Molecular Histopathology Section Lead (Senior Biomedical Scientist)

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust; Coventry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000

Job description

A Vacancy at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

The post holder will be responsible for overseeing the current molecular testing processes for Cellular Pathology and will work closely with the Virology and Molecular Pathology laboratory to expand the service. The department is continually developing and improving the service. As there have been considerable extensions to our current repertoire of tests, this is an exciting opportunity for someone with molecular expertise to join our department.

The post holder will also support the discipline manager with service development and management of staff.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Responsibilities:

1. Working as the lead of a Cellular Pathology Molecular small team, responsible for performing, allocating and supervising the tasks required for the delivery of a high-quality Histology Molecular laboratory service for the network of laboratories that form CWPS.
2. Analyse and select clinical tissue and cytology samples to provide a diagnostic service to achieve the objectives of efficient and effective patient care, and effective resource management.
3. Develop the skills set of our team and work with other hospitals to ensure faster turnaround for sendaway tests.
4. Discharge analytical duties leading a small team/section of qualified and unqualified staff at a technical level across the network.
5. Supervise and monitor staff in the performance of routine and specialised diagnostic services on patient samples, including tissue and cytology specimens, containing potentially infectious material, using complex and highly specialised techniques to exacting medical and scientific standards according to standard operating procedures.
6. Review the range and frequency of use of diagnostic tests provided by the Discipline and determine if tests could be completed more cost-effectively at a larger laboratory.
7. Assist with and plan rotas, allocate and reallocate work schedules for themselves and the team and determine work priorities to meet service needs.
8. Support the Discipline Manager in the planning, development, co-ordination and evaluation of the Molecular service.
9. Record and validate results. Report and technically authorise individual reports from the team in electronic form and/or verbally to persons authorised to receive them e.g. Medical, nursing and non-medical staff.
10. Be proficient in the use of the Quality Management system, ensuring the effective development and/or management of all controlled documentation, non-conformities and audit reports within the system.
11. Co-ordinate external and internal quality assurance schemes and supervise compliance with the departmental audit schedules, review findings, and implement service improvements in collaboration with the quality lead.
12. Ensure the delivery of services in line with the principles of ISO/CPA standards, HTA regulations, HSE requirements and any other applicable statutory regulations within Cellular Pathology.
13. Undertake research and development projects as instructed, support clinical trials, undertake audits and encourage innovation amongst all staff.
14. Organise and monitor maintenance on routine and complex equipment to ensure accuracy and precision of results. Provide specialist support for staff to troubleshoot faults and take appropriate action to maintain service delivery.
15. Meet KPIs (key performance indicators) including prioritising work to achieve turnaround times.
16. Propose, oversee and develop the implementation of new techniques, equipment and methods of working; to be undertaken in collaboration with the discipline development lead.
17. Collect, interpret and collate in an agreed format, information when required for presentation e.g. for departmental Operational Board reports and quality meetings.
18. Assist in preparing for UKAS inspections including preparing, reviewing and updating standard operating procedures.
19. Provide and receive specialist knowledge in immunohistochemistry to staff and service users.
20. Responsible for working with teams, ordering and maintaining stocks of materials, reagents, consumables and equipment, ensuring the most economical use of non-pay resources, whilst identifying areas of cost improvements.
21. Deal with difficult and complicated telephone enquiries, such as complaints; accurately record information and complete follow up reports when necessary.
22. Work towards expanding the service to improve patient quality and turnaround.
23. Improve the skill set of BMSs within the team and develop the service.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

This advert closes on Tuesday 1 Apr 2025.