Job overview
We are seeking an experienced, HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist (BMS) with leadership skills to join our team at a senior level as the departmental lead for the Muscle service.

Applications are invited for this exciting post within the Department of Clinical Neuropathology at King's College Hospital Denmark Hill Campus in London. Working full time, your existing skillsets will be stretched as you apply advanced techniques in Neuropathology, playing a key role in this specialist service and leading in the muscle service. The applicant should have evidence of extensive experience in processing muscle samples, muscle histochemistry/ICC staining and overall quality control.

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. Experience in these techniques will be highly advantageous.

Main duties of the job
Principle duties will include:

• Perform a range of specialised diagnostic histological tests and laboratory analysis on tissue specimens for the diagnosis of disease.
• To organise and supervise the laboratory team on a rotational basis within the department to ensure timely and high-quality laboratory processes.
• Participating in and promoting an effective Quality Management System in collaboration with the Quality Officers & Quality Manager.
• Training of laboratory staff and promoting personal development planning.
• Liaising with pathologists, clinicians and laboratory staff in other areas of the department and wider Trust to ensure a professional and efficient service.
• To continue with personal development through academic or practical experience.

Working for our organisation
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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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.

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 neurouropathology. The department also provides clinical diagnosis for the Centre for Nervous Tissue Bio-Resource (Brain Bank) for neurodegenerative disease.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for a specialist area, providing specialised technical scientific services and communicating complex information that will aid and determine clinical diagnosis.
• Contribute to the development of specialist investigations, identifying better ways of working and finding efficiencies in service delivery.
• Manage day-to-day staffing with the Operations Manager to ensure all resourcing needs are met, manage workflow and relevant training to meet turnaround times, cover bench work and where required supervise others as part of early or late or weekend shifts.
• Take part in other activities such as audits, training, and potentially clinical trials as required.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse samples in line with local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)) including but not limited to recording results and necessary action on the Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), ensuring all Information Governance (IG) requirements are met.
• 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.
• Participate in the strategic development and service improvement of the analytical service, be responsible for the implementation of new techniques, equipment, and tests, as directed including all verification and validation work. Where necessary this will include analysing clinical trial samples.
• Ensure all incidents and events are correctly reported by junior staff in Q-Pulse quality management database and other relevant software and support them in learning quality procedures and investigations.
• >In conjunction with the Quality team, monitor, report and action errors, hazards, and incidents logged in the CAPA module of Q-Pulse. This may may include taking part in investigations of incidents and providing expert insight into making improvements based on outcomes.
• Participate in appropriate clinical audits as required and directed.
• Monitor, and report on EQA and IQC procedures and be responsible for correcting problems that have have been identified.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and quality requirements of regulatory directives, accreditation bodies, and local management including:

• Care Quality Commission
• UKAS ISO 15189
• Synnovis policies and SOPs
• Any other body in area of responsibility.
• Provide supervision for all employees, including participating in early, late and weekend shifts if necessary and as required.
• Line manage employees, as required. This includes delivering all aspects of people management, such as recruitment, performance management, absence management, learning and development, employee health and wellbeing.
• Encourage junior employees in their scientific expertise, knowledge and professional development, including the safe use of highly complex and sensitive equipment.
• Develop, prepare, write, and review relevant documents, including SOPs, COSHH and risk assessments in line with the ISO 15189 standard.
• Demonstrate ongoing laboratory-based competency against training plans.
• To educate, train and involve the laboratory's staff in quality principles and practice.
• Ensure that all Synnovis policies and procedures are implemented and maintained.
• 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.
• Attend, and where required, chair regular departmental meetings and contribute to effective communication within the department.
• Work closely with Operations Manager to ensure stock inventory compliance.
• Deputise for the Operations Manager including attendance at meetings, as required.
• Take part in CPD activities to ensure that your practices and knowledge are always relevant and up to date to your specific area.

Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria

• BSc (Hons) IBMS accredited degree or equivalent
• HCPC State registration as a Biomedical Scientist
• Specialist portfolio in relevant discipline or equivalent experience (if HCPC Registration via IBMS Portfolio route) or FIBMS
• MSc, FIBMS or equivalent experience in a similar role
• Evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Desirable criteria

• Quality or Management qualification
• Willing to work towards higher levels of professional practice
• IBMS membership

Experience
Essential criteria

• Leadership qualities with experience of coaching, co-ordinating and managing a team
• Experience of supervising junior employees
• Significant demonstrable discipline specific practical experience
• Experience in the education of physiology, pathology, and scientific principles relevant to specialism
• Experience in and ability to supervise analysis, interpretation and technical validation of routine, complex and specialist results
• Lead in area of special interest and expertise in one or more areas of the laboratory, for example Quality, Health & Safety, Training or IT

Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria

• Advanced working knowledge of histological, immunocytochemical and cryotomy techniques.
• Advanced working knowledge of processing muscle samples and muscle histochemistry/ICC staining.
• Well-developed physical skills, demonstrable ability to use precision equipment and consumables
• Manage the resolution of troubleshooting activity for highly technical and precision equipment and assays
• Ability to manage effectively in a changing dynamic environment with multiple conflicting priorities
• Ability to maintain focus and concentration for extended periods of time
• Knowledge of the correct policies and procedures to implement in relation to quality systems, with reference to ISO/UKAS

Desirable criteria

• Good awareness of current issues within pathology locally and nationally.

Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. All applicants are welcome to apply regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. Equality of opportunity is our policy.

Our Bank workers enjoy competitive market rates and flexible contract assignments across all of our sites, dependent on your availability and location.

For our Permanent workforce we offer a competitive benefits package.

All employees are entitled to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Ground breaking development opportunities

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.

Please apply for this post on-line. If you have problems with using the online process, or need any assistance, please email recruitment@synnovis.co.uk

Your e-mail address is important to us. We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure that you check your e-mail on a regular basis.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

If you decide to apply for this post but do not hear back from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been short-listed on this occasion.

Thank you for your interest in Synnovis.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.