Pathology CSU Quality Lead (XR08)

Job responsibilities

To manage and coordinate the Governance (Health and Safety, Risk Management and Quality Management and audit) in liaison with Service Managers and Clinical Leads at multiple sites. Such that the laboratory improves and maintains effectiveness in the Quality of service meeting users, regulatory and accreditation requirements. To support the CSU to embed a culture of continuous improvement in pursuit of its vision to be a leading provider of high quality Pathology services.

To lead in the development and implementation of departmental policies relating to quality management and quality improvement within the CSU

To participate in general departmental management and people governance procedures such as staff recruitment, induction and appraisal

To effectively communicate highly complex and / or sensitive information relating to the provision of the clinical service

To evaluate and lead the training requirements of support, technical, scientific and medical staff as is necessary for a quality service.

As a CSU Quality Lead with multiple site departmental responsibilities the jobholder will provide quality management support and leadership to the CSU for services that are delivered from a number of different sites. The principal responsibility will be to lead and coordinate the continuing development of the CSU Quality Management System. The jobholder will contribute towards overall service improvement by participation in and the implementation of CSU policy development and by active participation in a range of people governance procedures consistent with Trust policies.

Pathology follows the values outlined in the Leeds Improvement Method by

looking to reduce waste with our processes and an on-going cycle of service

improvements.

The Pathology Quality Lead will ensure that the aims of the Leeds Improvement method are applied to eliminate waste and improve services.

The jobholder will require the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to understand specialist technical clinical investigations that contribute towards the departments provision of an accurate and timely service for patients and will be expected to apply professional judgements and specialist skills to technically highly complex and sometimes difficult situations.

There will be a requirement to communicate highly complex or sensitive information relating to the provision of the clinical service to other healthcare practitioners and organizations.

Where required the position may include the management of a delegated budget and the jobholder will be required to represent the department as an authorised signatory for amounts governed by the Trusts standing financial instructions. The jobholder may be required to deputise for the Head of Profession and/or the General Manger in their absence as to matters concerning the delivery of the quality of service monitored through the Pathology Quality management system.

To communicate accurately sensitive and / or highly complex information to users of the service in a manner that is in accordance with departmental procedures. This may include providing specialist clinical technical advice to clinical teams

To enter, manage, retrieve and interpret complex patient information using the laboratory computer system.

Quality management oversight of clinical trials

To participate in equipment testing and adaptation as a function of service development

Develop & deliver training packages to support, technical, scientific and medical staff

To actively participate in the laboratory quality assurance and risk management programmes

To participate in laboratory audit processes

To contribute to general departmental management by performing, subject to consultation, such tasks as delegated by the Triumvirate.

Designing with our WYAAT partners, regional wide quality management procedures to ensure system wide quality objectives are met.

Undertake and review incident reports & investigations providing analysis of findings, actions plans and assurance of embedding lessons learnt.

Administrative tasks:

Administering personnel issues such as absence management and staff appraisal within the section

Providing CSU documentation, for example reviewing and updating standard operating procedures, as a function of the departments accreditation profile (e.g. UKAS, MHRA, EFI, HTA, NHSE/I commissioning quality standards ect.)

Monitoring section expenditure as a function of departmental budget management

Reporting adverse events in accordance with Trust risk management procedures

Ability to produce timely management and assurance reports

Supervisory and management tasks:

Supervision of a team of staff who work within Quality Management function within the CSU involving where required line management responsibility including performance and professional development, dealing with disciplinary, grievance and other HR policy related situations. This may involve the imparting of unwelcome news at times.

Provide professional expertise on the final design and implementation of a Quality Management processes and documentation to meet and exceed regulatory and accreditation standards.

Appraising staff

Contributing to operational and strategic planning of Pathology CSU

Plan and co-ordinate the implementation of relevant specific strategies, theory, protocols and processes for the achievement of organisational objectives, this may include work outside of their functional area i.e. system wide programmes

The ability to communicate effectively and deal with hostility, suspicion, opposing views and objections whilst establishing effective working relationships

Implementing planned changes to the clinical technical service offered by the section

Deputise for more senior staff including the Head of Profession as required

Participating in interview panels during staff recruitment

Lead and coordinate quality management, Health/Safety, Clinical Information Technology systems and Training and Development duties within the CSU as required.

Technical tasks involved during processing of pathology samples:

Interpreting, validating and authorising investigations according to standard operating procedures when required. These samples may be high risk or require chain of evidence (e.g. for legal purposes). Identifying abnormal clinical results

Providing technical update information to groups of staff working in the section

Monitoring that quality standards of the CSU are met

Oversight of the performance of highly complex laboratory equipment such as automated analysers by appropriate QMS procedures across the CSU. This may include IT equipment

Oversight of the assessment and comparing new equipment and

procedures against existing practices

Communication tasks:

Issuing written, electronic or verbal reports and audits to clinicians and other practitioners. Some of these results relate to highly sensitive patient related information such as HIV and sexually transmitted diseases

Providing technical clinical advice to clinicians and other practitioners. This advice will include information relating to, for example, test selection, sample quality, and sample timing.

Providing quality management training information for technical, clinical and medical staff

Liaising with external agencies such as equipment manufacturers and engineers, suppliers of consumables. Liaising with accreditation and regulatory bodies

Meeting commercial representatives

This list is not exhaustive and the changing needs of the service from time to time may require the development of other appropriate tasks and skills. These will be fully discussed with the post holder in advance of their implementation.

The Pathology Department of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is located on several sites.

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant Masters degree (or equivalent) Registered biomedical scientist.
• Evidence of on-going training within the discipline
• Participation in CPD schemes Willingness to undertake other formal study and in-house training

Desirable

• Supervisory management qualification
• IBMS Certificate of Expert Practice in Quality Management
• Attendance at relevant and recent training courses
• Awareness of people governance policies

Other Criteria

Essential

• Dexterity
• Good hand / eye coordination
• Basic computer skills
• Physically able to move around and between sites

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

• Able to lead a multidisciplinary team.
• Able to engage with various staff group to obtain the desired outcome.
• Able to work independently.
• Flexible approach to work
• Good Communicator
• Friendly attitude

Desirable

• Use and design of electronic quality management systems

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience within a pathology discipline/speciality
• Knowledge of conventional IT software e.g. Microsoft Office
• Experience as a Quality Manager for a pathology discipline/speciality. Demonstrable Experience of successful accreditation participation
• Experience of successful service improvement

Desirable

• Knowledge and application of the Leeds Improvement Method
• Project management

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).