Job summary
Due to retirement, an opportunity has arisen to lead our friendly Haematology and Blood Transfusion department at Torbay Hospital. The Hospital is situated in Torquay, part of the English Rivera, with spectacular scenery and some of the cleanest beaches in Britain. The unspoilt wilderness of the Dartmoor National Park is within easy reach.
We are seeking to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced Laboratory Manager to oversee the running of the Haematology and Blood Transfusion services.
The department is IBMS approved for training and has UKAS accreditation to ISO: 15189.
The post-holder will provide leadership and supervision to ensure that a quality service is being provided. Good organisational, interpersonal and communication skills are essential. Previous experience of working in a UKAS accredited laboratory and experience of using a quality management system is required.
The department is well equipped using the following platforms, Horiba Yumizen H2500/H1500, Stago STA-R max, BioFlash, Sebia Capillarys Tera 3, DS2 and Immucor NEO IRIS. There are plans to implement CellaVison within the next six months and in collaboration with neighbouring Trusts a replacement LIMS before the end of 2024.
Main duties of the job
Torbay Hospital is a medium sized acute trust, and the department is located within the main pathology department
The Laboratory serves Torbay Hospital, GP surgeries, and GP-run community Hospitals.
We provide a 24-hour, 365-day service, with a Laboratory workload of approximately 3 million tests per annum.
The Post Holder is responsible for a budget of £1,400,000 and holds the delegated budget for the NBS Blood Component Contract and Blood Component in excess of £1,000,000.
The post holder will manage a staff of Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants
The clinical haematology department has dedicated outpatient and inpatient facilities and undertakes intensive chemotherapy including autologous stem cell transplantation. We are actively involved in National Clinical Trials in malignant haematology and participate in the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme
About us
The team consists of 16 Biomedical scientists, supported by 2 Associate Practitioners and 2 Medical Laboratory Assistants. All staff up to band 7 frequently rotate between the two departments. The Blood Transfusion department has recently moved into to a refurbished laboratory adjacent to the combined Biochemistry Haematology laboratory.
Welcome booklets - 1 (pagetiger.com)
Job description
Job responsibilities
Managerial
- To have overall responsibility for the day to day running of the haematology & transfusion laboratory service, under the direction of the consultant haematologists
- To provide supervision and leadership within the department, to ensure the quality and timeliness of work and the effective utilisation of staff and resources
- To participate in the development of business and operational plans for the department with liaison with the consultant haematologists and directorate manager
- To liaise effectively with the other senior scientific and technical staff as well as senior managers within the trust and users of the service
- To work with senior management to ensure the smooth running of the department and the achievement of its business plan and participate in the development of the future Pathology Modernisation Project
- Co-ordination of the out-of-hours emergency transfusion and haematology analytic service, ensuring compliance with professional guidelines
- To supervise and undertake audit activity within this department and in conjunction with other pathology disciplines
- To ensure that optimal standard operating procedures are maintained in all sections of the laboratory and updated on a regular basis
- To participate in service development within the department in line with UKAS requirements
- To work with technical managers to ensure that a robust system of error reporting is maintained and the investigation of trends are identified in accordance with UKAS requirements
- To ensure that all enquiries and complaints from users are dealt with appropriately
- To investigate and report on clinical incidents and to form part of the Pathology Clinical Governance team
- Responsibility for major procurements involving tender specifications; evaluation of responses and liaison with suppliers for delivery and installation
- To supervise the assessment and selection of consumables in both departments, in liaison with procurement staff
- To supervise technical Research and Development projects within the department
- Undertake other duties as required by the Head of Department, to maintain efficient running of the department
- By means of the laboratory manager duties and delegated laboratory director duties detailed in the quality manual is to maintain the laboratorys accreditation status with current guidelines (ISO 15189:2012)
Professional
- Responsible for recruitment, assessment, training and discipline of the scientific and technical staff within the laboratory
- To ensure all BMS and MLA staff have annual development appraisals and performance reviews and maintain a system of reviewing staff performance and personal development needs
- To participate in Trust and external CPD programmes
- As the departments training co-ordinator, oversee the training programme provided by haematology and transfusion training officers
- Maintain a record of the departments training, in accordance with standards laid down by the health care professions council
- To organise, in consultation with senior staff, the departmental seminar programme
- To supervise and instruct scientific and technical staff on analytical techniques in haematology and blood transfusion
Health and Safety
- As the departments Health and Safety officer, ensure a safe working environment is maintained according to the Trust and Laboratory Policies
