Job Description

The Department of Clinical Neuropathology at King's College Hospital Denmark Hill Campus in London has full time, permanent job opportunities for experienced biomedical scientists specialising in Histology, at Band 6. Working full time, your existing skillsets will be stretched as you apply advanced techniques in Neuropathology, playing a key role in this specialist service.



This UKAS accredited department delivers comprehensive diagnostic neuropathology services for King's College Hospital, external referring institutions and is involved in research investigations for the London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank.



The department handles a wide range of CNS and PNS specimens including muscle, nerve, pituitary and skin (for IENFD intra-epidermal nerve fibre density analysis), and conducts whole brain examinations. The techniques employed include standard formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue sectioning and staining as well as advanced histological procedures including fresh frozen sections for enzyme histochemistry, automated and manual immunohistochemistry and resin processing for semi-thin and ultra-thin electron microscopy. Experience in these techniques will be highly advantageous.



Perform a range of examination procedures and laboratory analysis on tissue specimens for the diagnosis of disease.



Preserve and process organ and tissue samples using a variety of specialised techniques including freezing, aerosol fixation, paraffin wax and resin processing.



Cut very thin sections of processed samples using a variety of microtomes and perform H&E and special stains as well as immuno-staining with associated quality processes.



Participating in and promoting an effective Quality Management System in collaboration with the Quality Manager.



Liaising with pathologists, clinicians and laboratory staff in other areas of the department and wider Trust to ensure a professional and efficient service.



Clinical Neuropathology is one of the ultra-specialist laboratories within the Synnovis analytics core service. The laboratory is ISO 15189: accredited (No. 8620) and is approved by the IBMS to provide training for both registration and specialist (cellular pathology) portfolios.



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. For now, the job you are applying for will be based at one of our hospital sites however, from 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.



The department of Clinical Neuropathology provides high-quality UKAS accredited diagnostic services and conducts research into disease of the nervous system. A wide range of CNS and PNS specimens are handled. Services include diagnosis of tumours as well as other pathologies on Pituitary biopsies, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), Muscle and Nerve biopsy, Intra-Epidermal Nerve Fibre Density analysis (IENFD), Epilepsy surgery and supporting comprehensive Neuro Molecular Genetic testing. The department provides autopsy examinations and forensic neuropathology, particularly for head injury and co-ordinates research projects and teaching courses in traumatic neuropathology. The department also provides clinical diagnosis for the Centre for Nervous Tissue Bio-Resource (Brain Bank) for neurodegenerative disease.



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.



Synnovis' Corporate HQ; housing our Finance, Procurement, HR, Service Improvement and Business Development teams. We have a relaxed, but professional atmosphere with monthly corporate updates to keep you informed on our progress. Situated 5 minutes from Southwark station you will have easy access to the vibrant South Bank and local amenities.



Duties and Responsibilities

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL:

To carry out histological demonstration of tissue constituents on a range of samples using a variety of highly specialised techniques.



To liaise with Neuropathologists, users, and other departments within the Trust in relation to the provision of the clinical service.



To work as economically with one's time, equipment and consumables as is practicable to achieve work objectives.



To keep work area clean and tidy and make sure everything is left as one would expect to find it.



To regularly analyse the quality of work with the relevant senior BMS and provide advice as required.



To participate in internal quality control systems and all relevant external quality assessment schemes.



To utilise and ensure accurate data entry within our laboratory Information Management System (EPIC Beaker).



Key Responsibilities



Perform and interpret routine and specialist biomedical investigations by participating in regular daily workloads, as directed by management, in line with your skills, experience and competencies.



Maintain standards of conduct required by the HCPC to practice as a registered Biomedical 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, such as 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 with accreditation bodies and local management processes. Where necessary this will include analysing clinical trial samples.



Participate in verification and validation work when required.



Day to day supervision of MLAs, APs and BMSs, providing support, training and mentoring to ensure performance is in line with laboratory standards.



Observe all safety regulations and ensure others are doing the same. This includes holding people to account when standards fall short of expectations and raising concerns about safety in the laboratory.



Ensure compliance for your area of work with all legislative and quality requirements of regulatory 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 IQC procedures as required.



Utilise the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Q-Pulse quality management database and other relevant software to ensure high quality reliable data capture and entry.



Complete data entry accurately to record sensitive patient information, requiring frequent, long period of concentration whilst maintaining patient confidentiality and following Information Governance (IG) guidelines.



Work closely with colleagues in the quality team to identify best practice and embed a culture of high quality and performance across your area.



Report all incidents and adverse events to management and enter the information in the CAPA module of Q-pulse in a timely manner as directed, supervising and assisting junior colleagues 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 of knowledge or understanding.



Prioritise your workload effectively to ensure that deadlines are met, and that work is delivered to the highest standards possible. Take part in CPD activities to ensure that your practices and knowledge are always relevant and up to date to your specific area.