Healthcare Science Practitioner

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Wessex Genomics Laboratory Service, Southampton Laboratory (WGLS), for a Healthcare Scientist Practitioner to join our team on a 12 month, fixed term contract.

The WGLS is an integrated genomics testing service formed from the amalgamation of Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, now WGLS (Salisbury), and Molecular Pathology at University Hospital Southampton, now WGLS (Southampton) . The WGLS is an integral part of the Central & South Genomic Laboratory Hub, one of seven across England.

This position will be recruited to the Southampton Laboratory, based at UHS.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The clinical service provides a comprehensive range of genomic investigations for haematological disease (including the regional BMT service), MRD, disease associations (including pharmacogenomics), lymphoma and solid tumours. The laboratory is part of a European network for molecular diagnostics QC, including NGS innovations in lymphoid clonality analysis. The laboratory works closely with other departments to enable the future provision of molecular diagnostics. Further career development is encouraged, and the laboratory supports the training of a variety of programmes including IBMS, STP and HSST.

The successful candidate will:

• Participate in the provision of diagnostics services utilising techniques such as NGS, qPCR, ddPCR, capillary electrophoresis and LAMP. Training and rotational opportunities are available across the service and these will be determined by individual competency and laboratory requirements in order to support the provision of a flexible and efficient service.
• Process samples and data on a range of pathological specimens under the supervision of senior technical staff and clinical scientists for screening, diagnostic and monitoring purposes and provide accurate, timely and appropriate analytical data for testing in-house and by external laboratories
• Plan your workload based on sample priority and respond to changing requirements
• Participate in quality improvement including the evaluation of equipment, techniques and protocols
• Maintain stock levels in the section and ensure reagents and consumables are ordered in a timely manner

You will be required to work 37.5 hours a week working flexibly as required, between 08:00 - 18:00 hrs. and be available to work Monday to Friday. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what is possible for the role and service. You will be working with a team of Clinical Scientists, Biomedical Scientists, associate practitioners, and biomedical support workers.

What we’re looking for We are seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated Healthcare Scientist Practitioner with experience and knowledge in molecular diagnostics. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate a high level of skill in molecular genetics techniques comprising both wet and dry work e.g. PCR set and analytical pipelines and preferably have experience in an accredited diagnostic setting. Experience of automated laboratory processes and trouble-shooting capacity is highly desirable.

If you have strong communication, interpersonal skills and are committed to sharing our values of putting patients first, working together and always improving then we would love to hear from you.