Genetics Technical Training Officer - Band 7 - Permanent
Are you experienced in diagnostic Genetics, passionate about training and looking for the next step in your career?
Bristol Genetics Laboratory (BGL) are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Genetics Technical Training Officer to join our team. In this role you will be responsible for ensuring high quality training across our large technical team as well as leading training initiatives such as apprenticeships, student placements and registration.
BGL is part of the South West Genomic Laboratory Hub (SW GLH) which delivers centralised genomic testing for patients with cancer and rare disease throughout the South West region. We are a large, well equipped, and friendly lab that values the experience new team members can bring to the role.
You will be an AHCS registered Genetic Technologist or an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist and have a second-class honours degree and/or higher degree in a relevant scientific subject alongside extensive experience of training in a diagnostic Genetics laboratory.
Our laboratory works 08:00 – 18:00 Monday to Saturday and successful candidates will be expected to work 37.5 hours a week full time and participate in our rotas for Saturdays and Bank holidays as appropriate.
To understand more about Pathology at NBT, click here to watch our YouTube video.
As a crucial member of the Senior Technical and Departmental leadership teams you will:
- Supervise, mentor and line manage staff completing apprenticeships and student placements.
- Supervise and monitor trainee Genetics staff completing the HCPC certificate of competence and staff registering as a Genetic Technologist with the ACHS (Academy for Healthcare Science).
- Mentor and support Genetics staff with other training programmes including the IBMS Specialist Portfolio and Certificate of Achievement when available.
- Participate in departmental and Pathology-wide training committees.
- Develop and maintain links to professional bodies (i.e., ACGS, IBMS, HEE), GTAC (Genomics Training Academy) and Higher Education Institutions.
- Maintain relevant laboratory training accreditation documentation.
- Together with the Genetics Management, develop the training portfolio for the department to meet workforce demands.
- Support training of technical staff across the South-West Genomics Laboratory Hub, including both the Bristol and Exeter site.
North Bristol NHS Trust is one of the largest healthcare trusts in the South West of England. We provide hospital and community healthcare to people living in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
NBT CARES. It’s a very simple statement; one which epitomises how everybody across our organisation goes the extra mile to ensure our patients get the best possible care.
Caring – because it underpins everything we do for our patients and the way we care for one another.
Ambitious – because it signals that we always want to improve what we do on behalf of our patients and one another
Respectful – because every individual has an important role to play
Supportive – because we’re a team and deliver together
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Staff benefits include access to on-site, tax-free childcare through the Childcare Salary Sacrifice Scheme, an excellent package of pension benefits through the NHS Pension Scheme and teams dedicated to providing our staff with physical, psychological and financial support. For our complete list of staff benefits please visit our website.
Please refer to attached job description for full details.
Personnel
1. In association with other senior staff conduct appraisals of various grades of staff, according to Trust policies and procedures.
2. Manages team of staff, including participation in recruitment, allocation and quality checking of work, performance issues, personal development, and training.
Training
3. In conjunction with discipline leads ensure the establishment, implementation and maintenance of competency programs, including re-competency assessment for all grades of staff within Genetics.
4. Supervise and monitor trainee Genetics staff completing the HCPC certificate of competence.
5. Mentor and support Genetic Technologists registering with the ACHS (Academy for Healthcare Science).
6. Mentor and support placement students.
7. Mentor and support apprenticeship candidates, including line management.
8. Monitor and support progress of IBMS specialist portfolio candidates.
9. Mentor and support Genetics staff with other training programmes including, apprenticeships, and the IBMS Specialist Portfolio and Certificate of Achievement when available.
10. Support training of staff external to the department in Genetics, e.g. BMS from other disciplines, STP rotational trainees, SpRs.
11. Develop and maintain links to professional bodies (i.e. ACGS, IBMS, HEE), GTAC (Genomics Training Academy) and Higher Education Institutions.
12. Participate in regional/national training meetings as appropriate.
13. In conjunction with the Genetics management team develop the training portfolio to meet workforce demands.
14. Support training of technical staff across the South-West Genomics Laboratory Hub, including both the Bristol and Exeter site.
15. Maintain records of all training activities undertaken by Genetics staff.
16. Develop and maintain CPD activities within Genetics.
17. As a network with other local, regional and national trainers work with Trust and other external organisations to promote careers in Pathology and Healthcare Sciences.
Quality System
18. Operate a system for document control using the commercial software package Q Pulse.
19. Work according to Trust and laboratory procedures.
20. Work according to the regulations and codes of practice governing aspects of Health and Safety relevant to the department.
21. To ensure the promotion of awareness of users’ needs and requirements throughout the laboratory organisation.
Communication
22. Communicate with patients, clinicians, laboratory and nursing staff from North Bristol Trust and other NHS organisations and regulatory bodies regarding training issues.
23. Ensure that the exchange of information is accurate at all times, through competent verbal and written skills. In particular, ensure that issues are communicated at appropriate departmental and Trust meetings.
IM+T
24. To be competent in using the department computer systems.
25. To be competent in the use of pathology Quality Management system (Q-Pulse).
26. Use of advanced IT packages including spreadsheets and databases.
Professional
27. Participate in continued professional development.
28. To be personally responsible for maintaining Registration which is a requirement of employment at this grade.
This advert closes on Monday 14 Apr 2025