- Develop and implement Health and Safety Policies, training manuals for the department and ensure attendance at all Trust mandatory training sessions
Information Technology - As the Departments IT System Manager for the Haematology, Immunology and Transfusion computers, represent the department at Trust and Regional IT meetings
- To be responsible as IT System Manager for the departments computers for the maintenance of the database, reference files and problem solving
- Ensure that the IT system is developed and maintained within the NHS guidelines and is compliant with all current and developing legislation on confidentially, consent and access
- Assist in the evaluation, implementation and development of new information systems and associated technologies that may be required
Finance
- To raise service agreements for maintenance and procurement of equipment totalling £750,000; responsible for the fabric in both departments. Involvement in the planning of a potentially a new Pathology department within the proposed hospital rebuild
- Responsible and accountable for departmental budgets totalling £1,400,000
- Management of costing and cross charging
- Responsible for the delegated NHSBT Blood Component Contract and Blood Batch Components totally in excess of £1,000,000 per annum
- Authorised signature for the departments budgets
- Responsibility for the ordering and procurement of the departments consumables up to £5000 per transaction, ensuring that these consumables are purchased in the most economical way and orders are assigned to the correct sections budget
- Ensure the function of, and adequate maintenance of equipment. To collaborate with engineers in the diagnosis of major problems to ensure a prompt repair, this may require training in the delicate handling and fine adjustments of instrument parts
- Assist in the evaluation and selection of new equipment, including their revenue implication, the service and training needs
- Contributes to discussions for contact arrangements and pursues, where appropriate income generation initiatives
Other Duties
- To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice the Continual Professional Development (CPD) activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development
- To provide technical assistance within the laboratory when department staffing levels dictate
- Involvement in the replacement of the laboratory Information management system
Job description
Job responsibilities
Managerial
- To have overall responsibility for the day to day running of the haematology & transfusion laboratory service, under the direction of the consultant haematologists
- To provide supervision and leadership within the department, to ensure the quality and timeliness of work and the effective utilisation of staff and resources
- To participate in the development of business and operational plans for the department with liaison with the consultant haematologists and directorate manager
- To liaise effectively with the other senior scientific and technical staff as well as senior managers within the trust and users of the service
- To work with senior management to ensure the smooth running of the department and the achievement of its business plan and participate in the development of the future Pathology Modernisation Project
- Co-ordination of the out-of-hours emergency transfusion and haematology analytic service, ensuring compliance with professional guidelines
- To supervise and undertake audit activity within this department and in conjunction with other pathology disciplines
- To ensure that optimal standard operating procedures are maintained in all sections of the laboratory and updated on a regular basis
- To participate in service development within the department in line with UKAS requirements
- To work with technical managers to ensure that a robust system of error reporting is maintained and the investigation of trends are identified in accordance with UKAS requirements
- To ensure that all enquiries and complaints from users are dealt with appropriately
- To investigate and report on clinical incidents and to form part of the Pathology Clinical Governance team
- Responsibility for major procurements involving tender specifications; evaluation of responses and liaison with suppliers for delivery and installation
- To supervise the assessment and selection of consumables in both departments, in liaison with procurement staff
- To supervise technical Research and Development projects within the department
- Undertake other duties as required by the Head of Department, to maintain efficient running of the department
- By means of the laboratory manager duties and delegated laboratory director duties detailed in the quality manual is to maintain the laboratorys accreditation status with current guidelines (ISO 15189:2012)
Professional
- Responsible for recruitment, assessment, training and discipline of the scientific and technical staff within the laboratory
- To ensure all BMS and MLA staff have annual development appraisals and performance reviews and maintain a system of reviewing staff performance and personal development needs
- To participate in Trust and external CPD programmes
- As the departments training co-ordinator, oversee the training programme provided by haematology and transfusion training officers
- Maintain a record of the departments training, in accordance with standards laid down by the health care professions council
- To organise, in consultation with senior staff, the departmental seminar programme
- To supervise and instruct scientific and technical staff on analytical techniques in haematology and blood transfusion
Health and Safety
- As the departments Health and Safety officer, ensure a safe working environment is maintained according to the Trust and Laboratory Policies
