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Job summary

Main area
Clinical Scientist - Genetics
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
321-CSS-6363151-8a-1
Employer
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Churchill Hospital
Town
Oxford
Salary
£50,952 - £57,349 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
21/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Principal Clinical Scientist - Cytogenetics

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

 

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

 

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

 

Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values


 

Job overview

"This is a rare and exciting career opportunity for a dynamic individual to develop their leadership skills within a team and, through collaboration with the senior scientific management team, contribute to the overall management and direction of the Department. In addition, you will also contribute to the C&S GLH and NHSE service development and seek professional roles as appropriate.

You will have excellent clinical and scientific knowledge in Cytogenetics / cytogenomics with several years’ experience of writing reports for complex and unusual cases. You will be ability to innovate and present ideas for further development of the service in keeping with national & local priorities. You will also have good communication and leadership skills to enable you to manage people and situations in the team. You will provide excellent clinical advice to a range of health professionals and be able to develop networks and collaborations with other health professionals and to present work at scientific meetings.

HCPC registration in Genetics and possession of FRCPath Part 1 are essential (applicants actively preparing for the exam will be considered).

The main focus of this post will initially be in rare disease cytogenetics / genomics, however, as we are in the process of reconfiguring our services to deliver the National GMS more effectively, the successful candidate may be required to work within and across different teams in the future." 

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

  • To provide complex clinical/scientific reports, advice, opinions, judgements for a range of highly specialised genetic investigations and services to local, national and international service users
  • To lead a team of clinical scientists and technologists and be responsible for the clinical and scientific work, including quality, and managerial aspects of the work and the staff within the team(s)
  • To exercise considerable autonomy for his /her own work and that of the section/team and to employ all the competences of a State Registered Clinical Scientist
  • To contribute to the management of the department through active involvement in departmental committees and working groups and through experienced gained in the wider context of participation in national and professional working groups

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here  www.ouh.nhs.uk

 

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

 

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Leadership and Management

  • To manage a team(s) of healthcare scientists with line management responsibilities for appraisal, recruitment and selection, performance management, disciplinary and conduct processes, sickness absence management, career development and pastoral care within the overall direction of the Director of the Genetics Laboratories and supervision of Consultant and Senior Principal Scientists
  • Contribute to the development of policies and practices within the department by participating in departmental committees or working groups
  • To develop and improve existing service portfolio by continual review of quality, productivity and efficiency
  • To propose and evaluate potential new services relevant to the section and department

Clinical /Scientific

  • To be clinically and professionally responsible for a section(s) subject to the overall direction of the Director of the Genetics Laboratories, or other Consultant Scientists
  • To be responsible for the analysis of scientific results and their implications by collating complex scientific evidence from database searches, literature searches and collaboration with scientific and clinical colleagues and ensuring the results, including risk calculations where appropriate, and clinical and scientific interpretation are accurate
  • Undertake clinical validation and authorisation of a range of reports and take responsibility for the accuracy, interpretation and timely reporting of genetic test results, and direct staff to undertake further investigations to solve complex diagnostic cases as appropriate
  • To  interpret and report highly complex and specialist scientific tests,  within the limits of knowledge and experience,  and provide expert advice to clinicians,  and other healthcare professionals on the interpretation, diagnostic and prognostic implications, the significance for treatment and recommendation of further testing of patients or family.
  • Supply the highest level of scientific skill and expertise in the investigative procedures, directing or undertaking problem solving / trouble-shooting, as required and validation of the scientific basis for the introduction/ implementation of new tests
  • To provide authoritative clinical and scientific advice, opinion and judgements within own area of clinical specialism to clinical health professional users of the service
  • To ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all patient results.
  • To manage the quality and efficiency of the scientific and technical work of the staff of the section to ensure that appropriate procedures for receipt, processing, analysis and interpretation and reporting of findings are employed.
  • To participate in multidisciplinary meetings with clinicians and pathologists to discuss cases and contribute to management of outcomes

Please see job description and person specification attached for details

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Good honours degree in a Biological subject
  • Master’s level training in Genetics ( e.g. STP or equivalent)
  • Registered as a Clinical Scientist in Genetics
  • FRC Path part 1 or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • FRC Path or equivalent
  • PhD in a relevant area

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Expert knowledge of the principles and practise of Genetics
  • Advanced clinical and scientific knowledge relevant to genetic testing in specialist area
  • Good knowledge of the technology applicable to the analysis of genetic referrals in specialist area
  • Knowledge of best practise and national policy in relation to genetic testing including consent and confidentiality and information governance

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Post registration experience in Genetics as a Clinical Scientist
  • Scientific contribution to clinical case discussion and multidisciplinary meetings
  • Experience of handling complex referrals, including clinical liaison and advice
  • Experience of speaking and presenting data at national and international conferences and meetings
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of managing performance including conduct and disciplinary proceedings, sickness absence

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication skills –verbal and written including scientific writing for publications and documents
  • Ability to critically evaluate and discuss complex scientific and clinical information
  • Ability to concentrate intensely for long periods of time ( for analysing results, reporting patients results, checking and authorising patient reports and writing documents
  • Ability to logically solve problems
  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Organisational ability
  • Enthusiasm / Motivation

Personal attributes

Essential criteria
  • Ability to assimilate information quickly
  • Able to work as part of a team
  • Methodical approach to work
  • Able to deal with distressing situations (e.g. receipt / handling of abnormal fetuses).
  • Able to work under pressure and demonstrate resilience
  • Professional attitude
  • Desire to learn and develop further

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Fair Train work experience quality standard - gold standardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Embracing Equality Diversity InclusionDisability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Prince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carolyn Campbell
Job title
Consultant Director of Genetics Laboratories
Email address
[email protected]
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