Advanced Practitioner Molecular Pathway Lead
| Posting date: | 28 June 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £50,952.00 to £57,349.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £50952.00 - £57349.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 July 2024 |
| Location: | Leeds, LS9 7TF |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9298-PATH-333 |
Summary
In order to work effectively in the role, the jobholder must be able to demonstrate a number of attributes and abilities. These will include: To manage molecular pathology pathways within the department which involve the integration of Histopathological, Immunocytochemical and molecular investigations. To manage the delegated budget of the section(s) if so required by the Pathology Service Manager. To be support in the development of the services that is in line with the departmental strategy. To undertake other tasks that contribute to the general management of the speciality. To gain new knowledge through experience, formal study and participation in relevant training schemes. To remain competent in established procedures and to develop new skills subject to the requirements of the service. To work independently when and as required by the service. To communicate clearly and effectively whether orally, graphically or electronically. To present information to large groups of staff. To plan and implement changes to the clinical technical service offered by the section(s). To work with precision and follow accurately the documented laboratory standard operating procedures. To operate laboratory equipment safely and efficiently. To support the evaluation, recommendation and procurement of new and emerging technologies which will involve equipment testing and the co-ordination of specialist R&D activities. To input, manage, extract and interpret patient data using the laboratory computer system including the recording of personally generated information and data entry, text processing and storage of data. To manage a failsafe system to ensure Patients with abnormal results are offered the opportunity for appropriate and timely investigation and treatment. To demonstrate relevant tasks to others as appropriate. Is responsible for the day-to-day management of a team of staff and provide specialist training to internal and external groups along with the assessment of competencies and is instrumental in the formulation of training schemes for all groups of staff involved in the speciality. To contribute actively towards the improvement of general service quality by participation in relevant discussions with other managers and team leaders. To participate actively in the departmental appraisal scheme. To participate actively in other governance procedures that are consistent with Trust HR policies. Support in the writing of numerous trust and inter-trust policies, service level agreements and contracts and bids for new work along with consultation on external policies, contracts and job descriptions. With the involvement in clinical risk, the jobholder will investigate errors, accidents and incidents both within the speciality and external to the employing authority. As a consequence, the post holder can be exposed to distressing or emotional circumstances. To take account of changes in service delivery by demonstrating a flexible approach to work. The post requires judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of sometimes conflicting options on which expert opinions may differ. To provide service-related documentation for the defined areas of responsibility, for example reviewing and updating standard operating procedures, as a function of the departments accreditation requirements. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING The jobholder will require sufficient knowledge and understanding to: Perform, validate and authorize the results of a wide range of highly complex technical procedures. These procedures will include the safe and effective use of laboratory equipment. The level of knowledge and understanding of these procedures will be consistent with that to allow recognition of system failures and errors and the jobholder will understand the need to report adverse events when errors and failures occur and contribute to any consequent investigation. Have knowledge and understanding of current national legislation and guidelines relevant to Histopathology including immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology. Have a good understanding of LIMS systems, digital pathology workflows and potential AI tools Participate actively in departmental internal and external quality assurance schemes. The level of knowledge and understanding will allow recognition of when expected levels of quality have not been met together with the ability to recommend appropriate improvements. Work with the Histopathology Operational and Service Manager to ensure that the department meets the requirements of accreditation bodies e.g. UKAS. Participate in the maintenance of a safe working environment. This will include an awareness of the hazards associated with the work and suitable actions to take in the event of breaches in health and safety. Such hazards include fire, manual handling, and breaches of security, controlled and uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials. Maintain patient confidentiality. The jobholder will recognise the absolute requirement to protect sensitive information that is related to patient care. Comply with the requirements of departmental policies relating to service provision, for example sample labelling and adverse event reporting. Comply with the requirements of Trust policies relating to clinical and people governance. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY The post holder will be recognised as a specialist in their field, and as such the expert reporting will comprise a significant part of their role. The post holder will be responsible for managing molecular pathology pathways within the department, which involve the integration of histopathological, immunocytochemical and molecular investigations. The will involve: Ensuring that specimens are sampled and prepared appropriately to allow the full range of immunohistochemical and molecular investigations to be performed. Working with histopathologists to assign specimens to individual molecular pathology pathways. Monitor the quality outcomes of molecular investigations. Co-ordinating audit activities and continuous review of pathways and protocols. Providing education and training to biomedical scientists and pathologists in molecular pathology. Work with pathology managers and clinical staff to develop the external referral practice in molecular pathology pathways. Act as a single point of contact for external service users. The post holder will assist Pathologists in the pre-analytical assessment of samples for genomic testing and reporting molecular immunohistochemistry, and in that role will be expected to carry out the following duties according to the appropriate standard operating procedures, ensuring health and safety guidance is followed. This component of the role will focus on acquiring and correctly handling tissue specimen suitable for genomic analysis and will involve liaison with theatre and radiology staff. Performing molecular pathology assessment and reporting as part of the specific histopathology speciality teams. Teaching, training and supervision of Biomedical Scientists and ST1-5 junior medical staff in appropriate molecular pathology pre-analytical assessment and reporting techniques. Providing support and advice to junior medical staff with molecular pathology attachments. Work under their own initiative referring to standard operating procedures and amending as required after consultation with Consultant Histopathologists and the Histopathology Management Team. Working with medical staff to develop and improve techniques in molecular pathology pre-analytical assessment and reporting. Participating in multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDT) and genomic tumour advisory boards (GTABs) in support of the specialty teams ensuring effective patient management, providing specialist input where appropriate to clinicians and medical staff from other departments. This is seen as an integral part of the extended role. Attaining appropriate knowledge, skills and qualifications in relation to an advanced practitioner role. To support, in consultation with the Lead Pathologist and the Laboratory Manager the strategic direction of the service with regards to molecular pathology ensuring the service is developed in line with the national and local policy. Liaising with colleagues external to the department to improve services, e.g. Genomic Laboratory Hub clinical scientists. Responsible in consultation with the Lead Pathologist for molecular pathology audits as required to demonstrate the quality of the molecular pathology service. To have protected time for molecular pathology review/reporting as appropriate with authorising pathologist. To have protected time to regularly observe complex molecular pathology reporting by experienced pathologists. To review and interpret molecular pathology tests as appropriate to level of experienced and formulate report with clinical interpretation as appropriate for discussion with reporting pathologist prior to authorisation. This will include: i. Assessing the suitability of tissue block(s) for molecular analysis. ii. Interpreting the pre-analytical criteria and molecular immunohistochemistry as part of the overall diagnostic pathway. To ensure that the performance of laboratory equipment within the section complies to standards and in the event of failure or malfunction takes prompt and appropriate action to ensure continued running of the section.