Clinical Scientist in Genomics

Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS foundation trust in London seeks a Clinical Scientist for its state-of-the-art Clinical Genetics & Genomics Laboratory. The role involves performing specialized molecular diagnostics and providing expertise in genetic disease detection. Candidates should have a relevant master's degree and experience with NGS and DNA analysis, along with excellent interpersonal skills. Join a team dedicated to high-quality patient care and innovative research.

Qualifications

• Experience in diagnostic genetic testing including NGS and DNA fragment analysis.
• Knowledge of laboratory accreditation requirements (UKAS) according to ISO15189.
• Ability to compile comprehensive, integrated genomic reports.

Responsibilities

• Maintain close links with clinical staff and represent the service at multidisciplinary meetings.
• Provide expertise in molecular analysis for detection of genetic diseases.
• Conduct data entry and analysis ensuring the validity of data.

Skills

Experience in diagnostic genetic testing using DNA sequencing

Good computer skills

Ability to work under pressure

Leadership skills

Education

MSc or equivalent in genome biology, bioinformatics or computer sciences

HCPC registered Clinical Scientist in Genomics

Tools

Laboratory information management systems

Job description

Guy's and St Thomas' is among the UK's busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.

Guy's is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. St Thomas' has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Children's Hospital.

Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it. Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions.

Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients.

In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research.

We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of King's Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with King's College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities including an MHRA accredited Phase I clinical trials unit.

Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of 'good'. Our adult community services achieved a rating of 'outstanding'.

The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS. We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.

We have one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes anywhere in the NHS.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within the Clinical Genetics & Genomics Laboratory (CGGL), based at the Royal Brompton Hospital, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS hospitals are the largest heart & lung centres in the UK and among the largest in Europe. We are a partnership of two specialist hospitals which are known throughout the world for our expertise, standard of care and research success.

The CGGL is a genomics diagnostic lab, providing state-of-the-art specialist cardiac & respiratory NGS-based genetic testing as part of the London South Genomics Laboratory Hub (LS GLH).

We are looking for a motivated Clinical Scientist, with extensive experience in human molecular genetic diagnostics, excellent interpersonal skills, to join our group. The successful candidate will have the ability to critically analyse and interpret scientific data, and compile comprehensive, integrated genomic reports.

Applicants should have good computing skills, be capable of working under pressure to tight deadlines, and be able to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. They should have good organisational skills, be able to work methodically with great attention to detail & have a strong interest in driving and improving the quality of diagnostic services. The CGGL is a UKAS-accredited medical laboratory, currently performing over 6000 diagnostic tests per annum and is also actively involved in research and teaching.

Main duties of the job

• Maintain close links with clinical staff and when required, represent the service at multidisciplinary meetings within the Trust.
• Present research and audit reports at local, regional and national scientific and clinical meetings.
• Provide interpretation of the results of highly complex diagnostic investigations.
• Provide a high level of expertise in molecular analysis for detection of genetic disease/abnormalities and in the interpretation of complex test results using international guidelines.
• Prepare and check standard and complex abnormal reports for authorisation by senior Clinical Scientists.
• Participate in internal and external quality control procedures.
• Undertake audits as directed by the Quality Manager.
• Assist during UKAS accreditation visits.
• Collaborate with other members of CGGL staff to ensure that technical work is performed in an accurate, timely and efficient manner to a standard that enables the highest quality of service to patients.
• Familiar with the laboratory information management systems.
• Conduct data entry and analysis always ensuring the validity and reliability of data.
• Undertake appropriate research and development of analytical procedures.
• Participate in internal research seminars/meetings including journal club.
• Maintain a portfolio of professional achievements & CPD activities.
• Maintain core competencies and maintain the required standards of competences when undertaking duties.
• Participate in annual performance review.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals are part of Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, with the Heart and Lung Clinical Care Group forming the largest heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. We are a partnership of specialist hospitals which are known throughout the world for our expertise, standard of care and research success. The Clinical Genetics and Genomics Laboratory is also part of the NHSE South East Genomic Laboratory hub and is one of four cardiac and one of three respiratory laboratories, delivering the specialist testing nationally.

The Clinical Genetics and Genomics Laboratory in the Royal Brompton has generated deep expertise in cardiovascular (CV) and respiratory genetics through a large programme of work over the last 7 years and has established infrastructure, expertise and variant repositories on site. The CGGL has developed sophisticated bioinformatic tools and pipelines for the analysis and reporting of different types of sequence data and is actively involved in research to develop new technologies. The diagnostic service collaborates closely with the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College London.

Organisational Values:

The post holder will: Put patients first, Take pride in what they do, Respect others, Strive to be the best & Act with integrity

Our values and behaviours framework| describes what it means for every one of us in the Trust to put our values into action.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

In conjunction with senior laboratory staff, the post-holder will undertake the scientific duties and responsibilities of a clinical scientist in the provision of a comprehensive, modern, high quality diagnostic clinical genetics service at RBHT. This will involve delivering a range of specialist molecular diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of inherited cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The post holder will be expected to draft and authorize molecular genetic diagnostic reports in line with the services provided by the department. The post holder will also provide clinical and scientific advice to other health professionals including senior medical staff, on the selection, performance and interpretation of highly complex molecular genetic investigations. The post holder will participate in research and development and clinical audit where necessary.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to MSc, or equivalent in genome biology, bioinformatics or computer sciences
• Membership of a professional body Health Professions Council registered Clinical Scientist in Genomics or equivalent international qualification.
• Proven track record in a relevant discipline, for example computing, life sciences or natural sciences
• Registered with the HCPC as a Clinical Scientist

Desirable criteria

• PhD or equivalent in genome biology, bioinformatics or computer science.

Experience & Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Experience in diagnostic genetic testing using DNA sequencing including Next-Generation sequencing (NGS), DNA fragment analysis and other DNA-based techniques.
• Knowledge of laboratory accreditation requirements (UKAS) according to ISO15189
• Good computer skills and knowledge of relevant molecular genetic databases. An understanding of genome annotation and the use of web-based browsers to interrogate genomic information
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation as it relates to a specialist genetic laboratory and general laboratory medicine.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of generating and participating in collaborative research projects.
• Experience of research in a clinical environment.
• Proven publication record in peer-review journals.

Skills

Essential criteria

• Commitment and demonstrable leadership skills.
• Ambition - an eagerness to play a leading role in the Groups' current projects and future direction.
• Willingness to undertake any necessary training for the role
• Innovative and proactive approach with a willingness to accept responsibility for management decisions.
• Meticulous approach and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, successfully meeting deadlines

Guy's and St Thomas' celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study's at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.

Flexible working

We are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance and to work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking in to account the individual's personal circumstances as well the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the on-boarding process.

Your e-mail address is important to us - We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.

Please apply for this post by clicking "Apply Online Now."

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

• JOB DESCRIPTION (PDF, 312.4KB)
• PERSON SPECIFICATION (PDF, 408.6KB)
• Functional Requirement (PDF, 408.6KB)