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Job summary

Main area
Eastern Pathology Alliance
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
234-25-CS0463
Employer
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital
Town
Norwich
Salary
£29,970 - £36,483 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
20/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

EPA Network Quality Lead

NHS AfC: Band 5

At NNUH it is our privilege to provide healthcare to over one million people across Norfolk and surrounding areas. Our vision is to ‘provide the best care for every patient’, and if this inspires you and you share our values, we really want you to join our team. 

NNUH is currently the busiest Trauma Unit in the East of England caring for almost 850 trauma patients annually many with complex care needs. We are enhancing our urgent and emergency care specialist services for patients with significant injuries as a result of trauma and have an ambition to become a Major Trauma Centre.

Our values support our vision and guide the behaviour of everything we do, these are:

People-focused

We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues, to provide a safe and caring experience for all.

Respect

We act with care, compassion and kindness and value others’ diverse needs.

Integrity

We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do.

Dedication

We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest professional standards.

Excellence

We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and our hospital. 

Wish you were here? So do we.


We want all our staff to achieve a balance between work and personal life and understand how important flexible working can be.  We welcome applications on a full or part time basis, various shift patterns and hybrid working, where roles allow.


At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH), we know the benefits diversity can bring to our organisation such as creativity, innovation and compassion. All of which have a direct impact towards our staff and patient experience. We are committed to being a Hospital for All – being equitable and inclusive, and a place where all feel a sense of belonging. We therefore particularly encourage and welcome applications from candidates who are underrepresented in NNUH’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people with diverse abilities and people within the LGBT+ community.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist or Clinical Scientist to act as a Network Quality Lead for Eastern Pathology Alliance.

Working within the Quality Team the post holder will provide support to Chief BMS’s and departmental Quality Leads across Eastern Pathology Alliance (Trusts: JPUH, NNUH and QEH) in maintaining and developing the quality management system.  

The department holds accreditation to ISO15189:2022 from UKAS. 

An HCPC registered scientist with technical experience of working within a laboratory to work as part of a team overseeing quality management system across the Eastern Pathology Alliance (EPA) network.

Main duties of the job

Key duties of the post include:
•    To support the laboratory staff with any quality related tasks within the laboratory environment. 
•    To oversee audits and assist in co-ordination of EPA-wide audits, monitor departmental audits to ensure completion within agreed plans and monitor the completion of any corrective actions raised.
•    To manage corrective actions/preventive actions (CA/PAs), e.g. error logs, audit nonconformities and staff suggestions to ensure that records are sufficiently detailed and completed within appropriate timescales.
•    To provide data for quality indicators used to monitor and evaluate performance of laboratory processes 
•    To assist in the development and maintenance of standards as necessary for continuing accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). 
•    To assist in training new staff in the use of Q-Pulse quality management software.
•    To assist with in-house calibration checks in the laboratory and maintain local asset records on Q-Pulse

Extensive experience of using computerized systems for maintenance of quality management systems is required. Experience of using Q-Pulse would be preferred, but training can be provided. The ability to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team is required in this role. Previous experience of working across laboratory disciplines would be useful, along with the requirements of ISO15189:2022 and assessment by UKAS.

Working for our organisation

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

  • Flexible working hours
  • Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
  • Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
  • Discounted gym memberships
  • Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
  • Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
  • Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
  • Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
  • On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
  • On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
  • Support in career development
  • Flexible staff bank
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • To support the Chief BMS’s and departmental Quality Leads in ensuring requirements of the QMS are met on a day to day basis.
  • To assist the Chief BMS’s and departmental Quality Leads in the administration, control and maintenance of documentation required for compliance with accreditation standard ISO 15189 under the authority of the EPA Network Quality Manager or their deputy.
  • To provide Input into reports and to attend QMT meetings and Management Reviews when required.
  • To review and respond to staff suggestions in conjunction with the Chief BMS’s and Quality Leads.
  • To liaise with Network Quality Management with respect to quality issues and preparation of documents to comply with ISO 15189.
  • To assist in training new staff in the use of Q-Pulse quality management software.
  • To assist with in-house calibration checks in the laboratory.
  • To support the laboratory staff with any quality related tasks within the laboratory environment. 
  • To support the laboratory staff in relation to internal quality control and quality related issues and assist with their resolution
  • To maintain local asset records via Q-Pulse – inventory, records for maintenance, service, calibration and faults/breakdowns.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences or equivalent
  • Registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  • Qualification in quality management systems or significant experience in quality management

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant technical experience of working within a laboratory
  • Significant knowledge, understanding and the ability to use current laboratory software

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Develop comprehensive knowledge, understanding and the ability to use current laboratory software
  • Will be able to effectively work within a complex multidisciplinary team

Attitude, aptitude

Essential criteria
  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH’s PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesStonewall Health ChampionsMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.Disability confident employerNHS Pastoral CareStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Fiona Butcher
Job title
Network Quality Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01603 286900
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