- Develop and implement Health and Safety Policies, training manuals for the department and ensure attendance at all Trust mandatory training sessions
Information Technology - As the Departments IT System Manager for the Haematology, Immunology and Transfusion computers, represent the department at Trust and Regional IT meetings
- To be responsible as IT System Manager for the departments computers for the maintenance of the database, reference files and problem solving
- Ensure that the IT system is developed and maintained within the NHS guidelines and is compliant with all current and developing legislation on confidentially, consent and access
- Assist in the evaluation, implementation and development of new information systems and associated technologies that may be required
Finance
- To raise service agreements for maintenance and procurement of equipment totalling £750,000; responsible for the fabric in both departments. Involvement in the planning of a potentially a new Pathology department within the proposed hospital rebuild
- Responsible and accountable for departmental budgets totalling £1,400,000
- Management of costing and cross charging
- Responsible for the delegated NHSBT Blood Component Contract and Blood Batch Components totally in excess of £1,000,000 per annum
- Authorised signature for the departments budgets
- Responsibility for the ordering and procurement of the departments consumables up to £5000 per transaction, ensuring that these consumables are purchased in the most economical way and orders are assigned to the correct sections budget
- Ensure the function of, and adequate maintenance of equipment. To collaborate with engineers in the diagnosis of major problems to ensure a prompt repair, this may require training in the delicate handling and fine adjustments of instrument parts
- Assist in the evaluation and selection of new equipment, including their revenue implication, the service and training needs
- Contributes to discussions for contact arrangements and pursues, where appropriate income generation initiatives
Other Duties
- To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice the Continual Professional Development (CPD) activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development
- To provide technical assistance within the laboratory when department staffing levels dictate
- Involvement in the replacement of the laboratory Information management system
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- State Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- State Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- MSc approved by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Haematology or Blood Transfusion and/or Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (Haematology or Blood Transfusion) or IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma (Haematology or Blood Transfusion)
- Recognised Management Qualification at post graduate Diploma level
- Participation in Continual Professional Development
- Substantial relevant post registration experience in a Haematology /Transfusion laboratory
Desirable
- Compute literacy: PowerPoint, Access, word, Excel
- Recent haematology & Blood Transfusion experience in an NHS laboratory
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience with Quality Assurance & Laboratory Accreditation to ISO 15189:2012
- Knowledge of the UK Blood Quality and Safety Regulations (BSQR) 2005 and amendments
- Experience of implementing evolving new technologies
- Specialist knowledge of management, finance and human resource issues
- Evidence of innovative thinking and change management
- Financial and negotiating skills for complex procurements (Contracts circa £150,000)
- Previous experience in equipment selection and implementation
Desirable
- Experience with CiniSys WinPath or Cirdan LIMS
- Experience of Quality Management Systems such as Q-Pulse
Specific Skills
Essential
- Experience of working in a high throughput laboratory
- Experience of UKAS accreditation and assessments
Desirable
- Extensive knowledge of Laboratory Haematology and Blood Transfusion
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- State Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- State Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- MSc approved by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Haematology or Blood Transfusion and/or Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (Haematology or Blood Transfusion) or IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma (Haematology or Blood Transfusion)
- Recognised Management Qualification at post graduate Diploma level
- Participation in Continual Professional Development
- Substantial relevant post registration experience in a Haematology /Transfusion laboratory
Desirable
- Compute literacy: PowerPoint, Access, word, Excel
- Recent haematology & Blood Transfusion experience in an NHS laboratory
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience with Quality Assurance & Laboratory Accreditation to ISO 15189:2012
- Knowledge of the UK Blood Quality and Safety Regulations (BSQR) 2005 and amendments
- Experience of implementing evolving new technologies
- Specialist knowledge of management, finance and human resource issues
- Evidence of innovative thinking and change management
- Financial and negotiating skills for complex procurements (Contracts circa £150,000)
- Previous experience in equipment selection and implementation
Desirable
- Experience with CiniSys WinPath or Cirdan LIMS
- Experience of Quality Management Systems such as Q-Pulse
Specific Skills
Essential
- Experience of working in a high throughput laboratory
- Experience of UKAS accreditation and assessments
Desirable
- Extensive knowledge of Laboratory Haematology and Blood Transfusion
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
