Operations Lead for PGT

Job description

Job responsibilities

At Synnovis, we are currently shaping the future of pathology services by creating a world-leading Hub and Spoke pathology network with our NHS partners. A large part of this modernisation will involve moving 70% of our services to a purpose built, state of the art Hub laboratory in the heart of London. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.

Operational Management

1. To be accountable for the day to day running of the PGT-M Service (hereafter known as the Service).
2. The development and delivery of a clear operational plan for the Service, achieving relevant quality and safety standards and activity levels within budget
3. To review monthly OPMS and KPI data for effective management of the Service.
4. To provide the SDM with monthly performance reports on the delivery of an accurate, modern and efficient diagnostic Service.
5. To be accountable for the development and implementation of relevant operating procedures and management policies ensuring that standards are met and are compliant with ISO15189 guidelines.
6. To ensure that the Laboratory works within the terms required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (2008), and within the guidelines of the HFEA and/or other authoritative bodies. This includes preparing and submitting new and amended licence applications to HFEA (or other bodies as appropriate).
7. To be accountable for the quality and efficiency of the Service, through internal quality control, clinical audit, local audit and national audit activities including UK National External Quality Assurance/CEQAS
8. To be accountable for maintaining and improving turnaround times.
9. To be accountable for ensuring that equipment is maintained to the standards required by the department and by relevant legislation in collaboration with the technical leads as required.
10. To be proactive in escalating any possible issues that may impact on service delivery to the SDM.
11. To be accountable for risk assessments relating to all aspects of the Service.

Management of Human Resources

1. To be accountable for the HR management of staff within the Service, including appraisals; sickness absence; disciplinary and grievance matters; personal and career development; departmental workload and allocation.
2. To recruit and induct new staff.
3. To manage annual leave of direct reports
4. To be accountable for the health and safety of staff within the Service, complying with Trust policies and legal regulations.
5. To be accountable for the training and education needs of staff within the Service in cooperation with the Genetics Training Manager and ensure compliance with National Guidelines and HPC Registration requirements.

Clinical and Scientific Service Provision

1. To consult with members of the PGD centre regarding appropriate referrals.
2. To be responsible for the monitoring and processing of PGD referrals received to the laboratory, ensuring that specimens are prioritised and tested appropriately. To liaise with, and advise, clinical staff on appropriate tests and on their interpretation.
3. To provide high level expertise in the analysis and interpretation of test results from patients referred for PGT-M.
4. To report and authorise complex abnormal patient reports produced from the Service.
5. To be responsible for timely reporting of all molecular PGD results, from both the preparatory work undertaken prior to PGD (i.e. family samples), and from a PGD case (i.e. biopsied embryos) where timing is critical.
6. To convey to couples the meaning and implications of laboratory test results from embryos where required.
7. To act in an advisory capacity liaising with consultant and other clinical and laboratory staff on further tests and investigations including complementary and multidisciplinary approaches, the appropriateness of tests and recommendations for follow-up testing.
8. In conjunction with Clinical Leads, to lead and develop best practice in patient diagnosis and prognosis relating to PGD-M.

Research, Innovation and Development

1. To manage the development and application of novel clinically approved tests.
2. To initiate and manage research projects appropriate to the post in conjunction with the GLH RD Scientific Lead and GLH Scientific Director and with SYNLAB Europe.
3. To produce business cases necessary for development of the service.
4. Participate in the departmental audit programs, academic seminars, group support meetings and journal clubs.
5. To be responsible for collating and returning annual audit data to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, HFEA, or other bodies, as may be required.
6. To participate in the dissemination of research findings through presentations at local, national and international meetings and through publications in scientific journals, as appropriate.
7. To keep up to date with current knowledge in PGD, and to be responsible for disseminating information to members of the laboratory accordingly.

External Duties

1. Lead and contribute to the development of national policies and best practice standards for the PGD-M Service by undertaking local and national professional roles as appropriate to enhance the profile of the service
2. Participate in EQA schemes appropriate to the service.
3. To provide teaching services on the specialist subject of PGD, in the form of lectures, seminars and tutorials, as appropriate, both internally and externally.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to deliver and transform pathology services across South East London.

The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in South East London, as well as to hundreds of thousands of patients from outside the region who use local healthcare services.

The partnership provides diagnostics, testing and digital pathology for hospital trusts, GP services and other healthcare providers.

Guys and St Thomas Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Womens Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Childrens Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guys site.

You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc in appropriate biological science
• HCPC clinical scientist registration in Genetics
• FRC Path Part 1

Desirable

• FRC Path Part 2

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience working in a diagnostic genomics laboratory.
• Experience of writing and authorising clinical diagnostic reports for patients referred for PGD-M
• Wide experience of both commonly used and specialised techniques for the genetic testing of embryos, including troubleshooting

Desirable

• Experience of lecturing, teaching and presenting in specialist area
• Experience of carrying out/supervising research and development projects

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of PGD methodology for human inherited disorders
• Determining the pathogenicity of sequence variants using ACMG guidelines
• Determining carrier risks using Bayes calculations

Desirable

• Determining the pathogenicity of genomic copy number variants
• Up to date awareness of HFEA PGD related policies

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.

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Synnovis Analytics

Address

Guy’s Hospital

Great Maze Pond

London

SE1 9RT

Employer's website

http://www.synnovis.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)