Genetic Technologist

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated Genetic Technologist to join Oxford Genetics Laboratories (OGL) at the Churchill Hospital, part of the Central and South Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH).

The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of a high-quality genomic diagnostic service, performing a range of genetic tests in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures. Working under the supervision of Senior Genetic Technologists and Clinical Scientists, the post holder will support workflow organisation within a specialist laboratory area.

The role includes performing and troubleshooting laboratory techniques, assisting with staff training, supporting junior colleagues, and contributing to the laboratory Quality Management System. In addition to wet-lab work, the post holder will undertake initial analysis of test data and may report routine results.

Applicants should possess excellent organisational, communication and practical laboratory skills, with a flexible approach and strong attention to detail.

Essential requirements include experience working in a UKAS-accredited genetics laboratory, or similarly regulated environment, and practical experience and scientific understanding of a range of genomic techniques. Full training in local procedures will be provided.

The successful candidate may be expected to work across a wider range of laboratory services as service needs evolve.

Main duties of the job
Genetic Technologists undertake technical, analytical and administrative duties that support the clinical scientists in the department. They take personal responsibility for their own work on a daily basis subject to the supervision of the section head. They participate in various rotational duties within the department including monitoring of work areas for health and safety and cleanliness.They process a wide range of pathological specimens for a broad range of inherited conditions according to standard operating procedures, and are competent in the use of patient databases, state of the art technologies and a variety of software packages, some of which are complex, for the analysis of data.They perform highly accurate and skilled analysis, with often unpredictable outcomes and requiring periods of concentration.They are expected to communicate complex technical, scientific and confidential information to colleagues within their department in electronic, written and verbal forms.Technologists participate in the teaching and training load of the department through demonstration of own performance of appropriate standard operating procedures to other genetic technologists and trainee Clinical Scientists within the limits of their experience. They are also required to attend and participate in appropriate training seminars, and regular section and departmental meetings.

About us
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

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.

The Oxford Genetics laboratories are part of the Central & South Genomic Laboratory Hub (C&S GLH), one of 7 GLHs recently established to deliver NHS England's National Genomic Medicine Service. We provide a comprehensive range of cytogenetic, molecular cytogenetic and moleculargenetic investigations for both rare disease and acquired disorders (solid tumour and haematological malignancy).

Job responsibilities
Clinical Service

• Deliver the technical service of a section/subsection or designated area of work to nationally accepted standards (UKAS or equivalent) with appropriate support to include the following: Follow standard operating procedures for the receipt, booking in, processing and analysis of samples; Review appropriate risk and COSHH assessments in areas relevant to own practise and abide by laboratory health and safety policies; Undertake basic troubleshooting for failed analyses; Validate quality of technical analysis, repeat and perform subsequent investigations following discussions with more senior technologists or clinical scientists according to defined criteria; Draft routine reports on the patient database according to defined templates; Arrange dispatch of different types of samples. Deal with queries relating to the receipt and dispatch of samples, including products of conception (received for post-mortem examination), and other tissues.
• Perform laboratory processes from a variety of biological specimens received which may be high risk (eg HIV, Hep C) and/ or derived from recognisable human or fetal parts, by all methods currently employed in the laboratory and to work safely under exposure to toxic substances which are hazardous to health.
• Identify unusual or failed results and bring them to the attention of Senior technologists or scientists for further discussion.
• Liaise with senior technical or scientific colleagues over availability of equipment, sample prioritisation, or requirement for supplementary laboratory processes, when planning work schedules in designated areas of work, in accordance with laboratory protocols and under the supervision of the Section Head and/or Laboratory Director.
• Supply a high level of technical expertise in the investigative procedures involved and take a daily responsibility for their own work, subject to the supervision and direction of section head or other senior staff. Be adaptable to changing diagnostic workload pressures, by making independent day-to-day decisions about workload in designated area. The post holder must communicate all problems with, and when necessary obtain help/advice from, appropriate senior staff.
• Attend, and actively participate in, team and laboratory meetings with opportunity to propose improvements in efficiency and changes to scientific and technical protocols and to contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policies within the limits of experience.

Laboratory Management

• Prepare reagents and media used in the processing and testing of samples, and safely handle toxic substances that are hazardous to health.
• Undertake appropriate duties to fulfil quality control programs, including (but not limited to) recording of appropriate data according to operating procedures, validation and verification of new reagents and protocols.
• Identify biological materials for safe disposal or storage, according to departmental protocols. Dispose of hazardous chemicals and biohazard waste.
• Undertake stock-control and ordering of routine reagents and consumables as required.
• Take day to day responsibility for use of, daily maintenance, monitoring and care of instrumentation within the laboratory (to include safety, performance and temperature of equipment e.g. biological safety cabinets, incubators, fridges and freezers).

Staff

• Participate in the teaching and training of new members of staff or less experienced employees in own work area by demonstrating own work activities and routine practice.
• Advise other technologists and less experienced staff in areas such as sample processing, basic troubleshooting, organisation of work, setting up of instrumentation.

Research and Service Development

• Assist clinical scientists in research and development projects which meet the overall objectives of the department.

Personal Development

• Participate in and attend in house training at postgraduate level for the development and maintenance of skills, knowledge and expertise required for the post (eg scientific and technical literature reviews, seminars, presents own work on relevant topics).

