Job Description

Are you looking for an opportunity to work in a small, specialist, hospital-based laboratory that straddles pathology disciplines, providing referral services to clinicians across the UK?



We are seeking a Band 4 Associate Practitioner to join the Immunodermatology Laboratory. This is one of five specialist labs associated with St John's Institute of Dermatology, one of the world's leading centres for patients with skin disease and is located on the St Thomas' Hospital site. The laboratory diagnoses and monitors patients with autoimmune blistering diseases and combines elements of histopathology and clinical immunology, processing both biopsy and serum specimens. It serves as a national referral centre for expert opinion.



The specialist diagnostic team delivers a bespoke service using direct and indirect immunofluorescence techniques and ELISAs with clinical leadership provided by a consultant dermatologist.



The laboratory processed nearly 10,000 samples last year and received specimens from over 100 UK centres.



The AP post-holder is the principal point of contact with a wide variety of healthcare staff and the role combines specimen reception, administrative and some bench activities, in addition to leading on stock control for the lab.



There are no weekend or unsocial hours associated with this post.



The Immunodermatology Laboratory holds full ISO15189:2022 accreditation and is staffed by a small, friendly team of seven scientists. We are seeking a well-motivated individual with excellent communications skills and the ability to pay close attention to detail to become an Associate Practitioner within the laboratory.

Principal roles include:

Specimen reception (biopsies & sera)



Pre-analytical processing of biopsy and serum specimens (including tissue embedding)



Laboratory consumable stock control



The successful individual will work closely with the lab's Medical Laboratory Assistant (including day-to-day supervision) and Biomedical Scientists and will provide vital support to both groups, to meet test turnaround times and ensure the smooth running of the diagnostic service.



Previous experience in either histopathology or clinical immunology/haematology labs at a Band 3 equivalent level would be advantageous, although all appropriate training and support will be provided.



Additionally, previous experience on Epic/Beaker laboratory information management systems and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook etc.) would also be of benefit in this post.



Your development and learning



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.



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.



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. However, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites (St Thomas' on the South Bank, opposite the Houses of Parliament) and will not be moving to the hub, due to the specialist area of diagnostics performed and the requirement to be close to the clinical teams managing patient care.

The core duties of this role can be summarised thus:

To ensure that all tissue and blood samples are safely received, booked in accurately and prepared for processing



To prepare frozen tissue blocks for direct immunofluorescence analysis



To monitor all stock levels and act as "stock champion" for the lab



To maintain equipment and prepare reagents, to support efficient processing of samples through the laboratory



To accurately transcribe pathology reports and liaise with a variety of healthcare professionals in specimen queries and distribution of results



To oversee distribution of specimen pots to a large number of clients around the UK



Day to day supervision of a Medical Laboratory Assistant



Download the job description and person specification for a detailed job description and person specification.



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.



GSTT



Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Women's Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Dermatology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Children's Hospital and the Cancer Centre on the Guy's site.



You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!