Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Laboratories (Microbiology / Virology and Serology)

The BHRUT Microbiology Laboratory serves the two Trust hospital sites, primary care and external commissioners, local general practices and primary care trusts, as well as the local Mental Health Trust and smaller nursing homes in the district.  General bacteriology, mycology, faecal parasitology, and mycobacteriology are based at Queens Hospital, with serology and molecular services including chlamydia and Covid-19 testing at the King George Hospital site.

The laboratory operates a 7-day service with a standard working day (0900-1700) Monday-Friday with laboratory presence until 21:00hrs. Normal working hours of 0900-1700 apply at weekends and bank holidays. Out of hours laboratory service is provided by on-call microbiology state registered Biomedical Scientist staff.

With regard to health protection matters which have a wider community implication, the Trust reports to the Northeast and North Central London HPT. Referrals for specialist microbiology services are currently made to several laboratories including those at Barts Health, Colindale Centre for Infection, Manchester, and Cambridge. 

The laboratory participates in all relevant external quality assurance (EQA) schemes. It has full UKAS accreditation to ISO15189 (2012).

Activity 

We deal with 691000 requests per year of which approximately 40% are from General Practice.

Behavioural qualities

·       Act as a role model for compassionate and inclusive leadership and take personal responsibility for obtaining feedback on self, and ensuring all managers and staff within the directorate are trained in EDI.

·       Ensure that there is a specific commitment to deliver equality and inclusiveness in all aspects of service line activity including service provision and recruitment, development and management of staff.

·       Take an operational leadership role in improving culture at service line level, delivering key actions as agreed.

·       Cultivate a safe working environment where there is regular opportunity to hear and act on staff experience feedback and deliver on the plans to improve experience.

·       Have difficult conversations and manage performance around behaviour effectively.

·       Lead on obtaining staff feedback via different mechanisms i.e., staff survey.

·       Ensure there are regular walkabouts scheduled to meet and be known to our staff.

·       Clearly share an ambitious vision and goals actively aligning all teams through proactive use of the BHRUT appraisal process.

·       Work in partnership with Trade Unions and professional bodies to ensure the smooth running of services, including instigating early discussions with staff side on all organisational change/projects affecting staff.

·       Actively challenge discriminatory behaviour and where there is discriminatory behaviour taking place, take the appropriate action.

·       Individuals who not only recognise the importance of diverse perspectives and beliefs but also actively contribute to a positive team culture. This entails treating everyone with kindness, regardless of differences, and creating an environment where all voices are heard and respected.

Clinical / operational responsibilities 

The laboratory operates a 7-day service with a standard working day (0900-1700) Monday-Friday with laboratory presence until 21:00hrs. Normal working hours of 0900-1700 apply at weekends and bank holidays. Out of hours laboratory service is provided by on-call microbiology state registered Biomedical Scientist staff.

·         Clinical microbiology & infection consultations, ward liaison and provision of advice. There will be laboratory induction period for approximately 2 weeks depending on previous experience.

·         Participation in infection ward rounds (Bacteraemia, ITU/HDU ward round, MRU and C. diff) and MDTs (Haematology, Diabetic Foot, Orthopaedic)

·         As required and after discussion with duty Microbiologist, prescribe or amend antimicrobial prescriptions accordingly.

·         Authorisation of microbiology laboratory reports under supervision of a consultant microbiologist

·         Antimicrobial stewardship activities: ward round/ audit/ development of guidance

·         Infection control placement & experience

·         The post holder will have the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills, knowledge and attitudes related to clinical and laboratory microbiology, including virology.