Job Description

Applications are invited for this permanent full time role as the SE-HMDS Genomics Coordinator in the specimen reception section for the South East Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service (SE-HMDS) at King's College Hospital.



The reception is integral to the SE-HMDS, acting as a central sample receipt and report distribution point for the four key laboratories that make up the SE-HMDS plus the clinically lead morphology service.



Training and development is a key focus at Synnovis and this is an excellent opportunity to enhance skills and knowledge in a specialist department environment. There is also a keen interest in Research & Development within the departments that is supported by various funds and collaborators as we endeavour to provide a leading and fit-for-purpose service to our patients. There is culture of continuous quality improvement that applies to both staff and departmental development.



This is a great opportunity to work amongst a team of dedicated and patient focused individuals and enhance administrative, communication and data handling skills.



The Genomics Coordinator will be required to act as a flexible administrative resource to support the SE-HMDS service in delivering a seamless and integrated end to end diagnostic pathway. The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination of information across the SE-HMDS laboratories and in liaison with service users. The post holder is an integral part of the SE-HMDS team, reporting to the SE-HMDS Reception Manager.



You will hold a variety of accountabilities; these will include, but are not limited to:



Liaising with service users to enable appropriate testing for patients.



Retrieving information on ongoing SE-HMDS testing using the laboratory information management system.



Progress monitoring and record keeping throughout in-house testing of samples.



Maintenance of patient records.



Supporting upload of test results to the integrated reporting system.



The successful candidate will be a team player and will be working closely with the laboratories, scientific and clinical staff. They must have excellent attention to detail and be able to accurately and efficiently transfer data on to electronic systems. Effective communication skills with all levels of staff, internal and external users is essential. There is a variety of laboratory information management systems (LIMS) in use within the laboratories, candidates must have good IT skills, and prior experience of various forms of LIMS is beneficial. The role largely involves accurate transfer of clinical information and specimen prioritisation with the requirement for good medical/scientific literacy skills. Working knowledge of the Health & Safety requirements of handling biological materials is desirable and experience in the preparation of blood and bone marrow slides would be of additional benefit.



The SE-HMDS is a regional centre for diagnostic services, providing UKAS accredited Immunophenotyping, Morphology, Cytogenetic, Molecular Diagnostic and Histopathology services covering most of Southeast England. There has been a steady rise in referrals to the SE-HMDS, from clinicians who require increasingly sophisticated and accurate haematological investigations, for diagnosis and disease monitoring. As a member of the SE-HMDS reception, you are the essential first and last points of contact for patient specimens and results, with service quality, a key focus throughout.



As an essential part of the SE-HMDS, the reception team also have access to a number of developmental activities including clinical presentations, webinars and integrated departmental training sessions for haematological malignancies. Here you can learn more about the various departments, investigations and the patients that we serve.



You will have a suite of learning opportunities available through The Synnovis Way Development programme, which is used across Synnovis to enable you to reach your potential, learn new skills and achieve your goals. 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.



The post holder will work as a member of the support staff to assist SE-HMDS service. The main responsibility of the post holder will be to perform data management and quality assurance of referrals. Concentration, attention to detail and accurate transcription of data are essential skills to these processes and form the greater part of the working day. Good IT and typing skills are required to perform this role and training will be provided for the use of the various and bespoke LIMS.



The post holder will offer a helpful and professional service to all visitors and enquiries from a broad spectrum of service users under the direction of qualified laboratory staff and where appropriate will assist in the collection and compilation of data for management purposes.



It will be essential that the post hold can follow written and verbal instructions as directed by the supervisor, senior scientists, operational and quality leads or head of section. Prioritisation and time management skills are required for time sensitive tests and urgency of clinical investigations within a busy environment. Once competence in tasks is achieved members of the team are also required to assist in the training of others whilst maintaining and promoting safe working practises.



The post holder must be able to effectively and appropriately communicate within the reception team, the wider SE-HMDS and organisation as well as external service users whilst strictly adhering to regulations for confidentiality.



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. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 1 April 2024 our people and services will start to move to our Hub laboratory in Blackfriars, Southwark, SE1, with some work remaining in refurbished essential services laboratories across our hospital network, focusing on the rapid turnover of urgent tests. Please do ask your recruiting manager if you wish to find out more.



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.