Assistant Clinical Laboratory Quality Manager

Current vacancies Assistant Clinical Laboratory Quality Manager NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area: Pathology
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Part time - 30 hours per week
Job ref: 309-UCLH-6066

Site: National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH
Town: London
Salary: £54,320 - £60,981 Per annum inclusive of HCAS Pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 30/03/:59

Job overview

The UCLH Queen Square Division has a set of ISO15189 accredited highly specialized diagnostic laboratories responding to the unique needs of our rare patient cohorts. A talented and motivated Assistant Clinical Laboratory Quality Manager is sought to work closely with the Clinical Laboratory Quality Manager to help maintain the quality management system, assist with regulatory inspections and training requirements. The post holder should have excellent IT skills, be well organized and methodical with good communication skills and previous experience applying ISO15189 accreditation standards. Experience in histopathology or immunology would be an advantage but is not essential. On the job training for Quality Management software will be provided.

The post holder will work in direct support of the Clinical Laboratory Quality Manager for the Queen Square Division and Laboratory leads to ensure that the service objectives are achieved in a timely fashion in line with key Trust Priorities and prevailing best practice or accreditation, licensing or regulatory requirements.

Main duties of the job

As a subject matter expert in quality management, ISO15189 and regulatory compliance, the post holder will assist in maintaining and implementing the quality and risk management system in four specialist laboratories at the NHNN, Queen Square Division that conforms with national evidence-based standards to meet the needs of a patient focused service.

The post-holder will maintain an awareness of national and international developments in both legislation and approaches to quality management systems and encourage/disseminate and advise the senior laboratory management of the labs on the application of that information after consultation with the Clinical Laboratory Quality Manager.

Effective communication with all stakeholders is a key component of the role to minimise errors and optimise workflow to achieve efficiency savings and continuous quality improvement, ultimately benefitting patients.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

Person specification Knowledge and Qualifications

• Degree in Medical Laboratory Science or equivalent
• State Registered Clinical scientist
• Post-graduate, post-registration training in a specialist area, leading to the completion of a specialist portfolio
• Work experience assisting in quality management within Diagnostic laboratories
• Active CPD programme including attendance at relevant courses, best practice meetings and workshops.
• Thorough knowledge of NHS Clinical Pathology laboratories and relevant Health & Safety legislation
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of Quality assurance and requirements of ISO 15189 Quality Management Systems
• Further qualification in the field of quality management or willingness to pursue this
• Knowledge and understanding of management techniques including an adaptable approach to change.
• Knowledge of LEAN management techniques and their implementation

Experience

• Completed pre-registration training in an accredited diagnostic Clinical Diagnostic laboratory
• Completed post-registration training in an accredited diagnostic Clinical Diagnostic laboratory
• Excellent computer literacy, in particular with pathology databases and advanced skills in MS Excel
• Experience participating in accreditation inspections, and assisting in devising strategies to clear findings
• Understanding of audit schedule design compliant with ISO15189 standards, including audit review and root cause analysis.
• Management and supervisory experience
• Strong influencing abilities.
• Worked as a State Registered Clinical Scientist for over 2 years.
• Experience teaching junior staff
• Experience working at a senior level within a diagnostic laboratory in a quality related role
• Experience adapting a Quality Management System for laboratory needs
• Significant laboratory practical background including knowledge of technical parameters for tests.
• Excellent decision making, planning and execution abilities in a fast paced environment
• Experience writing, reviewing and applying policies, documentation, operating procedures risk assessments.

Skills and Abilities

• Good decision making, planning and execution abilities in a fast paced environment
• Good written and verbal skills, with attention to detail and understanding of abstract content
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• Ability to organise and manage own workload and meet deadlines
• Awareness of Health & Safety Legislation
• Strong influencing abilities.

Values

• Ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving

Communication

• Excellent writing skills to communicate with external and internal customers
• Excellent communication skills to explain complex results to non-specialists
• Excellent skills in communication across all levels within the organisation

Personal and People Development

• Commitment to contribute to the health and care of patients by delivering a high quality diagnostic service
• Flexible, effective team player, methodical, yet able to develop and utilise new ideas to solve problems
• Enthusiastic, self-confident and flexible, showing a positive attitude to both individual & teamwork
• Strong capabilities of learning and assimilating new information for the benefit of self, others and organisation.
• Accountability - Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working
• Openness - Shares information and good practice appropriately
• Mutual respect - Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
• Commitment to working the hours required to fulfil the job, including flexibility of working.

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

• Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
• Completing all required training on infection prevention and control.
• Including infection prevention and control as part of your continuous personal/professional development.
• Taking personal responsibility in ensuring effective prevention and control of health care associated infections.

Specific Requirements

• Fast development in proficiency in use of ipassport and Qpulse QMS software for document control and error management.
• Continued participation in CPD to maintain State Registration
• Mental effort: Significant mental effort and concentration for extended time periods during inspections and the following weeks.
• Emotional effort: Maintenance of accreditation requires knowledge, skills and effective self-management.
• Working Conditions: Involves working with and supervising staff, biological materials and hazardous chemicals
• Freedom To Act: Assist in the development and communication of all Quality Management Systems.

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy for flexible working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, access to free independent support, large retail discounts, and more.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people and this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.