Clinical Scientist

Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust; London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 60,000

Job description

The place to work in pathology

We are looking for top talent to join the UK's leading and fastest growing pathology company - a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose.

Working in partnership with our service partners, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, King's College Hospital and Princess Royal University Hospital we aim to set the standard for the future of pathology.

Job overview

Clinical Scientist - Cytogenetics - SE-HMDS at King's College Hospital

We are seeking a highly-motivated and experienced individual in cancer cytogenetics and/or molecular genetics to join our team providing a comprehensive genomics service for patients with known or suspected haematological malignancies. Contributing towards patient care by participating in the provision of high quality genomic analyses of haematological tissues, as part of the South East Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (SE-HMDS) within the South East NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH).

Experience of cancer genomics including cytogenetic and/or molecular techniques, excellent communication skills and a strong work ethic are essential for this role, as the post holder will ensure the timeliness of reporting of complex analyses to enable rapid patient treatment decisions.

In particular, previous experience in a haemato-oncology cytogenetic analysis is highly desirable.

Successful applicants with HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist will be appointed at Band 7 AfC equivalence.

Candidates with appropriate experience in haemato-oncology genomics (cytogenetics and/or molecular) who are preparing for HCPC registration as a clinical scientist within 6 months, or who are HCPC registered as a biomedical scientist are also encouraged to apply. If successful, such candidates will be employed at Band AfC 6 equivalence.

Main duties of the job

This role is primarily a cytogenetics post, however, molecular genetic experience will be considered and utilised in the SE-HMDS as required.

The SE-HMDS service currently offers a comprehensive specialist genomics service tailored to the requirements of the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of haematological malignancies. We are the single HMDS service for the South East of England, serving a population of over 6 million people across South London and the South East of England. Our UKAS accredited laboratories currently provide genomics services including:

• G-banded karyotype analysis
• FISH
• SNP-array karyotype analysis
• NGS
• WGS
• Fragment analysis
• Q-PCR
• digital PCR

As a clinical scientist your duties will include triage of samples for genomic studies, analysis and reporting of complex genomics results, quality management, training, and service development.

Working for our organisation

Your development and learning

Across the GLH we are equipped to offer support if required to help individuals achieve HCPC registration as a clinical scientist via a number of different routes. The laboratory is accredited as an STP training laboratory with the National School of Healthcare Science; those candidates in the final stages of a relevant STP are therefore also encouraged to apply for this role and can be supported in the final stages to registration if successful.

You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding/support for advanced qualifications such as apprenticeships, MScs, Higher Specialised Scientist Training (HSST) and PhDs.

Through our Innovation Accelerator Fund, you can apply for finance to get that new innovative scientific project off the ground, and participate with the wider scientific community through symposiums, conferences and other peer group meetings.

We support flexible working patterns and remote working for activities that can be performed off-site to promote a healthy work/life balance.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As part of the dynamic team you will have duties including:

• Sample Triage: You will be responsible for the selection of appropriate genomic investigations for different referral indications and in view of other SE-HMDS results.
• Analysis and reporting: You will contribute to the analysis, interpretation and reporting of genomic variants from a wide variety of different genomic technologies as listed above, to enable rapid patient treatment decisions. You will ensure work is carried out to a high standard and within relevant target reporting times.
• Quality: You will be expected to contribute to quality management activities, including compliance with UKAS laboratory accreditation standards, teaching, training and performing audits.
• Training: You will be both trained as competent, and in turn become a trainer, in the triage of samples for genomic studies and the accurate analysis, interpretation and reporting of acquired genomic results. Good communication, team working and supervisory skills are essential to guide and manage more junior and trainee staff.
• Service development: You will be involved in the adoption of new tests and technologies, leading validation of these into the SE-HMDS genomics service.
• Collaboration: As part of a specialised integrated HMDS service you will have a close working relationship with a diverse group of specialists including other genomic scientists, bioinformaticians, immunophenotyping scientists, Histopathologists and Consultant Clinical Haematologists.
• Professional development: You will have the opportunity to attend the plethora of available learning opportunities offered internally including the SEGLH Educational Sessions and SE-HMDS Integrated Training Sessions. Participation in relevant national and international scientific and/or clinical meetings is also actively encouraged and supported by Synnovis.

Please refer to the full job description for further details.

We are part of the SE Genomic Laboratory Hub; one of the largest providers of genomic testing in the UK and a national centre for specialist testing for cardiology, gastro-hepatology, haematology, neurology, respiratory and skin conditions.

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's 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.

King's College Hospital Foundation Trust is one of the UK's leading NHS Foundation Trusts in specialist teaching. King's 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, King's has delivered nothing but world class service to all its patients from deprived communities as well as some of the wealthiest in London.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• First or second-class honours degree in relevant scientific subject or Healthcare Science
• MSc in relevant scientific subject or equivalent
• HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist.
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Desirable criteria

• Willing to work towards higher levels of professional practice such as PhD or FRCPath Part 1

Experience

Essential criteria

• Detailed working knowledge of the specific discipline
• Supervising junior employees
• Experience in and ability to perform and supervise analysis, interpretation and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
• Using Laboratory Information Management Systems
• Maintaining quality systems
• Resolving troubleshooting activity for highly technical and precision equipment and assays

Desirable criteria

• Involvement in research and development projects
• Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, co-ordinating and managing a team

Skills & Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Ability to troubleshoot and train those who use the Laboratory Information Management Systems
• Ability to manage effectively in a dynamic environment with multiple conflicting priorities

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.

For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.

All employees are entitled to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Ground breaking development opportunities

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.

Please apply for this post on-line. If you have problems with using the online process, or need any assistance, please email [e-mail]

Your e-mail address is important to us. We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

If you decide to apply for this post but do not hear back from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been short-listed on this occasion.

Thank you for your interest in Synnovis.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 432.4KB)