About this role
Job summary
Are you interested in working within the field of newborn screening? Would you like to be part of a team that screens over 55,000 newborn babies each year for inherited and congenital conditions, making a meaningful difference to patients and their families?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Band 6 Specialist Biomedical Scientist to join the Newborn Screening Department within Reference Chemistry at Synnovis. You will become part of a dedicated team delivering the Newborn Screening service, alongside a wider multidisciplinary workforce of over 70 scientists and support staff based in our modern Blackfriars Hub, just a five-minute walk from Southwark and Blackfriars stations.
The successful candidate will play a key role within the South East Thames Regional Newborn Screening Laboratory, providing a vital service to over 55,000 babies annually. You will work collaboratively with Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants, and Clinical Scientists, and be part of a wider network of 18 laboratories across the UK and Ireland.
This is a full-time, permanent position (37.5 hours per week), working Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:30.
If you are looking to start or progress your career in this rewarding and impactful field, we encourage you to apply.
Main duties of the job
Our laboratory provides screening for newborn babies using various technologies for the following conditions: congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, glutaric aciduria type 1, isovaleric acidaemia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disorders, Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1, Severe combined immunodeficiency.
Techniques include PCR, HPLC MS/MS, immunoassay and enzymatic techniques. Use of pipettes, centrifuges, plate shakers, and analytical equipment will be part of the role.
Other responsibilities will be to receive, book, sort and archive specimens, maintain and operate analytical equipment, prepare reagents and patient batches. The post-holder will be expected to work in accordance with laboratory quality and health and safety policies and standard operating procedures.
The successful candidate will work closely with Clinical and Senior Biomedical Scientists and must be able to reliably and efficiently communicate with all grades of staff within and external to the department, as well as other external centres, being the point to call for external queries and referrals via telephone and email. Attention to detail and good communication skills are a must in this role. You will be expected to work under pressure both as part of a team and independently, maintaining accuracy.
About us
Our department works to the guidance and Newborn blood spot screening standards and pathways laid out by NHS England and the national screening committee. The national screening committee is an evidence based programme which means tests offered are continuously evolving over time. Making this department a particularly dynamic.
Your development and learning
You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The ACCE competencies programme, the Scientific Learning and Development Fund and the Synnovis Academy through which you can receive funding / support for advanced qualifications.
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.
Job description Job responsibilities
Purpose of the Job
This role delivers specialist biomedical investigations as part of the laboratory team in Synnovis. Within this you will be processing specimens, analysing and releasing results whilst maintaining local quality systems. Reporting to the Senior Specialist BMS or Operations Manager, you will hold a variety of responsibilities, including supervision and troubleshooting, to ensure the successful delivery of pathology services, in line with our corporate objectives. You will be accountable to the senior BMS of the section and ultimately the deputy and director of the newborn screening service.
What you will do
You will hold a variety of accountabilities in the laboratory environment. These include, but are not limited to:
Complete routine and complex specialist biomedical investigations in accordance withstandard operating procedures (SOPs) and within specific turnaround times. Deliver work autonomously within all regulations and legislative requirements. Operate and maintain complex laboratory equipment within all safety standards relevantto your area, including troubleshooting Supervise and guide colleagues and answer questions as required. Use cost effective methods in your practice and maintain levels of consumable goods andsupplies in your area, and report shortages accordingly. Key Responsibilities
Perform and interpret routine and specialist biomedical investigations by participating inregular daily workloads, as directed by management, in line with your skills, experienceand competencies. Maintain standards of conduct required by the HCPC to practice as a registeredBiomedical Scientist. Provide technical advice to clinical colleagues as required and within limits of competency. Process specimens and handle sensitive information with care and due diligence, suchas patient results, in line with local SOPs. Propose and implement changes to SOPs, policies and work practice as required. Participate in development of new tests, as directed, including alignment withaccreditation bodies and local management processes. Where necessary this will includeanalysing clinical trial samples. Participate in verification and validation work when required. Day to day supervision of MLAs, APs and BMSs, providing support, training andmentoring to ensure performance is in line with laboratory standards. Observe all safety regulations and ensure others are doing the same. This includesholding people to account when standards fall short of expectations and raising concernsabout safety in the laboratory. Ensure compliance for your area of work with all legislative and quality requirements ofregulatory directives, accreditation bodies, and local management including: Care Quality Commission UKAS Synnovis policies and SOPs Any other body in area of responsibility. Participate in quality management activities including inspections, audits, EQA and IQCprocedures as required. Utilise the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Q-Pulse qualitymanagement database and other relevant software to ensure high quality reliable datacapture and entry. Complete data entry accurately to record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent,long period of concentration whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and followingInformation Governance (IG) guidelines. Work closely with colleagues in the quality team to identify best practice and embed aculture of high quality and performance across your area. Report all incidents and adverse events to management and enter the information in theCAPA module of Q-pulse in a timely manner as directed, supervising and assisting juniorcolleagues with the process. Demonstrate ongoing laboratory-based competency against training plans. Demonstrate professionalism, patience and empathy when explaining complex subjects,and in particular when communicating with people who do not share same level ofknowledge or understanding. Prioritise your workload effectively to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work isdelivered to the highest standards possible. Take part in CPD activities to ensure that your practices and knowledge are alwaysrelevant and up to date to your specific area. 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.
The hub is an eight-storey building, and we are working across 10 floors including the ground and lower ground floors. Synnovis corporate function operates from the hub on the 8th floor, above the laboratories underneath. This is a total net internal area of almost 10,000m squared across the 10 floors.
Based in Blackfriars, its less than a 5 minute walk from Southwark Tube or Blackfriars station and nestled closely to a vast array of entertainment and fabulous places to dine, relax and meet people.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist Specialist portfolio in relevant discipline (if HCPC Registration via IBMS Portfolio route) or equivalent experience or FIBMS Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Desirable
Willing to work towards higher levels of education IBMS membership
Experience Essential
Significant demonstrable broad-based discipline specific practical experience Analysing, interpreting and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results Development of special interest and expertise in one or more areas of the laboratory, for example Quality, Health & Safety, Training or IT
Desirable
Experience of working with specialist techniques such as PCR OMNI experience
Skills & Knowledge Essential
Demonstrates a high degree of skill and knowledge where interpretation of results can be highly subjective Ability to troubleshoot problems arising on analytical platforms, manual assays and semi-automated procedures: and know when escalate Demonstrable knowledge and application of quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS Demonstrable knowledge and application of health and safety legislation and procedures
Desirable
Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, co-ordinating and supervising a team Knowledge of the NBS screening pathway
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Friars Bridge Court
41-43 Blackfriars Road
London
SE1 8NZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.synnovis.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)