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.
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.
Kings College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UKs leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. Kings has various divisions including Neurosciences, Haematology, Cancer and Cardiovascular sciences, where there are unlimited opportunities to develop and perfect your career.
Over the last 170 years, Kings has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.
Communication
Participate in laboratory staff meetings and contribute to effective communication within the department relating to service issues, training needs and process changes
Clearly communicate development aims and outcomes to laboratory staff and to groups within the organisation. Communication at national and international meetings as directed
Act as a communication link between the bioinformatics team and the laboratory team ensuring both sides have a firm understanding of the processes and limitation of use
Provide and receive complex information relating to the clinical condition and treatment of patients and/or the results and interpretation of diagnostic tests to and from work colleagues or users of the service
Assess the clinical importance and urgency of test requests and results which impact on patient care and communicate these effectively to appropriate agencies
Prioritise and plan own workload within a given time period and communicate own work priorities within the team. Demonstrate flexibility in carrying out own work priorities within the team context
Liaise with users of the service as necessary, with direction of enquiries to the appropriate member of staff
Maintain courteous and professional conduct at all times with staff, patients and visitors.
Liaise with medical and laboratory staff at external referral centres regarding results and sample requirements
Technical
Assist in the development and establishment of new tests.
Be proactive in suggesting new technical developments and participate in the planning, development and implementation of these new developments
Liaise between the bioinformatics team, understanding the limitations of their knowledge around diagnostic services, and laboratory staff which may have limited knowledge and experience of bioinformatics processes
Provide a comprehensive and appropriate diagnostic service to users through the performance of manual, semi-automated and fully-automated laboratory investigations in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures
Ensure work is completed timely and to satisfactory standards, results are reported within the agreed turnaround times and in accordance with the relevant Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Monitor outstanding work lists and turnaround times of laboratory investigations and act on information to maintain and/or improve the service provided
Undertake technical validation of highly complex results from laboratory investigations where necessary using judgemental expertise and ensuring accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols and quality procedures
To analyse samples from External Quality Assessment Schemes in a timely manner, communicate performance from this to the operations manager of the laboratory
Implement and maintain the Quality Assurance Procedures ensuring the ISO1589 standard is met and maintained
Assess, initiate and monitor appropriate action when a situation may cause service delivery failure
Review and revise laboratory SOP on a regular basis and advise the operations manager of any material changes
Scientific
Maintain registration with the Healthcare Professions Council (HCPC)
Maintain a portfolio that demonstrates CPD achievement and pass on knowledge to other staff where appropriate
- In conjunction with the service delivery manager and the scientific lead develop, evaluate and implement new tests and processes including production or amendment of SOPs and provision and documentation of staff training
Undertake laboratory instrument evaluation as directed by the scientific lead and contribute to service development supported by evidence-based practice
Participate in research and development as directed
Understand how changes in the workflow will affect the delivery of a safe, robust high quality service for all users of the laboratory
Clinical
Understand the genotype/ phenotype relationship in depth with respect to at least two diseases reported by the laboratory
Participate in the signing out of clinical reports for conditions you have been assessed to be competent in
Assess the clinical relevance and importance of diagnostic test requests, work in progress and test results
Use interpretive skills to determine clinical significance of laboratory results and take appropriate action including:
Authorisation of laboratory investigations
Ordering relevant follow-up laboratory procedures
Adding relevant technical and clinically relevant comments
Referring results for second opinion
Informing the requestor/medical staff of clinically significant results
Efficient management of patients' clinical material and maintenance of a safe ethical system of storage
Provide approved departmental information and advice to other healthcare professionals, and refer on to appropriate specialists requests for information
Participate in audit to highlight deficiencies in the pre-examination, examination and post-examination process, as required by the operational manager
Laboratory Informatics
Comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information
Be familiar with and proficient in the use of the Laboratory Information Systems (LIMS) in accordance with the relevant SOP's
Understand the laboratory data processing systems and their limitations
Be competent in the use of the Quality Management system ensuring all appropriate documentation is in date and recorded
Records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the ISO15189 standards
Maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases
Assist the operations manager to collect and monitor management and operational performance data including turnaround times, workload and materials consumption
Staff Management
Participate in the training of staff in the areas in which the post holder has been assessed as competent including laboratory instrumentation, new methodologies, units of the laboratory training program or other aspects of Healthcare Science as required
Participate in the work supervision and performance monitoring of less experienced State Registered Clinical Scientists, trainees and support staff ensuring that competency standards are maintained
In conjunction with the operations manager, set staff training objectives on rotation into the laboratory as defined by the requirements of the staff training record and appraisal needs
Perform skill, knowledge and conduct assessments of staff working in the area and ensure that the required competency standards are maintained
Contribute to a learning environment and facilitate the CPD of staff in conjunction with the operations manager/ scientific lead and Training and Quality Manager
Provide support and guidance and motivate staff to meet specified standards of performance in relation to their role, monitor their progress and undertake initial counselling as required
