Job Description

We are seeking an enthusiastic Biomedical Scientist (Band 6) for a full-time (37.5 hours) permanent role within Clinical Immunology and Allergy at the Synnovis Analytics HUB laboratory, Blackfriars Bridge. Ideally, applicants will have several years of Immunology experience. The successful candidate will join our growing, friendly, and interactive team delivering an excellent diagnostic service to King's College Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, local GPs, and other UK customers.



The department operates extended hours from 08:00 to 19:30, Monday to Friday, covered by three shifts, with an optional 3-hour Saturday shift. Our UKAS-accredited service is also IBMS-accredited for training. We provide a wide repertoire of analyses covering autoimmunity, allergy, monoclonal gammopathies, and immunodeficiency. Staff rotate through all sections of the service, with about 95% of tests performed on automated and interfaced analysers.



The laboratory team comprises 25 staff, including Biomedical Scientists, Clinical Scientists, and Medical Laboratory Assistants, supported by medical and administrative staff. We are strongly committed to quality improvement, with a programme of audits and encouragement of staff input. This is an exciting time as we settle into the new HUB laboratory at Blackfriars Bridge.



BMS staff are trained in all sections of the lab. We are committed to staff training and staff are actively encouraged to develop themselves through the various training opportunities available within Synnovis.



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.

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.



BMS staff are trained in all sections of the laboratory. We are committed to staff training; staff are actively encouraged to develop themselves through the various training opportunities available to them within Synnovis.



Technical



To safely handle, use or dispose of blood, urine, other body tissue, hazardous and or radioactive chemicals.



To perform manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations, in all sections of the laboratory.



To undertake preventative maintenance on laboratory instruments and equipment prior to them being used for patient investigations.



To carry out first line equipment and method troubleshooting, advise line manager of situations requiring further action.



To prepare store and use reagents required for laboratory investigations.



To measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.



To undertake technical validation of the results from laboratory investigations to ensure accuracy and precision as specified by laboratory protocols and quality procedures.



To undertake preliminary fault finding and corrective action when the quality control procedures indicate loss of performance.



To report to the Section Manager any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure, or a delay to reporting of results.



Scientific



To undertake method and laboratory instrument evaluation as directed by the Section Manager.



To participate in research and development as directed by the Section Manager/Consultant Clinical Scientist.



To keep up to date with current scientific and technical developments including through participation in scientific meetings if appropriate.



Clinical



To interpret first line laboratory results and take appropriate actions in line with laboratory policies and procedures. e.g. validation of results, ordering relevant follow-up laboratory procedures, adding technical and approved pre-defined clinically relevant comments, referring results for clinical interpretation or opinion, informing the requestor of clinically significant result.



Provide approved departmental information and advice to other healthcare professionals, and to refer on to appropriate specialist requests for information outside of their area of responsibility.



Quality Assurance



Maintain the quality assurance procedures of the department. Measure and monitor the accuracy and imprecision of laboratory investigations using appropriate quality control procedures.



To carry out audits to highlight deficiencies in the pre-examination, examination and post-examination processes, as required by the Section Manager / Quality Manager.



To meet the target turnaround times of laboratory investigations and act on information to improve the service provided. To communicate effectively if TAT will be breached.



To participate in audits of the Quality Management System (QMS).



Keep up to date with all tasks required on the QMS system (Q-Pulse).



To adopt a culture of continuous improvement.



To highlight any aspects of the service for which there are concerns about quality.



To make suggestions for improvement.



Risk Management/Health and Safety



Work within the Departmental Health and Safety Code of practice. Awareness of hazards inherent in the laboratory and use of adequate precautions at all times, including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided by the employer.



To report any adverse incidents as set out in Adverse Incident Policy.



Maintain laboratory equipment in a safe clean working condition. Perform equipment maintenance schedules as outlined in relevant SOPs. Decontaminate equipment prior to servicing by an engineer issue 'permit to work' certificates. As per the rota log water-bath temperatures daily and fume cupboards weekly.



To participate in the review of policies and procedures, COSHH and workplace risk assessments.



Continuing Professional Development



Develop knowledge of the significance of medical laboratory work in order to offer the best possible service to the user.



Understand your own role and be aware of the management structure of the department.



Contribute to service initiatives within the laboratory setting.



Laboratory Informatics



To raise / report any technical issues with data flow with the Section Manager and the Applications Management Systems Team on Service Now.

Information Governance:

To comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing, and storage of patient and other laboratory information.



To use the Laboratory Information Management Systems (e.g Beaker) according to the authorised protocols.



To maintain the integrity and accuracy of laboratory databases.



Staff Training



To support and participate in staff training and development.



To participate in the supervision of the work and performance monitoring of trainee Biomedical Scientists, Medical Laboratory Assistants and students, in the procedures for which the post holder is responsible.



Administrative



To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good work practices required for the standards of United Kingdom Accreditation Service [UKAS ISO15189 (2012)].



To ensure that results are reported within the agreed turnaround time, and to take appropriate action, for example communicating appropriately with colleagues and managers, should there be impediments to this.



To accurately and diligently adhere to the stock management policy.



To ensure departmental resources are used efficiently with minimum wastage.



General



To comply with the policies and procedures of Synnovis Analytics.



To keep the workplace and workbenches clean and tidy.



To maintain good work relations with all members of staff, and to promote effective teamwork.



To treat everyone with courtesy and respect.



To observe national and local guidance on patient and commercial confidentiality.



To ensure compliance with all local and national standards of work practice e.g. UKAS.



To maintain and promote the professional image of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Synnovis.

Core duties include:

Plan and organise their work within the demands of the team



Perform manual, semi-automated and fully automated laboratory investigations



Interpret first line laboratory results and take appropriate actions in line with laboratory policies and procedures



Keep up to date with current scientific and technical developments, including through participation in scientific meetings if appropriate



Participate in internal and external quality assurance programmes as well in the quality control, document and incident reporting procedures



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 Southeast London.



The partnership provides services to 1.7 million people living in Southeast 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



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 laboratory underneath. This is a total net internal area of almost 10,000m squared across the 10 floors.



Based in Blackfriars, it's 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.