Clinical Embryologist

Job overview

The Hewitt Fertility Centre is seeking to appoint an embryologist on a permanent contract to join our highly skilled and dedicated team of 35 scientists. We are dedicated to providing the very best in patient care and offer a full range of laboratory therapeutic and diagnostic treatments. (Including IMSI, PGT, cryopreservation and donation programmes).

The Hewitt Fertility Centre offers as standard the latest time-lapse technologies for all patients in our state-of-the-art laboratories. Successful applicants should be personable with excellent communication skills, experienced in all routine embryological procedures and take part in a weekend and on-call rota.

Suitable applicants must have experience of performing clinical workload within an Embryology laboratory setting and be familiar with the HFEA Code of Practice. HCPC registration, previous experience of biopsy and training junior staff is an advantage, but not a necessity.

Please note, successful applicants will need to provide cover at both Liverpool and Knutsford sites on occasion.

Main duties of the job

To perform all laboratory procedures associated with the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment services provided by the Hewitt Fertility Centres including semen analysis, sperm preparation (including donor, and surgically retrieved testicular and epididymal sperm), oocyte and embryo handling, gamete (ejaculated and surgically retrieved sperm) and embryo cryopreservation, clinical intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), time-lapse technologies and other micromanipulation techniques. To select embryos best suited for embryo transfer and cryopreservation.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description

To become fully proficient in, and to perform all clinical embryological procedures (including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), vitrification and time-lapse technologies) associated with the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment services provided by the Hewitt Fertility Centres.

Main duties and responsibilities

To participate in the treatment of patients with known high risk diseases (ie HIV, Hepatitis B & Hep C)

To convey, where necessary, relevant details of treatment (quality of oocytes, sperm and embryos) directly to patients in a clear, concise, and understanding manner. To suggest alternative treatments if and when necessary

To counsel patients regarding the implications of treatment options to ensure correct information is given and relevant questions answered properly in order to assist them in making an informed decision

To break bad news to patients and counsel them regarding the outcome and further treatment options

To participate in the annual embryo storage audits and to assist with the system of contact for patients with embryos in storage

To maintain the liquid nitrogen storage vessels ensuring stored material integrity. This will involve handling of liquid nitrogen, and manual handling of storage vessels in accordance with accepted safe practice

To perform all duties in accordance with the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act (1990) and the Code of Practice issued by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, and any other relevant regulation

To undertake the formal witnessing of procedures as required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to ensure the correct identification of patients, gametes (oocytes and sperm) and fresh and frozen embryos

To ensure that informed consent (in accordance with the HFEA) is in place prior to any treatments being performed

To anticipate and handle the day-to-day workload and ensure that preparations and procedures are performed effectively and to the highest possible standard, paying meticulous attention to detail

To work flexibly and perform tasks as and when necessary including out of ‘normal working hours’ and to participate in a weekend rota. This will include working across all Hewitt Fertility Centre sites

To perform a daily audit of all equipment to ensure that they are functioning correctly and within critical parameters

To participate in the maintenance of laboratory equipment and cleaning of the embryology and laboratory and associated areas

To liaise with centres outside of the Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust regarding workload, treatments, outcome of treatments and transfer of gametes or embryos between centres

To critically analyse and audit laboratory performance

To perform accurate and complete data collection as required by the Hewitt Fertility Centre and by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority

To liaise directly, and by telephone, with colleagues and other members of the Hewitt Fertility Centre staff and other healthcare professionals ensuring that information is conveyed to colleagues accurately and in a timely manner

To actively participate in the development and maintenance of research within the Hewitt Fertility Centre

To disseminate research findings and other relevant material at a local, national and international level

To keep abreast of recent developments within the field of reproductive medicine and to participate in the Continual Professional Development (CPD) scheme operated by the Association of Reproductive Scientists (ARCS)

To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide the highest possible standard of care

To assist in the training and supervision of trainees and less experienced staff. To participate in the demonstration of procedures during the induction of new members of staff

To provide Andrology cover when short staffed by performing all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures associated with the Andrology laboratory within the Hewitt Fertility Centres

To participate in the external QC (UKNEQAS) scheme in accordance with the World Health Organisation and ISO 15189 standards to maintain UKAS accreditation

To be proficient and use the computer database systems used by the Hewitt Fertility Centre. To carry out required administrative duties associated with the embryology laboratory

To follow procedures, standards and protocols to ensure the best possible clinical outcomes and ensure that procedures are performed effectively and to the highest possible standard, paying meticulous attention to detail

To present at patient support groups (ie Link Support Group)

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.