Senior Genetic TechnologistNHS

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced technician to join our comprehensive Genetics Service at the South East Genomic Medicine Service (SEGMS), based at Guy's Hospital. The post holder (MTO3 / Senior Genetic Technologist) will support our Prenatal and Reproductive Genomics Service, which covers a range of processes including our karyotyping, chromosome breakage and QF-PCR diagnostic services. Some work within the related Developmental Disorders Genomics Service, which administers our SNP array service may also be required as the two teams are becoming more closely aligned.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be a dedicated and enthusiastic individual with knowledge of the Prenatal and Reproductive technical processes and experience of analysing the results of one or more diagnostic genetic tests. The postholder will manage a team of technical staff and be responsible for the organisation and monitoring of technical workloads and several technical processes. The postholder will work closely with Technical staff, Clinical Scientists and Lab Managers within the Prenatal and Reproductive Genomics Team and across the Department to ensure quality service provision. This postholder will work closely with the Developmental Disorders team, and will be expected to support and take part in activities in both teams. Applicants should have exceptional communication skills, demonstrate initiative, support continual quality improvement and be able to prioritise workloads in line with service needs with support from the PreRep and Developmental Disorders Laboratory Manager. The role requires consistent attention to detail and excellent organisational skills.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced technician to step into a management and service improvement role; applications are encouraged from technicians with significant knowledge and experience of a clinical genomics diagnostic laboratory who wish to develop their skills and explore new challenges.

Job description

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.

Managerial and Supervisory responsibilities:

1. Staff management

• Line management of more junior staff, as appropriate, including but not limited to; sickness absence return to work meetings and performance review meetings.
• Participate in recruitment activities including shortlisting and interviewing.
• Chair/minute section meetings as/when appropriate.
• Responsible for technical staff timetabling, ensuring that all duties are covered and technical processes run smoothly.

2. Training

• Responsible for the coordination and provision of training for staff within sections under management.
• Ensure Training Forms and Competency records are kept up to date.
• Act as a Medical Technical Lead as part of the learning and development management team working together to improve the values, behaviour and technical skills of staff.
• Support technical staff to keep a continued professional development (CPD) record, helping identify opportunities for development in line with individual needs and providing templates and short presentations at General Laboratory meetings.

3. Documentation

• Create and update Standard Operating Procedures, training forms and H&S related forms in line with ISO 15189, using the in-house quality management system (Q-Pulse).
• Partake in the laboratory audit schedule, including ad hoc audits as required
• Management of the asset module to ensure equipment records are up to date.
• Involved in monitoring turnaround times and service performance through generation of the monthly operational performance management system (OPMS) figures.

4. Analytical duties:

• Perform a significant amount of analysis in one or more tests to support the team(s) in achieving target turnaround times.
• Add reports for cases analysed to the laboratory information management system ready for authorising.

5. Technical duties:

• Be competent and act as an expert in a number of technical areas within the team. Provide technical cover for these areas.
• Provide assistance, advice, and trouble-shooting support to technical staff within the team.
• Arrange engineer visits in the event of equipment breakdown and for preventative maintenance.
• Ensure all tasks are carried out according to SOPs and good laboratory practice.
• Identify and highlight any risk areas/protocols and areas for improvement
• Where appropriate, investigate errors, carry out root cause analysis and document and implement actions.
• Monitor laboratory stock levels and oversee the ordering process.
• Involvement in service development and/or project work where appropriate.

6. Other:

• Perform mandatory training as required by Synnovis in a timely fashion.
• Participate in annual performance reviews

Synnovis is a pathology partnership between SYNLAB UK and Ireland, and the NHS, including sites, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings 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.

Guys and St Thomas Hospital Foundation Trust is a major emergency and specialist teaching Trust which has all the specialties associated with a fascinating and career defining case load including: Womens Services, Fetal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, Transplantation, and is also home to the Evelina Childrens Hospital and the newly opened Cancer Centre on the Guys site.

You will be close to the vibrant Borough Market and the South Bank, which are exceptional London locations; perfect places to work and relax next to such iconic venues as Big Ben, The London Eye and The Shard!

About us

The successful candidate will be joining an accredited and fully integrated genomics department with more than 200 staff and with close links to Clinical Services throughout Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTfT) and St George's Hospital Foundation Trust. With our partner laboratories, the GMS for the South East region provides a comprehensive genomics service for a population of 8 million which includes specialist germline and cancer tests and a class-leading whole exome sequencing service. The laboratory works collaboratively with other pathology disciplines and research groups such as the GSTfT Biomedical Research Centre, the Genomics Innovation Unit and the GSTfT Assisted Conception Unit for Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT).

To learn more about this opening, please see contact details below or simply apply through the application process.

Further details can be found in the Job Description and enquiries are welcome.