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Job description

The department of Neuropathology and Ocular Pathology is a UKAS-accredited tertiary diagnostic service and is part of the specialist Neurosciences centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The service is offered to clinicians of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, to regional and supra-regional hospitals and supports HM Coroners in Oxford and the region. In addition, we provide a full interpretative and consultative national and international referral service. We are involved in the education and training of laboratory, clinical and other appropriate staff in all matters pertinent to neuropathology.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a senior biomedical scientist, to work in this specialist diagnostic laboratory. The successful candidate will rotate through the different laboratory services, covering routine CNS histopathology, along with the specialist diagnostic tissues, such as muscle and nerve.

As a small team, we are supportive, focussed and provide a patient-centric service. We work closely with teams outside the department, so that we can get a better understanding of the wider clinical picture. The department encourages CPD and ongoing training and education, relevant to the role.

We will consider recruiting an enthusiastic band 6 biomedical scientist who is interested in developing their career in neuropathology, but who does not yet possess the necessary knowledge and experience.

• Deputises for the Lead Biomedical Scientist as required.
• Responsibility for the day to day management of a laboratory section (including documentation, QA, audit, improvement, incident management, etc.).
• Responsible for the smooth daily provision of service to all sections on a rota basis.
• Supervises Specialist BMS and support staff and assists in training.
• Assists the laboratory manager in developing the department’s quality management system (QMS)
• Supporting the laboratory management team with all aspects of health and safety in the lab.
• Assists in maintaining UKAS accreditation.
• Not required to manage a budget but ensures resources are optimised by collaborating with the Service Manager and other laboratory staff to monitor and control the use of reagents and offers recommendations for optimising the service.
• Responsible for preparation of tissues for a frozen section service.
• Not expected to participate in a routine out of hours service but when appropriate, and when agreed with Laboratory Lead or Service Manager, assists in providing acute service needs.

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The Neuropathology Department provides a neuropathology and ocular pathology service to aid diagnosis and or management of patients through appropriate analytical assessment. The service is offered to the clinicians of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, to regional and supra-regional hospitals and supports a service to HM Coroners in Oxford and the region.

In addition we provide a full interpretative and consultative national and international referral service. We are involved in the education and training of laboratory, clinical and other appropriate staff in all matters pertinent to neuropathology.

We support and promote a blend of diagnostic and research activity and collaborate with staff, post-doctoral scientists and students of the University of Oxford especially NDCN and with the Oxford Brain Bank.

Qualifications

• Would hold a higher scientific qualification (Masters in Biomedical Science) or demonstrate further professional development.
• Must be a registered Biomedical Scientist with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and must maintain registration.
• Ideally, would hold a IBMS Certificate of Expert Practice in Quality Management or similar.
• Must hold a BSc in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent qualification acceptable to HCPC.
• Must participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities to the satisfaction of HCPC.

Responsibilities

• Good knowledge and experience in quality management systems within an NHS laboratory
• Excellent working knowledge and proficiency in current histological and immunocytochemical techniques and their clinical applications.
• Experience of operating, maintaining and troubleshooting specialised departmental equipment.
• The ability to develop the departmental standard operating procedures (SOPs) including those relating to Health and Safety.
• Ability to provide a frozen section service.
• Experience of staff management techniques e.g. training and supervising.
• Works as part of a team and also aware of responsibilities within team.
• Ability to prioritise work appropriately.
• Good personal and team organisational skills.• Ability to provide training to all staff groups and grades working within department.
• Ability to mentor trainee Biomedical Scientists and Medical Laboratory Assistants.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, written and spoken that promotes and maintains good working relationships.
• Knowledge and skills relevant to customer care, for example, when dealing with bereavement staff, clinical staff, police and other support staff.

Clinical & Scientific

• Provides general scientific advice, information or guidance to service users, particularly immediate colleagues, medical staff, theatre staff, mortuary staff and other Biomedical Scientists.
• Prepares and advises others on preparation of tissues for specialist neuropathology diagnostic techniques after training.
• Possesses a detailed knowledge and understanding of technical processes relating to the demonstration of normal and abnormal histology, applying this to the practice of neuro- and ocular-pathology.
• Following training, possesses knowledge of the appropriate preparation of the different kinds of neuropathological samples from specimen reception through to case dispatch to the consultants.
• In rotation with other staff, responsible for delivery of the surgical histology, immunocytochemistry, neuromuscular, and post-mortem service.
• Assists in sampling tissue for histological investigation when directed by consultant staff.
• Applies accurate and appropriate procedures according to clinical details or request from consultant.
• Uses and adheres to standard operating procedures and only amends these methods after prior agreement with staff.
• Assists in the development and review of standard operating procedures. Ensures that all procedures are documented and available to all members of staff.
• Applies effective quality control.
• Liaise on a day-to-day basis with the staff ensuring that agreed quality standards of service are maintained in all areas of the department.
• Interprets the technical quality of results (Quality Assurance).
• Ensures records are maintained in order to audit quality of performance.
• Participates in National External Quality Assurance Scheme (NEQAS) tests and are submitted on time and to an appropriately high standard.
• Develops and maintains skills appropriate to the grade in order to provide the best possible laboratory service to our service users by participating in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.
• Undertakes investigations as requested by senior staff.
• Ensures the functioning of, and adequate maintenance of equipment. Informs line manager should remedial action be necessary.
• Attends user group meetings when directed by Service Manager.
• Assists in the implementation of recommended change arising from new legislation.
• Maintains levels of professional standards set by the Service Manager and Clinical Lead.
• Contributes to the scientific understanding and development of the profession and departmental team.