scientific diagnostic activities, including interpretation and clinical validation of results; communicating complex information and advice that will aid and determine clinical diagnosis.
• Supervise and provide specialised training to less experienced employees, students, trainees and other healthcare professional
• Undertake research in your own field under the direction of more senior Clinical Scientist colleagues, contributing to the development of specialist investigations, identifying better ways of working and finding efficiencies in service delivery.
• Participate in research activities and publications; attend and present at regional, national and international meetings.
• Spend a proportion of time focused on quality and UKAS-orientated activities, service development and technical and clinical validation of results.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain standards of conduct required by the HCPC to practise as a registered Clinical Scientist.
• Perform investigations in line with local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including but not limited to result authorisation, ordering follow-up laboratory procedures, initiating actions and escalating results when required.
• Perform necessary actions on the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), ensuring all Information Governance (IG) requirements are met.
• Communicate complex results, including making clinical and differential judgements involving complicated facts or situations that impact on patients. This will include exchanging specialist information with colleagues from your own and other disciplines
• Provide specialist expertise and technical advice to other laboratory and clinical colleagues as required and within the limits of competency.
• Participate in the strategic development and service improvement of the Liver Molecular Genetics service, being responsible for the implementation of new techniques, equipment and tests, including all verification and validation work. Where necessary, this may include analysing clinical trial samples.
• Keep up to date with new developments by regular literature reviews and attendance at relevant conferences.
• Undertake research projects in a specialised area in collaboration with, or as requested by, Principal or Consultant Clinical Scientists. Ensure outcomes from research and development are placed in the public domain through publication and presentation at relevant local, national and international conferences.
• Ensure all incidents and events are correctly reported by junior staff in the Q-Pulse quality management database 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 investigations of incidents and providing expert insight into making improvements based on outcomes.
• Participate in appropriate clinical audits and take part in all Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activity in your area.
• Monitor and report on EQA and IQC procedures and be responsible for corrective action on problems that have been identified.
• Ensure compliance with all legislative and quality requirements of regulatory directives, accreditation bodies and local management, including Care Quality Commission, UKAS, Synnovis policies and SOPs, and any other relevant body within the area of responsibility.
• Prepare statistical reports for use in meetings, quality assurance and development events.
• Develop, prepare, write and review relevant documents, including SOPs, COSHH and risk assessments, in line with the ISO 15189 standard.
• Provide supervision for employees, including participating in the departmental clinical rota and potentially including out-of-hours cover as required.
• Ensure that all Synnovis policies and procedures are implemented and maintained, including ensuring all referrals are appropriate.
• Encourage junior employees in their scientific expertise, knowledge and professional development, including the safe use of highly complex and sensitive equipment.
• Deliver training and supervision to less experienced colleagues in your area of specialism.
• Demonstrate professionalism, patience and empathy when explaining complex subjects, particularly when communicating with people who do not share the same level of knowledge or understanding.
• Attend, and where required chair, regular departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the department.
• Work closely with the Operations Manager to ensure stock inventory compliance as required.
• Deputise for senior Clinical Scientists, including attendance at meetings, as required.
• Take part in CPD activities to ensure that your practice and knowledge remain relevant and up to date within your specific area of specialism.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland and the NHS, including sites at Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, delivering and transforming 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 NHS 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, providing extensive opportunities to develop and progress your career.

Over the last 170 years, Kings has delivered world-class services to patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree in a relevant scientific subject or Healthcare Science
• HCPC State Registration as a Clinical Scientist
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Desirable

• MSc in a relevant scientific subject

Experience
Essential

• Registered Clinical Scientist with detailed working knowledge of the relevant discipline
• Experience of performing and/or supervising the analysis, interpretation and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
• Experience of supervising junior employees
• Experience of using Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Experience of maintaining quality systems
• Experience of resolving and troubleshooting highly technical and precision equipment and assays

Desirable

• Involvement in research and development projects
• Experience of training and developing others within the relevant specialism
• Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, co-ordinating and managing a team

Skills & Knowledge
Essential

• Detailed knowledge and experience relevant to the specialist discipline of Molecular Genetics
• Knowledge and understanding of scientific principles relevant to the specialism
• Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
• Knowledge of quality systems and relevant ISO/UKAS requirements
• Knowledge of laboratory procedures, including relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with laboratory colleagues, clinical staff and external parties
• Ability to manage and prioritise work effectively in a dynamic environment with multiple competing priorities

Desirable

• Awareness and understanding of current issues and trends within pathology, molecular genetics and the relevant field of expertise

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