Chief Medical Scientist Blood Bank

CHIEF MEDICAL SCIENTIST BLOOD BANK Permanent, Full Time Role Mercy University Hospital (MUH) MUH is a growing voluntary hospital in the heart of Cork City.
We have over 1,500 staff providing complex diagnostic, medical and surgical care through our inpatient, day patient, outpatient and emergency services.
We are a teaching hospital, a centre of national and international excellence, and are renowned for our research and tertiary services.
Providing 24/7 acute surgical, acute medical and critical care, MUH now has multiple sites across the city and continues to expand.
We support staff development with approx.
100 promotions annually.
We prioritise work life balance with 28% of our team working part time hours.
We offer nationally agreed enhanced Salary Scales, Pension Scheme, excellent holidays, canteen, and Study Leave and Assistance.
We live by our Core Values of Compassion, Excellence, Justice, Respect and Team Spirit.
Chief Medical Scientist Blood Bank Role Responsibilities: Ensure the Laboratory operates in accordance with the highest quality and safety of service that is appropriate within the MUH budgetary constraints.
Lead and develop an effective and efficient Laboratory Service, in line with good practice including development and evaluation of operational policies to maximise utilisation of resources.
Monitor research and developments including adoption of new process/technologies as appropriate.
Work within a total quality management framework and legislative/regulatory requirements as defined in the ISO 15189, other associated INAB guideline documents and other Government and EU Directives as required.
Develop a shared sense of commitment, participation, and ownership amongst staff in planning and development of this specialist area and reviewing manpower requirements to ensure optimal effective use of staff through efficient rostering, skills/grades mix, planning, workload monitoring and staff development consistent with delivery of optimal service and good practice.
Cooperate with the Laboratory Manager, Consultants, other Department leads, and Service Users within a broader pathology and hospital environment to ensure the service provided matches user requirements and supports the clinical needs of the patient.
Fully support and actively encourage all staff members to participate in any out of hours working arrangements that may be required by the MUH.
Ensure regular proficiency testing and audit of departmental functions and manage validation of new technologies and processes and participate in MUH internal audit programme, inspection by competent authorities/accreditation bodies and external suppliers as appropriate.
Ensure optimal use of IT and other operational support systems.
Ensure that best practise standards are in operation and that regular monitoring is undertaken through audit.
Implement a quality management programme and participate, lead and direct, as appropriate, a Laboratory Accreditation Strategy approved by the hospital/board.
Maintain good collaborative working relationships and communications with appropriate statutory, professional and voluntary organisations responsible for and/or participating in health care Ensure adherence to all codes and guidelines relating to professional practice.
Monitor research and new developments and encourage adoption of new ideas/technology throughout the hospital.
Initiate, facilitate and take part in the relevant research and promote awareness of ongoing and current research.
Ensure compliance with all legislation.
Finance: Participate in the overall financial planning of the service including the negotiation of resources and the assessment of priorities in the pay and non-pay expenditure.
Ensure expenditure is controlled within budget and identify potential for efficiency saving through improved practises and innovation.
Implement budgetary control measures and implement expenditure audit systems, where appropriate.
Ensure that financial, human and IT resources are deployed appropriately and utilised effectively to support the clinical service to the patients.
Adhere to best practice in the management of stock, procurement of equipment, audit and stocktake, and all matters pertaining to the National Financial Regulations Represent the Department in meetings, reports, scientific papers, presentations, negotiations, etc.
as required and provide data in response to requests.
Work with clinical colleagues, laboratory management, staff, and patient representatives to develop a vision for the service and deliver that vision through strategic planning and project management.
Co-operate fully with the implementation of new procedures, technologies, and IT systems.
Develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to maximise potential income generated by activities.
Co-operate with relevant Departments in establishing costing methods in respect of utilisation of the Laboratory Service.
Personnel Management: Effectively manage the recruitment, selection, and appointment of staff.
Ensure the optimum and effective use of staff through efficient rostering, skill/grade mix planning, workload measurement and staff deployment.
Effectively manage all staff assigned to the Laboratory Team.
Provide a working environment that stimulates and motivates staff and attracts and retains the best people.
Initiate the implementation of a staff development and individual performance review process and foster a high level of morale among staff by effective motivation and communication.
