Chief Medical Scientist Haematology

Chief Medical Scientist Haematology Duties and 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.
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.
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.
Represent the Department in meetings, reports, scientific papers, presentations, negotiations, etc.
as required and provide data in response to requests.
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.
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.
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.
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 hospital's disciplinary procedures.
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.
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.
Person Specification / Selection Criteria: Essential Criteria: Must be eligible for CORU (and registered for same by end of 31 st March 2021 if applicable).
Fulfil the qualifications and eligibility criteria as laid down by the DOH&C. Have had not less than seven 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: Post graduate qualification in Quality, Audit, People Management or Healthcare Management.
Experience in an Irish Healthcare Haematology Laboratory.
Closing date: 1pm on Friday, 6th December 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.
MERCY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL (MUH) Located in the heart of Cork City (Ireland's 2nd largest city), MUH is a voluntary general acute hospital catering for both public and private patients.
The hospital provides approximately 325 beds and offers a wide range of specialities which provide in-patient, day patient, outpatient and emergency services open 24 hrs.
We are a growing hospital with over 1,500 staff, a teaching hospital, a centre of national and international excellence, and are renowned for our research and tertiary services.
We live by our Core Values of Compassion, Excellence, Justice, Respect and Team Spirit.