Clinical Embryologist

The Hewitt Fertility Centre is seeking to appoint an embryologist on a 12 month fixed term contract to join our highly skilled and dedicated team of 35 scientists. We are dedicated to providing the very best in patient care and offer a full range of laboratory therapeutic and diagnostic treatments (Including IMSI, PGT, cryopreservation and donation programmes).

The Hewitt Fertility Centre offers as standard the latest time-lapse technologies for all patients in our state-of-the-art laboratories. Successful applicants should be personable with excellent communication skills, experienced in all routine embryological procedures and take part in a weekend and on-call rota.

Suitable applicants must have experience of performing clinical workload within an Embryology laboratory setting and be familiar with the HFEA Code of Practice. HCPC registration, previous experience of biopsy and training junior staff is an advantage, but not a necessity.

Part time employment will be considered, please make a note of this on your application. Successful applicants will need to provide cover at both Liverpool and Knutsford sites on occasion.

Main duties of the job

To perform all laboratory procedures associated with the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment services provided by the Hewitt Fertility Centres including semen analysis, sperm preparation (including donor, and surgically retrieved testicular and epididymal sperm), oocyte and embryo handling, gamete (ejaculated and surgically retrieved sperm) and embryo cryopreservation, clinical intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), time-lapse technologies and other micromanipulation techniques. To select embryos best suited for embryo transfer and cryopreservation.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description.

To become fully proficient in, and to perform all clinical embryological procedures (including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), vitrification and time-lapse technologies) associated with the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment services provided by the Hewitt Fertility Centres.

Main duties and responsibilities

To participate in the treatment of patients with known high risk diseases (ie HIV, Hepatitis B & Hep C).

To convey, where necessary, relevant details of treatment (quality of oocytes, sperm and embryos) directly to patients in a clear, concise, and understanding manner. To suggest alternative treatments if and when necessary.

To counsel patients regarding the implications of treatment options to ensure correct information is given and relevant questions answered properly in order to assist them in making an informed decision.

To break bad news to patients and counsel them regarding the outcome and further treatment options.

To participate in the annual embryo storage audits and to assist with the system of contact for patients with embryos in storage.

To maintain the liquid nitrogen storage vessels ensuring stored material integrity. This will involve handling of liquid nitrogen, and manual handling of storage vessels in accordance with accepted safe practice.

To perform all duties in accordance with the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act (1990) and the Code of Practice issued by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, and any other relevant regulation.

To undertake the formal witnessing of procedures as required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to ensure the correct identification of patients, gametes (oocytes and sperm) and fresh and frozen embryos.

To ensure that informed consent (in accordance with the HFEA) is in place prior to any treatments being performed.

To anticipate and handle the day-to-day workload and ensure that preparations and procedures are performed effectively and to the highest possible standard, paying meticulous attention to detail.

To work flexibly and perform tasks as and when necessary including out of normal working hours and to participate in a weekend rota. This will include working across all Hewitt Fertility Centre sites.

To perform a daily audit of all equipment to ensure that they are functioning correctly and within critical parameters.

To participate in the maintenance of laboratory equipment and cleaning of the embryology and laboratory and associated areas.

To liaise with centres outside of the Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust regarding workload, treatments, outcome of treatments and transfer of gametes or embryos between centres.

To critically analyse and audit laboratory performance.

To perform accurate and complete data collection as required by the Hewitt Fertility Centre and by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority.

To liaise directly, and by telephone, with colleagues and other members of the Hewitt Fertility Centre staff and other healthcare professionals ensuring that information is conveyed to colleagues accurately and in a timely manner.

To actively participate in the development and maintenance of research within the Hewitt Fertility Centre.

To disseminate research findings and other relevant material at a local, national and international level.

To keep abreast of recent developments within the field of reproductive medicine and to participate in the Continual Professional Development (CPD) scheme operated by the Association of Reproductive Scientists (ARCS).

To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide the highest possible standard of care.

To assist in the training and supervision of trainees and less experienced staff. To participate in the demonstration of procedures during the induction of new members of staff.

To provide Andrology cover when short staffed by performing all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures associated with the Andrology laboratory within the Hewitt Fertility Centres.

To participate in the external QC (UKNEQAS) scheme in accordance with the World Health Organisation and ISO 15189 standards to maintain UKAS accreditation.

To be proficient and use the computer database systems used by the Hewitt Fertility Centre. To carry out required administrative duties associated with the embryology laboratory.

To follow procedures, standards and protocols to ensure the best possible clinical outcomes and ensure that procedures are performed effectively and to the highest possible standard, paying meticulous attention to detail.

To present at patient support groups (ie Link Support Group).

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in life sciences (or an equivalent qualification) from an EU University; alternative degrees or other qualifications may be acceptable.
• Certificate Clinical Embryology awarded by the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) and the Institute of Biology or a graduate of the Modernising Scientific Careers STP training programme.

Professional requirements

• Professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. Ability to work without direct supervision and ability to take charge of organising the laboratory on a day to day basis.
• Recognised by the HFEA as an ICSI practitioner.
• Vitrification.
• Experience within the field of assisted conception and reproductive medicine.
• Research experience.
• NHS experience.

Team Work

• Able to work within a multidisciplinary team.
• Personable, have excellent communication skills.
• Previous experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Organisational Skills

• Able to make efficient use of time and to complete workload and tasks.
• Able to prioritise tasks.

Flexibility & Adaptability

• To have a flexible approach to work (including out of normal hours).
• Able to adapt to the changing needs of the unit.

Initiative

• Able to work unsupervised.
• Able to work under own initiative.
• Able to assess situations and suggest possible solutions in order to enhance the service.

Commitment/Confidentiality

• Understanding of the importance of patient confidentiality.
• Able to work with a high level of commitment to deliver the highest possible standard of service at all times.

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Able to accept responsibility for functions/procedures within a working environment.

Special Conditions

• To have a meticulous approach to work.
• To have an excellent attendance record.

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.