Job summary
With the ever-increasing demands on trainees to deliver the service and obtain their CCST rapidly, there is often little time for learning new skills, and developing and introducing new ideas which could improve the quality and efficiency of the discipline.
This post has been developed to provide an individual who wishes to excel in the field of pathology the opportunity to develop skills to do just that. This will be achieved by ring-fencing 50% of the post for research and development in highly clinically-related areas, specifically genomics and /or computational/ digital pathology. These elements of the job will be acquired by working with clinician and computational scientists in UCL while acting as a link with the RNOH diagnostic team. The Fellow will be trained in skills which are transferable and have the potential to be usefully employed in all areas of diagnostic pathology. The Fellow will have dedicated time to work with clinician scientists at UCL. The skills acquired will allow the individual to continue to develop over their career and to respond to changes that are likely to take place over the coming decades because of the greater use of technology. If the Fellow were interested, they could enrol in a post-graduate degree, but this is not a requirement.
Main duties of the job
The Fellow will acquire high level diagnostic skills by supporting the 5 consultants in delivery of the clinical service. The experience and training will provide the successful candidate the opportunity to become a highly competent specialist consultant histopathologist over the 24months of the fellowship. Ideally, we would like to see the Fellow obtain a sarcoma post for which there is an unmet need across the UK and abroad however the skills acquired in this post would make then competitive for other areas in pathology if that is what they wished to pursue.
About us
The team comprises:
Professor Adrienne M Flanagan, clinical lead of the cellular and molecular department at RNOH, and academic head of department of UCL Pathology. 0.5 WTE RNOH honorary consultant, 0.5 WTE academic commitments.
Dr Roberto Tirabosco, 1.00 WTE, Consultant Histopathologist, RNOHT
Dr Fernanda Amary, 1.00 WTE, Consultant Histopathologist, RNOHT
Honorary senior lecturer, UCL Cancer Institute
Dr Nischalan Pillay, CRUK-funded clinician Fellow UCL (0.8 WTE), honorary NHS consultant 0.2WTE)
Dr Daniel Lindsay - 1.00 WTE Clinical Fellow with CCST
We report close to 6000 cases per annum, comprising 3000 bone and soft tissue tumours. In addition, the tumour work from one of the other bone tumour units, The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt NHS Trust in Oswestry, is provided by the RNOH sine 2016. This results in an additional 2000 cases per annum. We also see a range of metastatic carcinoma, lymphoma and non-neoplastic cases. We run an in house molecular pathology service including FISH for gene rearrangements and amplification, detection for rearrangements by RT-PCR and point mutation analysis.
The pathology fellow team comprises 2 whole time equivalent clinical fellows each of whom can have 50% time for R&D.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The appointed individual will undertake the cut up of complex musculoskeletal pathology cases under supervision of a consultant histopathologist, and will supervise more junior / less experienced staff undertaking this task.
The individual will draft histopathology reports on specimens received from RNOH and from referred hospitals. In the first instance these reports will be jointly authorised with a consultant histopathologists but with time, it would be expected that the appointee would have gained sufficient knowledge and experience to sign out cases.
The reports are based on the interpretation of the microscopic features of tissue, the gross and/or radiological findings and appropriate additional tests including immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridisation, and PCR-based tests including generation sequencing in the light of clinical information. The clinical information should be provided by those requested the tests, but information can also be accessed at the multidisciplinary meetings.
The successful candidate will also be required to undertake the following with emphasis on areas of particular interest to the successful candidate:
- Draft the microscopic findings of cases that s/he has cut up and present the reports to a consultant histopathologist for authorisation (with time it would be expected that the appointee would sign out cases independently)
- Undertake under supervision the gross analysis of complex specimens (only at RNOH), and /or supervise biomedical staff when undertaking cut up of non-complex cases
- Undertake, develop and interpret molecular pathology tests for the diagnostic service
- Develop the transformation to digital pathology
- Undertake audits of the work performed in the pathology department
- To work as a team with other members of the department to ensure that UKAS accreditation is maintained, and that the standards of the service are being continually improved
- To participate in biobanking of material for operations performed at RNOH
- To participate in CPD
- To participate actively in departmental and consultant meetings
Job description
Job responsibilities
The appointed individual will undertake the cut up of complex musculoskeletal pathology cases under supervision of a consultant histopathologist, and will supervise more junior / less experienced staff undertaking this task.
The individual will draft histopathology reports on specimens received from RNOH and from referred hospitals. In the first instance these reports will be jointly authorised with a consultant histopathologists but with time, it would be expected that the appointee would have gained sufficient knowledge and experience to sign out cases.
The reports are based on the interpretation of the microscopic features of tissue, the gross and/or radiological findings and appropriate additional tests including immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridisation, and PCR-based tests including generation sequencing in the light of clinical information. The clinical information should be provided by those requested the tests, but information can also be accessed at the multidisciplinary meetings.
The successful candidate will also be required to undertake the following with emphasis on areas of particular interest to the successful candidate:
- Draft the microscopic findings of cases that s/he has cut up and present the reports to a consultant histopathologist for authorisation (with time it would be expected that the appointee would sign out cases independently)
- Undertake under supervision the gross analysis of complex specimens (only at RNOH), and /or supervise biomedical staff when undertaking cut up of non-complex cases
- Undertake, develop and interpret molecular pathology tests for the diagnostic service
- Develop the transformation to digital pathology
- Undertake audits of the work performed in the pathology department
- To work as a team with other members of the department to ensure that UKAS accreditation is maintained, and that the standards of the service are being continually improved
- To participate in biobanking of material for operations performed at RNOH
- To participate in CPD
- To participate actively in departmental and consultant meetings
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- FRCPath or equivalent, able to be registered (quickly) with GMC, have the IELTS test (if required).
- Within 12 months of CCST
Experience
Essential
- Experience in general pathology including undertaking gross cut-up of complex pathology cases
Knowledge
Essential
Skills
Essential
- Broad general knowledge of clinical context of cellular pathology
- Basic IT Skills (to be tested during probationary period)
- Able to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, managers, other staff, patients and relatives
- Able to work efficiently and manage time well
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- FRCPath or equivalent, able to be registered (quickly) with GMC, have the IELTS test (if required).
- Within 12 months of CCST
Experience
Essential
- Experience in general pathology including undertaking gross cut-up of complex pathology cases
Knowledge
Essential
Skills
Essential
- Broad general knowledge of clinical context of cellular pathology
- Basic IT Skills (to be tested during probationary period)
- Able to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, managers, other staff, patients and relatives
- Able to work efficiently and manage time well
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
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).
