Laboratory Quality Manager

The Microbiology laboratory at Cambridge is the East of England Region for UKHSA currently providing clinical services to Addenbrooke’s, Royal Papworth, and the E&N Herts Hospitals, the surrounding district and other NHS Laboratories, and public health services to the East of England region.

The laboratory is assessed against UKAS ISO 15189 standards. It has active research, epidemiological and teaching interests. Set on the outskirts of the university city of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital is one of the top hospitals in the UK and a thriving NHS Foundation Trust. Addenbrooke’s is closely associated with leading educational providers including the University of Cambridge and is a major centre for biomedical research and education.

The department undertakes a wide range of routine and specialist microbiological and molecular investigations. It makes extensive use of automation including Qiagen platforms, Microarray, BacTec, Sedimax, MGIT, Vitek, Centaur XP, Panther/Fusion, Liaison XL and Vidas analysers and BD Kiestra.

As the Laboratory Quality Manager, you will be a key member of the Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory (CMPHL) team at Cambridge charged with the design, implementation and maintenance of the Laboratory’s Quality Management System (QMS). You will be responsible for managing the system, ensuring that the Laboratory becomes progressively more effective in quality terms and meets both regulatory and accreditation requirements.

Location

This is a lab-based role that will be located UKHSA Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern – Full Time Weekends and Public Holidays on a rotational basis

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• To liaise with external accreditation bodies to ensure external assessments/inspections are planned and managed and oversee the effective completion of corrective action as required by the findings and reports of the inspectors
• To manage, maintain and develop an effective laboratory Quality Management System (QMS) and supporting documentation in compliance with current clinical laboratory standards.
• To ensure laboratory Policies and Procedures reflect current practice and are reviewed as stated within the policies of the QMS.
• To operate an effective system for document control.
• To investigate result and service complaints and incidents and ensure that effective immediate and follow up actions are taken and fully documented.
• To plan, initiate and supervise a program of internal audits against defined quality performance measures, ensuring that effective immediate and follow up actions are taken.
• To liaise with users on matters of laboratory quality
• To plan and organise regular and effective departmental Quality Meetings and the Annual Management Review.
• To provide reports and collate information regularly for Quality, departmental meetings and the Annual Management Review.
• To develop and maintain effective communication on all quality issues both within the department and with the users of the service.
• To ensure staff compliance with HCPC, GMC, and other relevant standards.
• To ensure all relevant documentation within the QMS is fully document controlled.
• To ensure and co-ordinate the review, of relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies and procedures

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential 

• MSc or equivalent
• State registration with HCPC
• Significant post graduate laboratory experience (> 5 years)
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD)
• A high level of theoretical and practical microbiological knowledge
• Sound knowledge of common IT programmes and good keyboard skills
• Understands quality assurance procedures
• Able to initiate changes in procedures or policies to induce service development
• Able to lead and manage staff effectively
• Able to train staff
• Able to communicate well with peers and senior staff and provide judgement on a range of complex problems
• Used to working in a busy environment
• Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change 

Desirable

• A recognized quality management qualification
• Experience of working in a number of different laboratories
• Presentation skills
• Knowledge of specialist tests at an expert level

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

• Name : Jon Payne
• Email : ukhsa.recruitment@reed.com
• Telephone : 03309121580

Recruitment team

• Email : ukhsa.recruitment@reed.com