Haematology Laboratory Manager - Band 8a - Pathology

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description for more detail in supporting information

JOB PURPOSE:

The Laboratory Manager will be a key member of the Pathology management team responsible for the delivery of a discipline specific high quality, timely and cost effective service. In addition, they are responsible for all aspects of the Phlebotomy Service provided to WSFT and GP patients based at West Suffolk Hospital and Sudbury Community Health Centre.

JOB SUMMARY

The Laboratory Manager will manage the activities of the team, lead on service improvement and be responsible for the quality of the service. They will define, implement and monitor standards of performance and quality improvement. In addition, they will have overall responsibility for the Health and Safety of the laboratory and staff within the discipline.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Laboratory Clinical Lead / Laboratory Director

Pathology Transformation Lead

Pathology Services Managers

Other Laboratory Managers

Pathology Quality Manager

Laboratory Quality Lead

Laboratory Training Lead

Laboratory Health & Safety Link Persons

External accreditation and regulatory bodies

KEY TASKS

1. Leadership, communication and relationships:

Provide effective leadership of the laboratory service, including budget planning and financial management, in accordance with relevant Trust policies.

Develop good working relationships with members of the Pathology management team, Quality Leads, Training Officers and other relevant staff/teams.

Provide strong leadership for all aspects of quality in partnership with the Quality Manager.

Use highly developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams within their discipline, such as they understand and work to achieve the Trusts performance expectations.

Ensure optimum engagement with staff, colleagues and stakeholders in order to deliver continuous quality improvement.

Communicate complex, sensitive or contentious service-related information to senior managers, staff, and external agencies.

Influence clinicians regarding appropriate test usage and result interpretation.

Liaise with other departments, agencies and suppliers in relation to tests and services required.

Communicate with service users, including patients as appropriate.

2. Service development:

Work closely with the Pathology management team to ensure that Pathology provides optimum quality of care in line with national healthcare standards.

Maintain awareness of regulatory changes that impact on laboratory operations.

Ensure implementation of policies for service improvement and propose policy changes that may impact within and beyond own area.

Introduce, maintain and improve methodologies encouraging innovations that enhance the effectiveness of the laboratory service.

3. Operational management:

Ensure that there are appropriate numbers of staff with the required education, training and competence to provide laboratory services that meet the needs and requirements of the users.

Ensure effective staff deployment to cover all shifts.

Design and implement a Business Continuity Plan to ensure that essential services are available during emergency situations or other conditions when laboratory services are limited or unavailable.

Lead the recruitment and induction of new staff.

Manage and undertake appraisals in line with Trust policy.

Manage the team in line with HR policies, including capability, attendance and disciplinary.

Contribute to the acquisition, control and utilisation of stock and consumables.

Manage the purchase, ordering and procurement processes of the laboratory.

Monitor workload and financial information for the service, contributing to reports as required.

Delegated budget holder responsibility for the management of resources within the financial constraints of the service.

Liaise with other Laboratory Managers to ensure appropriate managerial cover for planned absence.

4. Technical and Scientific:

Work towards and assure UKAS accreditation for own discipline.

Responsible for the quality of results ensuring that all activities are undertaken in line with document control and quality management systems.

Ensure own discipline participates in External Quality Assurance schemes appropriate for the repertoire and that reports are reviewed and actioned as necessary.

Select referral laboratories and monitor the quality of their service.

Devise, implement and participate in appropriate training and competency strategies for service area.

Ensure staff are trained and competent to undertake their duties.

Ensure compliance with Trust incident, risk and governance policies.

Ensure effective risk assessment and risk management within the discipline.

Ensure timely investigation of incidents to include root cause analysis and implementation of recommendations/learning actions as appropriate. Review incidents to include trend analysis.

Ensure COSHH assessments are performed and maintained.

Ensure patient confidentiality and conformance to General Data Protection Regulation and Caldicott Guidelines.

Utilise the Laboratory Information System, email, internet and other software packages as required to create specialist reports. This will include complex manipulation of data.

Maintain personal appropriate level of training, competency and continued professional development.

Maintain registration with Health and Care Professions Council.

5. Training:

Ensure adherence to the Training Policy.

Develop departmental training programmes in collaboration with the departmental Training Lead.

Ensure adherence to relevant professional standards and guidelines.

Ensure staff have the necessary time and resources to achieve identified education and training.

Provide guidance and support for all staff members regarding training.

Provide guidance and support for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Ensure support is provided for individuals undertaking approved research projects.

6. Quality:

In collaboration with the Quality Lead and Pathology Quality Manager:

Define, implement and monitor standards of performance and quality improvement of the laboratory service.

Implement audit schedule for own discipline compliant with UKAS requirements.

Identify audit non-conformances and use expert knowledge and experience to ensure effective and timely follow up actions are taken.

Ensure the quality policy and quality manual are reviewed and updated for own discipline.

Participate in all required governance meetings, decision making and policy implementation.

Ensure key performance indicators are monitored and results are used to support service improvement.

Lead on validation/verification projects and the required change control process.

Identify areas where there is the potential for improvement of quality to the benefit of patients and the service provided.

Follow up on external inspections, e.g. UKAS, to co-ordinate and oversee completion of actions to address non-conformances and verify the completion of corrective actions as required in the reports of the inspectors.

Participate in the service management review and ensure all relevant reports are submitted.

Monitor the needs and requirements of the laboratory users to ensure they are reflected within the laboratory service provision.

Address any complaint, request or suggestion from staff and/or users of the laboratory service.

7. Equipment:

Select and monitor laboratory suppliers.

Ensure appropriate maintenance contracts are in place for laboratory equipment.

Monitor the performance and maintenance of laboratory equipment.

Determine the laboratorys requirements for new equipment, prepare business cases and be responsible for the acquisition of agreed equipment purchases.

Contribute to the maintenance of the laboratory asset register.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Supervision and training of staff
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven influencing and negotiating skills at all levels
• Interpretation and analytical skills
• Demonstrable mentoring skills
• Demonstrable interpersonal skills - can work as part of a team or independently
• Able to prioritise own workload and that of others to meet needs of the service
• Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods of time

Desirable

• Service planning
• Knowledge of quality management and accreditation systems

Personal Qualities

Essential

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Credible and effective leadership qualities.
• Strives for excellence.
• Self-motivated and able to motivate others.
• Ability to be flexible and respond to the needs of the service,
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines where there are competing demands.
• Puts the patient first in everything that is undertaken
• Awareness of self and impact on others

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC Registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• Biomedical Science degree or equivalent
• Appropriate Post Graduate Masters degree or equivalent.
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• Holding or working towards a qualification that supports management responsibilities

Experience

Essential

• Highly specialist knowledge and experience in an area relevant to the position
• Extensive practical experience of working in a Biomedical Science laboratory
• Experience of managing people and leadership
• Experience of Pathology IT systems
• Practical experience of Quality Management Systems
• Experience of performing and evaluating Risk Assessments
• To have undertaken audit activities.

Desirable

• European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent
• Previous relevant experience of working in the NHS
• Relevant scientific publications

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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