NMCPS Quality Manager

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, highly motivated individual to join the North Midlands and Cheshire Pathology Service (NMCPS) as part of the Quality Management Team.

UHNM are the host provider of the network.

The Histopathology and Microbiology services have been consolidated onto the Royal Stoke site and the implementation of a new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) across all sites was completed during 2024.

NMCPS provides a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment monitoring service for Staffordshire, Cheshire and beyond. We employ approximately 750 well-trained, experienced and dedicated members of staff across the Pathology Network.

We have facilities at both the Royal Stoke University Hospital (RSUH) in Stoke-on-Trent, County Hospital (CH) in Stafford, Leighton Hospital in Crewe and Macclesfield Hospital. The modern PFI hospital complex at the Royal Stoke site offers an excellent purpose built laboratory with Pathology services bringing it closer to other clinical services.

Main duties of the job

A 12 month fixed-term / secondment opportunity has arisen for a full time, Band 8a, Pathology Quality Manager to work with the current Quality Manager across the NMCPS network. The post is based at Royal Stoke University Hospital however the post holder will be required to work across the NMCPS sites.

We are looking for an innovative and enthusiastic Quality Manager who has an excellent understanding of quality management issues throughout Pathology. The successful candidate must have good interpersonal and IT skills as well as being self-motivated.

Candidates must be fully conversant with the accreditation standards and regulatory requirements and work with all grades of staff to ensure that the department is fully compliant at all times.

Working for our organisation

We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The main aspects of the role include:

• Ensuring a single quality management system (QMS) is in use over all network sites
• Reviewing and updating the quality management system to ensure continual improvement and on-going compliance
• Managing any upgrades to the current electronic quality management system
• Being the divisional key contact for all external assurance bodies
• Supporting all discipline quality leads to ensure shared learning and continual quality improvement
• Monitoring the recording, investigation and management of incidents, non-conformities and risk across the network
• Overseeing the audit calendar and monitoring the completion of audits
• Overseeing the Validation, Verification and Change Control processes used within the network
• Visiting all the sites to attend local governance meetings and to assist and train staff in the use of the QMS
• Reviewing current and future Quality Indicators and producing reports as appropriate
• Organising and reporting Management Reviews and User surveys
• Co-Chairing pan-pathology quality meetings
• Attending divisional, network and Trust meetings as required to represent the Pathology Quality team.

The candidate must be a HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) accredited degree plus either
• IBMS post-graduate Specialist Diploma; or
• Further knowledge acquired through training and practical experience to post-graduate diploma level or equivalent.
• MSc or equivalent in a Biomedical science subject, and additional specialist training relevant to the post.
• MSc or equivalent in a Biomedical science subject, and additional specialist training relevant to the post.
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD).
• Knowledge of relevant laboratory data management systems and policies. Understands the importance of data integrity and confidentiality.
• Knowledge and understanding of quality standards such as UKAS/ISO15189/ISO9001/ISO17025/ISO22870 and MHRA (Blood safety and Quality Regulations) and Human Tissue Act.
• A working knowledge of electronic Quality Management Systems.
• To have knowledge in Health and Safety regulations and guidance and the deliveries of Good Laboratory and Manufacturing practice.
• Good awareness of current issues within Pathology locally and nationally, including those related to quality systems.

• Attended formal management course
• UKAS/ISO15189 assessor
• Quality Management qualification
• Project Management experience/methodology i.e. PRINCE2

Experience

• Experience of working in relevant Pathology discipline in a busy laboratory environment as a registered Biomedical Scientist.
• Supervising / managing staff.
• Training a range of ‘students’ e.g. medical, scientific, quality and support staff
• Pathology IT systems
• Working with complex and specialist laboratory equipment and an understanding of the quality requirements associated with pathology equipment.
• Participation in audit and service development projects.
• Active liaison with clinicians and healthcare professionals.
• Working in a team and alone
• Experience in presenting complex information to management /committees and service users.
• Communicating complex and sometimes contentious information with ability to motivate and persuade others.
• Previous experience in setting up and maintaining a Quality Management System
• Experience of external and internal auditing, root cause analysis, progression of corrective and preventative actions to closure
• Experience of active involvement with accreditation visits and/or regulation assessments.
• Experience in setting and monitoring pathology key performance indicators and dashboard.

• Experience of working in an acute NHS Trust.
• Experience in presenting data to clinical and scientific audiences in a range of formats.

Skills, Ability & Knowledge

• Intermediate and accurate IT skills.
• Have good manual dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination skills for accuracy and fine adjustment of equipment.
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills.
• Analytical skills with the ability to work in a methodical and systematic way.
• Proven ability to: • Effectively apply skills and knowledge
• Work with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and contribute to their review and implementation
• Work within safe systems of work and report any deficiencies in those systems.
• Problem solve
• Facilitate staff development
• Perform the wide range of duties as set out in the Job Description
• Work under pressure, prioritise workload and work to agreed schedules and deadlines.
• Work to required standards
• Work as an individual and as part of a team.
• Communicate effectively and accurately with colleagues and services users at all levels. Able to advice and be persuasive when required.
• Good time management skills
• Ability to show empathy and sympathise with the workload but still motivate to achieve required goals and targets, being assertive and decisive when required.
• Ability to use a range of IT applications.
• Experience in recruitment and selection.

• Experience of working in an acute NHS Trust
• Experience in presenting data to clinical and scientific audiences in a range of formats.

Personal Qualities

• Professional personal presentation and manner.
• Positive attitude and flexible
• Prepared to work flexibly, particularly in relation to assessment visit requirements
• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary).
• Ability and willingness to fulfil the travel requirements of the post if/as relevant – primary place of work as per JD but will be reasonably asked to work at another site where the Trust has responsibility for Pathology Services.
• Access to own transport (Required to travel between sites)

1. All correspondence will be sent to you via the email address you applied from. Please ensure you check your emails regularly.
2. References - please ensure you provide email addresses for all referees for the last three years of employment.
3. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, faith or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
4. Flexible working will be considered in line with Trust policies
5. New recruits are required to pay for their Disclosure and Barring Service check (and admin fee) prior to starting if the role requires a DBS check.
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University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded the Gold Award for proudly supporting those who serve. We actively encourage applications from the Armed Forces community.

We will communicate with you regarding your job application via email. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee the security of any emails sent/received via non encrypted format.

If you would like support completing an application form, please contact the recruitment department on 01782 675533 where one of our trained assistants will be able to help

At UHNM we are fortunate to receive a high volume of applications for many of our roles, on this occasion we would reserve the right to close any advert early, therefore please apply without delay!

If you obtained your qualifications overseas, you will be required to provide an official government translation through ECCTIS (formerly known as NARIC). Please note, this is in addition to any professional registration requirements and not a replacement for your qualifications.

If you are currently in the UK on a visa, you must have at least six months remaining on your visa at the time of application to ensure sufficient time for the recruitment and training process associated with the role. The requirement of at least six months remaining on your visa does not apply to a Skilled Worker Visa, as a new Skilled Worker Visa would be required for a new role.