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Job summary

Main area
Microbiology
Grade
Band 8b
Contract
Permanent: N/AA
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (N/A)
Job ref
279-6696996-DEC24
Employer
279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
UH Sussex- Cross Site - Worthing Hospital
Town
Worthing
Salary
£62,215 - £72,293 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
20/01/2025 23:59

Employer heading

279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Deputy Head of Microbiology

Band 8b

 About our Trust

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

 Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First .  In fact our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme  for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves. 

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex. 

 

Job overview

The post holder, in conjunction with the Pathology Head of Operations, will provide operational leadership and management to the Microbiology & Infection speciality and its associated workforce and services across all Microbiology sites.The Microbiology and Infection service is based on three sites at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath and St Richards Hospital, Chichester. The Brighton laboratory is the UKHSA commissioned regional public health microbiology laboratory for the South East and links are established with BSMS Medical School. The laboratory holds UKAS accreditation for both the clinical and environmental services. A full range of clinical services including bacteriology, mycobacteriology, mycology, virology and an extensive range of molecular tests are provided from the Brighton laboratory; water and environmental microbiology at the Haywards Heath laboratory and a full range of clinical services including virus serology and some molecular tests at the Chichester laboratory. UHSussex is also part of Pathology Network South 7, along with East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust (ESHT). They will be involved in the drive to harmonise and centralise Pathology services across the network. 

Main duties of the job

The post holder will Act as Deputy to the Head of Microbiology & Infection and be responsible for operational activity within the specialty, which will include the business continuity processes and planning, and day-day management of staff, providing strong leadership, management and communicating the strategic direction to the Pathology operational teams over all sites. With the Head of Microbiology & Infection, have responsibility for the successful implementation and ongoing delivery of a high-quality, cost-effective and safe service within UHSussex Pathology. 

Manage operational changes, ensuring a safe transition from individual Trust pathology services to the new integrated service and developing and fostering a new culture in line with the overarching objectives of the Sussex Pathology Network and its business case for change.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme  for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves. 

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex. 

Candidate Information Pack 

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the detailed job description and person specification that has been included as part of this vacancy advert

Person specification

Experience/Qualification

Essential criteria
  • Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience working at a senior level in Pathology. Recognised professional post graduate qualification in leadership and management or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to master’s level or equivalent. Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development. Evidence of leading and managing change in a complex environment. Robust negotiating and performance management skills. Evidence of meeting challenging operational and service objectives. Has worked at a senior level in an acute NHS hospital. Ability to translate complex systems, user requirements and corporate priorities into robust implementation plans. Significant experience in working with confidential information and adherence with Caldicott (patient confidentiality), GDPR 2018.
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of the complex strategic environment and of the commissioning agenda.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • To be a part of, supervise and direct a team. Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills. Can present complex and sensitive information to large groups of staff at ll levels (Trust level to Junior staff) including training and conference presentations. Excellent numeric and analytical skills to enable critique of report, both financial and information based. Highly developed problem solving skills. Ability to capture, analyse, manipulate and interpret complex data from a range of sources. Able to make sound judgements and decisions involving highly complex facts. Good budgetary management experience. High level of business, commercial and financial acumen. Excellent organisational and prioritising skills. Capability to plan over short, medium and long term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly. Able to contribute to commercial strategy. Professional credibility and gravitas and ambassadorial skills to represent the Trust and Microbiology both internally and externally. Able to respond to conflicting demands, work to tight and often challenging timescales and deadlines. Change management experience Advanced IT skills for data entry and Trust IT Systems, spreadsheets, DATIX.

People Management & Development

Essential criteria
  • Highly developed leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and engage individuals and teams. Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals. Able to manage own work programme and set prioritised deadlines for others. Experience of managing a team of professionals, including recruitment, appraisal and development. Experience of developing the operational capability and effectiveness of others. Excellent organiser, influencer and networker. Dealing with conflict.

Specific Requirememts

Essential criteria
  • Lead the strategic direction for the service, identifying and developing service improvement and commercial opportunities that match the overall strategic objectives of the Trust, Network and the department and which contribute to the delivery of improved patient care pathways and outcomes. Ensure the delivery of a highly specialist and safe clinical technical service to service users and their patients.

Freedom to Act

Essential criteria
  • Strategic thinking and ability to mitigate issues and act autonomously when required, on difficult issues. Able to work autonomously, liaise with and coordinate the speciality services on a day to day basis and to take appropriate action as necessary. Identify and adhere to best practice. Responsible for own professional actions and have sufficient autonomy for the delivery of the role. Able to interpret national and local guidance and develop local policies to reflect these standards.

Professional Registration

Essential criteria
  • Member of Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC), relative to Pathology registration

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employerStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Fearghal Tucker
Job title
Head of Microbiology
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07811150960
Additional information

Lorne Dye- Associate Director of Pathology 

[email protected] 

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