The Immunology laboratory based at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital was the first such NHS laboratory in the UK, and set the model for UK Immunology training and expansion. It remains a large and busy service, and receives a substantial amount of referred work. The laboratory performs all immunology work for University Hospitals Birmingham, the majority of GPs across Birmingham and Solihull it also performs a large amount of specialist work for external users.

The laboratory provides a comprehensive range of immunology assays including autoantibody testing for the diagnosis and management of organ-specific diseases, connective tissue diseases and vasculitis (30,000 ANA, 12,000 ANCA and 60,000 TTG requests per year) immunoglobulin, paraproteins, complement, and cryoprotein analyses (60,000 Igs and electrophoresis per year) cerebrospinal fluid testing for oligoclonal bands total and allergen/component-specific IgE (55,000 per year) fungal and avian serum precipitins, alpha-1 antitrypsin quantitation and phenotyping (6000 HIV CD4 counts, 3500 non-HIV lymphocyte subsets per year) serum antibodies against pneumococcus, Haemophilus type b, tetanus and salmonella typhi lymphocyte subset quantitation and phenotyping, neutrophil respiratory burst and CD62L shedding, lymphocyte activation, proliferation and cytokine production (10,000 IGRA tests per year).

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to perform a range of highly specialist, advanced clinical and scientific duties covering all areas of Immunology. The post holder will be given a considerable degree of autonomy to undertake those duties but with ultimate responsibility of the quality lying with the Consultant Clinical Scientist.

The post-holder will share in the provision of an analytical and Clinical Immunology laboratory service at a level commensurate with their training and experience as agreed by Consultant Medical and Scientific staff within the department. The post holder is also responsible for training to his/her own and other professions in his/her specialist area of activity.

The post holder is responsible for the clinical interpretation and authorisation of Clinical Immunology diagnostic results, liaising with clinical teams as necessary to advise patient care pathways, result interpretation, repeat testing and additional investigations that may be required.

The post holder is required to contribute to the development and provision of a range of laboratory services. This also includes contributing to the research and development of policies and services as directed, audit, teaching and training of the department.

The post holder is expected to support the department to maintain good performance in external quality assessment, compliance with laboratory accreditation standards and Trust clinical governance.

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

University Hospitals Birmingham is a Smoke-Free premises hospital.

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note*: For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• * 1st class or 2:1 honours degree in Immunology or a closely related science
• * MSc in Clinical Immunology or working towards
• * State registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) or registration within 6 months

Experience

Essential

• * Specialist knowledge of clinical immunology and laboratory medicine
• * Awareness of the political and cultural aspects of the NHS
• * Awareness of clinical governance and risk management
• * Awareness of laboratory health and safety
• * Awareness and experience of laboratory accreditation standards

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Heartlands Hospital

Bordesley Green E

Birmingham

West Midlands

B9 5SS

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

304-52193YS1