Job Description

As Blood Transfusion Laboratory Manager at West Suffolk Foundation Trust, you will oversee the vital work of our transfusion services, ensuring that our blood products are accurately processed and delivered to the right patients, at the right time, and in accordance with the highest safety and quality standards. This is an exceptional opportunity to play a crucial role in a collaborative, forward-thinking healthcare environment.



In this role, you will manage the day-to-day operations of the blood transfusion laboratory, leading a dedicated team of biomedical scientists and support staff. Your responsibilities will include overseeing the testing, processing, and distribution of blood and blood components, while ensuring full compliance with clinical guidelines, regulatory requirements, and Trust policies. You'll also be involved in staff training and development, quality improvement initiatives, and the ongoing enhancement of laboratory technologies and practices.



We use Grifols Erytra analysers and issue around 5,000 units of blood products a year. Our Blood Transfusion department has ISO 15189:2012 accreditation and have our transition assessment to ISO 15189:2022 planned for early 2025. Join us and help deliver life-saving care at a Trust that is proud of its people and their commitment to excellence.



The Laboratory Manager will manage the activities of the team, lead on service improvement and be responsible for the quality of the service. They will define, implement and monitor standards of performance and quality improvement. In addition, they will have overall responsibility for the Health and Safety of the laboratory and staff within the discipline. We are looking for someone with excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to prioritise own workload and that of others to meet the needs of the service, and that has knowledge of service planning and accreditation systems.



#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community



We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.



The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.



Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.



We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.



With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.



We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.



Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Transfusion specific responsibilities:

To maintain relationships with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). To maintain relationships with the NHS Blood and Transport (NHSBT) and users of the service. To liaise with the Transfusion Nurse Specialists (TNS) for continuing improvement in the provision of the service to the Trust and other agencies. To participate in Hospital Transfusion Committee (HTC) meetings. To review and implement national transfusion guidelines. To ensure the laboratory computer system is sensitive to Blood Transfusion requirements and appropriate business continuity plans exist in the event of failure. Responsible for quality issues within the blood transfusion laboratory to ensure compliance with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 (and amendments) including: Completion of the annual Blood Compliance Report for submission to the MHRA. Maintenance of the cold chain and temperature controlled facilities. Maintenance of the quality management system. Document review and control. Validation of equipment and processes. Management of change control. Ensure completion of own training and competency and relevant transfusion training and competency for all staff. Ensure completion of own annual update in good manufacturing practice (GMP) and completion of GMP update for all staff. Participation in local Trust and national audits in transfusion. To report any transfusion incidents to the Serious Adverse Blood Reactions and Events (SABRE) / Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme as appropriate .

Technical and Scientific:

Maintain and assure UKAS accreditation for own discipline. Responsible for the quality of results ensuring that all activities are undertaken in line with document control and quality management systems. Ensure own discipline participates in External Quality Assurance schemes appropriate for the repertoire and that reports are reviewed and actioned as necessary. Select referral laboratories and monitor the quality of their service. Devise, implement and participate in appropriate training and competency strategies for service area. Ensure staff are trained and competent to undertake their duties. Ensure compliance with Trust incident, risk and governance policies. Ensure effective risk assessment and risk management within the discipline. Ensure timely investigation of incidents to include root cause analysis and implementation of recommendations/learning actions as appropriate. Review incidents to include trend analysis. Ensure COSHH assessments are performed and maintained. Ensure patient confidentiality and conformance to General Data Protection Regulation and Caldicott Guidelines. Utilise the Laboratory Information System, email, internet and other software packages as required to create specialist reports. This will include complex manipulation of data. Maintain personal appropriate level of training, competency and continued professional development. Maintain registration with Health and Care Professions Council.

Service development:

Work closely with the Pathology management team to ensure that Pathology provides optimum quality of care in line with national healthcare standards. Maintain awareness of regulatory changes that impact on laboratory operations. Ensure implementation of policies for service improvement and propose policy changes that may impact within and beyond own area. Introduce, maintain and improve methodologies encouraging innovations that enhance the effectiveness of the laboratory service.

Operational management:

Ensure that there are appropriate numbers of staff with the required education, training and competence to provide laboratory services that meet the needs and requirements of the users. Ensure effective staff deployment to cover all shifts. Design and implement a Business Continuity Plan to ensure that essential services are available during emergency situations or other conditions when laboratory services are limited or unavailable. Lead the recruitment and induction of new staff. Manage and undertake appraisals in line with Trust policy. Manage the team in line with HR policies, including capability, attendance and disciplinary. Contribute to the acquisition, control and utilisation of stock and consumables. Manage the purchase, ordering and procurement processes of the laboratory. Monitor workload and financial information for the service, contributing to reports as required. Delegated budget holder responsibility for the management of resources within the financial constraints of the service. Liaise with other Laboratory Managers to ensure appropriate managerial cover for planned absence. * Liaise with Senior BMS who will act as deputy when required with support from other Laboratory Managers.