Informatics/Bioinformatics

• Be proficient in the use of Microsoft office applications to prepare occasional written and oral presentations (eg powerpoint presentations, word documents). Design and manipulate excel spread sheets to analyse and present data.
• Be proficient in the use of state-of-the-art software packages for the analysis of genetic test results.
• Collate results from a range of tests and enter complex analytical data onto computer databases, including the laboratory information management system (LIMS).

General

• Abide by all Operational Policies applicable to the Department.
• Co-operate with management and safety representatives in matters connected with the Health and Safety at Work Act of Practice for safety in laboratories.
• Take responsibility for the accuracy of their own work, and undertake an appropriate proportion of the total workload of the Department. The post holder will collaborate with all other staff, to be an effective team member, and achieve optimal use of resources.
• Participate in internal quality control and internal and external quality assessment procedures.
• Work within the section/subsection to ensure achievement of and adherence to the standards required of an accredited laboratory, in close liaison with the Quality manager and under the direction of the section head and laboratory director.
• Participate in the preparation of the department for accreditation.
• Implement laboratory record keeping processes and assist with retrieval and presentation of data as required.
• Take responsibility with others for the maintenance of stocks of reagents and consumables to ensure the proper functioning of the laboratory and efficient use of resources. Ensure that all equipment is used appropriately and safely and that any faults are reported for immediate rectification.
• Take responsibility with others for the daily maintenance of complex instrumentation systems within the laboratory.
• Participate in regular performance review and personal development planning.
• Maintain confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with Data Protection Act of 1984.
• Participate in out of hours duties, if required, in line with the Department Out of Hours Policy.
• Work such hours as required for the effective and timely performance of their duties, as specified in the terms of the contract of employment.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with experience and job role as a result of changes to the service as agreed by the Consultant Head of Laboratory or Trust and reviewed as part of the annual staff appraisal.

RISK MANAGEMENT
The management of risk is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment. Staff will be provided with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility. Staff should be familiar with the: Major Incident Policy, Fire Policy, Incident Reporting Policy, and should make themselves familiar with the local response plan and their role within that response.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that all duties and responsibilities of this post are carried out in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Statutory Regulations and Trust Policies and Procedures. This will be supported by the provision of training and specialist advice where required.

INFECTION CONTROL
Infection Control is everyones responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, are required to adhere to the Trusts Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection control at all times thereby reducing the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA. All staff employed by the ORH Trust have the following key responsibilities: Staff must wash their hands or use alcohol gel on entry and exit from all clinical areas and/or between each patient contact. Staff members have a duty to attend mandatory infection control training provided for them by the Trust. Staff members who develop an infection (other than common colds and illness) that may be transmittable to patients have a duty to contact Occupational Health.

CHILD PROTECTION
The post holder will endeavour at all times to uphold the rights of children and young people in accordance with the UN Convention Rights of the Child.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
The Trust is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults throughout the organisation. As a member of the trust there is a duty to assist in protecting patients and their families from any form of harm when they are vulnerable.

INFORMATION GOVERNANCE
All staff must complete annual information governance training. If you have a Trust email account this can be completed on-line, otherwise you must attend a classroom session. For further details, go to the Information Governance intranet site.

DATA QUALITY
Data quality is a vital element of every member of staffs job role. The Oxford University Hospitals recognises the importance of information in the provision of patient care and in reporting on its performance. Data quality is therefore crucial in ensuring complete, timely and accurate information is available in support of patient care, clinical governance, performance management, service planning, and financial and resource planning and performance. All staff should ensure that they have read and understood the Trusts Data Quality Policy.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• BSc (Hons) in a relevant biological science (i.e. including a human genetics component).

Desirable

• Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) registered as a genetic technologist or working towards registration.
• ACC/CMGS Certificate of Competence in Genetic Technology.

Experience
Essential

• A reasonable amount of workplace-based, practical laboratory experience either in a diagnostic environment or a forensic DNA testing laboratory or commercial/research laboratory.
• Practical experience of a range of molecular biology and/or cytogenetic techniques, including manual processing.
• Post-graduate practical experience of results analysis, e.g. Sanger Sequencing, PCR-based fragment analysis, aCGH, Chromosome analysis, etc.
• Post-graduate use and maintenance of equipment for PCR set up, sequencing etc.
• Experience of Microsoft office and spreadsheets.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a NHS Genetics diagnostic laboratory.
• Experience of working towards UKAS accreditation and ISO:15189 standards.
• Experience of using laboratory databases and LIMS.
• Experience of analytical procedures, automated equipment and automated systems of work.

Special knowledge
Essential

• Theoretical and practical knowledge of molecular genetic techniques including PCR, sequencing and/or fragment analysis and/or cell culture and cytogenetic techniques.
• Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practice in genomics.

Desirable

• Undergraduate level knowledge of human genetics e.g. simple patterns of inheritance, genome organisation, molecular basis of inherited disease.
• Knowledge and experience of IT systems and software packages relating to complex automated diagnostic equipment and processes.

Skills
Essential

• Ability to follow standard operating procedures accurately.
• Ability to keep accurate written and computerised records.
• Good level of attention to detail.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Good co-ordination skills and manual dexterity / able to perform manual laboratory processing steps.
• Good interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills.

Special attributes
Essential

• Interested in laboratory technology.
• Ability to cope with pressures of work; demonstrates personal resilience.
• Good team player.
• Flexible approach to work.
• Able to cope with distressing situations (e.g. receipt/handling of abnormal fetus).

Desirable

• Capable of prolonged concentration and attention to detail in carrying out microscopic chromosome analysis.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.