Genetic Technologist

at  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

An opportunity has arisen for a full time, permanent Genetic Technologist to join the team in the Oxford Genetics Laboratories (OGL), a part of the Central & South Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH). The OGL operates across both the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals and staff may be required to work at either or both sites.
The post-holder will be expected to perform a range of genetic tests in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures. The role will include workflow management of a specific area under the supervision of Senior Genetic Technologists or Clinical Scientists, which may also include some supervision of the workload of junior staff, training and troubleshooting. While a large proportion of work is wet-lab based, Genetic Technologists also undertake both the analysis of test data and the reporting of routine results.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate good communication, organisational and practical laboratory skills along with flexibility, efficiency and attention to detail in their work.
A reasonable amount of workplace-based experience in a UKAS accredited Genetics Laboratory (or similarly regulated environment) with direct practical experience of post-extraction molecular genetic techniques (e.g. PCR setup, Sanger sequencing, NGS, MLPA, Pyrosequencing) is essential, though full training in local procedures will be given.
Candidates may be expected to work across the whole range of services offered in the future.
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.
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 www.ouh.nhs.uk
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. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .
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 molecular
genetic investigations for both rare disease and acquired disorders (solid tumour and haematological malignancy).
Clinical Service
1. 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:
a. Follow standard operating procedures for the receipt, booking in, processing and analysis of samples
b. Review appropriate risk and COSHH assessments in areas relevant to own practise and abide by laboratory health and safety policies
c. Undertake basic troubleshooting for failed analyses
d. Validate quality of technical analysis, repeat and perform subsequent investigations following discussions with more senior technologists or clinical scientists according to defined criteria
e. Draft routine reports on the patient database according to defined templates
f. 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.
2. 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.
3. Identify unusual or failed results and bring them to the attention of Senior technologists or scientists for further discussion
4. 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.
5. 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
6. 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
7. Prepare reagents and media used in the processing and testing of samples, and safely handle toxic substances that are hazardous to health.
8. 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.
9. Identify biological materials for safe disposal or storage, according to departmental protocols. Dispose of hazardous chemicals and biohazard waste
10. Undertake stock-control and ordering of routine reagents and consumables as required
11. 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
12. 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.
13. 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
14. Assist clinical scientists in research and development projects which meet the overall objectives of the department.
Personal Development
15. 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
16. 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.
17. Be proficient in the use of state-of-the-art software packages for the analysis of genetic test results.
18. Collate results from a range of tests and enter complex analytical data onto computer databases, including the laboratory information management system (LIMS).
General
19. Abide by all Operational Policies applicable to the Department
20. Co-operate with management and safety representatives in matters connected with the Health and Safety at Work Act of Practice for safety in laboratories
21. 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
22. Participate in internal quality control and internal and external quality assessment procedures
23. 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.
24. Participate in the preparation of the department for accreditation.
25. Implement laboratory record keeping processes and assist with retrieval and presentation of data as required
26. 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
27. Take responsibility with others for the daily maintenance of complex instrumentation systems within the laboratory
28. Participate in regular performance review and personal development planning
29. Maintain confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with Data Protection Act of 1984.
30. Participate in out of hours duties, if required, in line with the Department Out of Hours Policy
31. Work such hours as required for the effective and timely performance of their duties, as specified in the terms of the contract of employment
32. 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

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.