The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
We are seeking a new Senior Medical Information Scientist, to join the UK Teratology Information Service (www.uktis.org), based in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. This national service, commissioned by the UK Health Security Agency and hosted by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides information on all aspects of the safety of drugs and chemicals in pregnancy to healthcare professionals throughout the UK.
We require an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and clinicians. The individual would contribute to undertaking research in the effects of drugs and chemicals on fetal toxicity, providing high quality medical information to health professionals and patients, and represent UKTIS at meetings and conferences at a national and international level.
Main duties of the job
* To provide support to the Head and Assistant Head of Teratology and the UK Teratology Information Service, a service hosted by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and commissioned by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of all UK health departments.
* This is a service for healthcare professionals throughout the UK which provides advice and risk assessment on any aspect of reproductive toxicity (male or female fertility, preconception advice, pregnancy advice) following exposure to drugs, chemicals and other noxious substances in the environment, the work place or the home.
* This also includes advice on the effects of deliberate and accidental poisoning prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy and via breast milk.
* The risk assessment may involve discussion of therapeutic abortion or voluntary termination of pregnancy and conveying distressing news concerning congenital malformations.
* Retrospective risk assessment of the possible causes of congenital malformations, neurodevelopmental delay and other adverse pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriages is also provided.
* The main aim of the service is to prevent reproductive toxicity, especially congenital malformations, from occurring by delivering appropriate, accurate, evidence-based advice.
* The position has specific responsibility for:
o Training National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) staff in teratology;
o Assisting in providing assessment and support of new staff following teratology training;
o Assisting the Assistant Head of Teratology in co-ordination of teratology monograph updates;
o Maintenance of the UKTIS database of pregnancy outcomes;
o Checking teratology enquiry and follow-up forms for clinical accuracy (clinical governance);
o Managing their own workload within the teratology office;
o Research and development work in the field of teratology and reproductive risk;
o Supporting colleagues to enable them to answer enquiries concerning reproductive effects of drugs, chemicals and poisons;
o Supporting the Head and Assistant Head of UKTIS in providing the unique national Teratology Information Service to healthcare professionals in the UK.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
* Relevant first degree in Biological Sciences or Pharmacology
* A relevant postgraduate qualification to master's level or equivalent, or evidence of working towards this
* Evidence of continuing professional development, such as postgraduate study and conference attendance and participation
* Postgraduate qualification such as an MPhil or PhD in pharmacology, toxicology or developmental biology
Knowledge & Experience
* Be experienced in interpreting data and critically evaluating the quality of primary literature, in particular therapeutics, clinical toxicology and reproductive toxicology (fertility, pregnancy and development of the unborn child)
* Show experience in use of primary, secondary and tertiary literature sources. Must be able to operate scientific databases, use applications which access Medline and be familiar with other sources used for searching the primary literature
* Produce high quality written material for abstracts, summaries, monographs and letters that are scientifically and grammatically correct
* Previous employment or experience in a health information/clinical advisory role (NHS, private or academic)
* Previous experience of working in a research environment
* Publications in primary literature
* Contribution to research projects relating to clinical toxicology/reproductive toxicology/teratology
* Use of statistics packages and databases
Skills & Abilities
* Requires the ability to prioritise workloads, balance and progress work tasks simultaneously, respond to tight deadlines, and meet enquirer requirements, and contribute to a telephone answering rota system
* Have highly developed listening skills and be able to relate and deliver information and clinical advice clearly and concisely
* Have ability in training individuals and groups including clinical scientists, pharmacists, nurses and other healthcare professionals
* Ability in basic mathematical skills and a sound understanding of basic statistical principles
* Skilled in the operation of Microsoft products, in particular Windows, Internet Explorer, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and use of an email application
* Able to prepare and present material for the continuing education of colleagues, for regional, national or international professional meetings
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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