Participate in the formulation of relevant personnel policies and procedures and deal with human resource problems, in association with the Human Resources Department and, if necessary, in accordance with the hospitals disciplinary procedures.
Ensure a channel of communication between Senior Management and laboratory staff to promote an open and well-informed workplace.
Oversee that out-of-hours services are staffed appropriately.
Ensure staff who must be registered with CORU are so registered and support activities that enable staff compliance with such registration.
Risk Management: Adequately identify, assess, manage, and monitor risks within area of responsibility.
Ensure all processes are risk assessed in accordance with the National Health and Safety Function and manage those risks, mitigating where possible or escalating if necessary.
Make necessary preparations to foresee service failures and plan contingency measures accordingly (such as those required by surges in service demand, power outages, problems with the computer systems, analyser downtime, implementing the Major Emergency Plan etc.)
Handle feedback relating to the service as required, including responding appropriately to advisory notices from regulatory authorities.
CMS role in relation to Hemovigilance: Ensure a Transfusion Surveillance Service is in place for the Mercy University Hospital, based within the Department of Blood Transfusion Ensure guidelines are implemented for the usage of blood components as developed by the transfusion committee/leading national and international bodies i.e., BSH.
Promote and facilitate adherence to best practice in all aspects of Transfusion practice, Ensure a close liaison between Haemovigilance and the Blood Transfusion Laboratory in investigating all reports of transfusion reactions/incidents and report adverse blood transfusion reactions to the Transfusion Consultant Haematologist and the National Haemovigilance Office and audit of same as per the NHO guidelines.
Adhere to the responsibilities of directive 2002/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27th January 2020 Ensure that post Transfusion look back and product tracing and recalls procedures are adhered to.
Ensure that Haemovigilance collect and collate clinical and laboratory data on transfusions that can be used for the formulation and updating of recommended, maximum blood order schedules (MBOS) and cross match /transfusion ratios.
Ensure that Haemovigilance report accidents, incidents, and complaints relating to ward/clinical activity in relation to transfusion practices to relevant authorities usually the Consultant Haematologist /Line Manager in accordance with the laboratory quality management system Ensure that Hemovigilance report clinical incidents and Near Miss Incidents to the Risk Manager and SAEs/SARs to the National Hemovigilance office as per the national guidelines.
Ensure Hemovigilance liaise closely with Blood Transfusion Laboratory staff to maintain good interdisciplinary working relationships with all staff.
Ensure that the Hemovigilance department develop and review SOPs to meet the requirements of ISO 15189, INAB guidelines and the AML-BB regulations.
Ensure that the Haemovigilance department assist with multidisciplinary team in ensuring traceability of all blood and blood products laid down by EU Directives 2002/98/EC and 2004/23/EC Ensure that the Haemovigilance department provide reports on Blood Transfusion Committee and organization of Hospital Transfusion Committee Meetings Ensure that the Haemovigilance department organise and participate in Blood Transfusion departmental meeting and attend managerial and clinical meetings as required.
Support Haemovigilance education and training.
Support Haemovigilance audit and research projects Support in the identification and development of Haemovigilance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospitals service plan targets.
Support the development of action Plans to address Hemovigilance KPI targets.
Safety, Health & Welfare at Work: Provide a safe working environment that is compliant with relevant Health and Safety legislation and with the Hospital Safety Statement, where staff are empowered to deliver the required service to the best of their ability, Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
Person Specification / Selection Criteria: Essential Criteria: Must be registered with CORU.
Fulfil the qualifications and eligibility criteria as laid down by the DOH&C Have had not less than 7 years satisfactory post-qualification experience and fulfil the conditions as laid down by the DOH&C Have a minimum of 2 years experience in the supervision and management of staff and resources.
Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a high capacity for responsibility and individual initiative.
Demonstrate adaptability to the rapid changes taking place in the health services.
Desirable Criteria: Experience in an Irish Healthcare Blood Bank Laboratory.
In possession of a post graduate management qualification Closing Date 1pm on Tuesday, 8 October 2024.
The MUH reserve the right to create a panel for this post from which permanent, fixed term and specified purpose vacancies of a full or part time duration may be filled.
Skills: CORU Registration, 7+ years post qual experience, 2+ years management experience Benefits: Salary Scales, Pension, City Centre Location, Study Scheme, Subsidised Canteen