Pathology Quality officer

Our Pathology Quality Support Officer will support and assist the Pan-Pathology Quality Manager, of audit assistance (internal & external), training, meeting UKAS, MHRA and HTA compliance, incident investigating, writing and editing guidelines / policies, and ensuring appropriate quality issues are addressed within the Quality management system (QMS) to meet standards as assessed by external accrediting bodies.
They will provide assistance within the delivery of Quality and QMS priorities. This will include risk management, management of incidents and supporting teams with the delivery of compliance with standards such as UKAS ISO 15189. The post holder will also provide support and training relating to, audit, QMS, Q-Pulse database, development of User surveys, other related functions and will attend Pathology Quality meetings. The post holder will undertake these functions under line management of the Pan-Pathology Quality manager but will also work closely with other staff members within the Pathology department.
Be part of the Quality team, and to support the maintenance and development of the Quality Management System (QMS) for the benefit of the service users and laboratory staff within Pathology., + The Quality Support Officer will have the key knowledge, skills and inherent technical ability in the medical laboratory environment in order to actively and proactively support quality and quality improvement activities within Pathology QMS
+ The post holder will assist and support and the Pan-Pathology Quality manager
+ To apply medical laboratory knowledge and experience in order to contribute to maintaining compliance with the ISO15189 standards, UKAS, MHRA, HTA whilst ensuring the consistent delivery of the QMS across all sections
+ The post holder will support the labs within pathology by monitoring the QMS, coordinating with departmental leads to minimise variation and defects to agreed key performance indicators
+ To facilitate the timely running of department audit schedules and act as first point of contact for audit related activities
+ Supervise and support data collection by the Quality information assistant in Quality team
+ Reporting to the Pan-Pathology Quality Manager and the department's lab managers/senior staff on the performance of the Quality Management System and any need for improvement
+ Collating and analysing data provided by the Quality information assistant on performance of the Quality System to produce timely and detailed quality reports for the departments Quality staff/ lab managers as well as for sectional quality meetings, The post holder will be part of the Pathology Quality team of which is managed by the Pan-Pathology Quality manager.
The Pan-Pathology Quality manager leads and manages the Quality Team in all aspects, to ensure that the quality of service is enhanced.
The post holder will assist and support the Pan-Pathology Quality Manager to cover across all of the departments within Pathology (Haematology, Blood transfusion, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Cellular pathology), and will be responsible for ensuring all staff are aware of their quality and governance responsibilities, and to take the essential role for the departments to meet and maintain their annual accreditation status., + To assist and support the Pan-Pathology Quality manager.
+ · Working with the Pan-Pathology Quality manager to develop a common approach to UKAS accreditation documents across Pathology.
+ · Maintain clear and effective lines of communication within the Team and apply motivational and training skills with all Pathology staff
+ · Supervise data collection by the Quality Admin assistant
+ · Apply knowledge of laboratory practice to support staff to use the Quality Management System software (Q-Pulse) to record and manage quality related tasks
+ · Uses laboratory and quality knowledge to recognise any difficulties, problems, incidents affecting the delivery of the service or the department and communicates to departmental managers promptly
+ · Maintain working relationships between the post holder and NHS colleagues both in the hospital and primary care
+ · Will be responsible for their own time management to achieve the timely completion of allocated tasks
+ · Key working relationships exist between the post holder and the Pan-Pathology Quality manager, department's lab managers, senior managers, quality staff, lab staff and all staff within pathology
+ · Present findings of quality management performance, initiatives, investigations and audits, using motivational and negotiating skills to bring about changes in practice in response to recommendations and ensure agreed action plans are implemented.
+ · Use good interpersonal skills to overcome resistance in potentially emotive environments when the audience may be resistant to change.
+ · To work on an individual basis but also work as part of a team. The post holder must be able to demonstrate effective communication skills and work both as the support officer of a team and as a functional member within pathology
+ · Informing and advising the Pan-Pathology Quality manager when issues are identified that impact on achieving the strategy and objectives of the project
+ Competent in screening information from a variety of sources, able to identify trends and highlight potential problems and effectively briefing the Pan-Pathology Quality manager, Quality Team colleagues and lab managers
Analytical and Judgment:
+ · To assist in the development of improvement metrics which serve to improve team and organisational goals.
+ · To use data to identify, evaluate and monitor improvement initiatives.
+ · Exercises skills for investigating a variety of issues and proposing solutions; dealing with complex enquiries.
+ · Able to prioritise and plan work in a busy environment and to tight deadlines.
+ · Able to adapt to change and develop administrative systems to meet the changing needs of the organisation.
+ · Able to use initiative and own judgement in anticipating and dealing with queries and problems.
+ · Knowing when to escalate a problem that is beyond their responsibility or capability to management in a timely manner
+ · Capable of dealing with non-routine activities which support the organisations administrative function
+ · To produce high quality documents and reports, Ability to produce various types of reports, narrative, statistical and in completing templates
+ · Capable of assessing and reporting progress against targets and supporting the implementation of recovery plans if appropriate
+ · Maintain an overview of trends within both risks and incidents, highlighting any areas of concern
+ · Regularly review and audit the risk management processes within teams across the departments
+ Ensuring that escalation of risks, incidents, non-conformities and Patient Safety Alerts is communicated to Pan-Pathology Quality manager and department senior managers in a timely manner
Planning and Organisation:
+ · Coordinates administrative services, including the preparation of agendas and minutes, taking appropriate follow-up action as required.
+ · Provides a high quality and comprehensive support service to the Quality Improvement function.
+ · Participates in improvement projects as required
+ · Prioritise and pre-empt the administrative and organisational needs of the Quality Team
+ Supporting the delivery of the Risk and Incident management, Audit and Document management Policies within the Pathology department
+ Responsible for support and training of Quality assistants.
+ · Support the Pan-Pathology Quality manager in training of the Quality admin assistant within the Quality team and the support of Quality to relevant staff within laboratories.
+ · In conjunction with the department lab managers/ seniors, identify the types of Quality / QMS training required by staff, and deliver target training under the supervision of the Pan-Pathology Quality manager.
+ · Support the Pan-Pathology Quality manager in the design, implementation and maintenance of the QMS (Q-Pulse database) providing direction and support to all the department's personnel as required.
+ · Support and manage in the Q-Pulse database as the primary tool ensuring all modules are utilised to maximum effectiveness.
+ · Assist the Pan-Pathology Quality manager for additional manual systems associated with Clinical governance, UKAS, QMS and document control, including the establishment of databases where appropriate.
+ · Effective use of the Trust's Datix electronic incident and risk reporting web based software at an advanced level for reporting, investigating, recording events and production of collated reports including trend analysis. This includes the Pathology incident programme.
+ · Understanding, analysing and interrogating data, presenting it in a variety of formats such as bar charts, pie charts, and statistical process control charts (SPC).
+ To advise staff on data extraction from manual or computerised records. Liaise with the departments in relation to options for data extraction for both audit sampling and reporting purposes as well as opportunities to feed data directly into SPC charts to support measurement for improvement
You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.
If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a 'Staff Carers' policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer's Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
+ We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Please apply promptly
+ Please read the job description and tailor your application to reflect the role
+ Correspondence will be via Trac, text and email. Please check your email and Trac account regularly.
+ Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band
+ If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion
+ It is your responsibility to assist us in the timely receipt of appropriate references
The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity. No person (staff, patient or public) will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.