Deputy Operations Manager

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion. We deliver high-quality care, clinical excellence, research, and innovation regionally, nationally, and internationally. We support people with rare and complex medical, surgical, and neurological conditions, cancers, and genetic disorders. The Trust is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, aiming to recruit a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Newcastle Hospitals are a leader in sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030 for our direct carbon footprint and Net Zero by 2040 for our broader footprint.

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified individual to become the new Blood Sciences Deputy Operations Manager in a state-of-the-art laboratory setting. Blood Sciences plays a pivotal role in the provision of approximately 11 million diagnostic tests per year, essential for high-quality clinical care. The department offers extensive services to all Directorates within the Trust, Primary Care, and serves as a regional and national reference laboratory for other Trusts. The laboratory is UKAS accredited, progressive, well-equipped, and accredited for training, with active encouragement of Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The role is initially based at Freeman Hospital, with cross-site working as an essential part of the position.

This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operational activities within Blood Sciences to ensure the smooth running of the department on your site.
• Oversee facilities and associated staff, including reorganisation in response to unexpected situations.
• Deputise for the Operational Site Manager as required.
• Manage all technical staff in Blood Sciences, including Senior BMS, BMS, Trainee BMS, Associate Practitioners, Senior Healthcare Science Assistants, Healthcare Science Assistants (HCSA), and clerical staff.
• Ensure the provision of an effective scientific service within Blood Sciences to the Trust, General Practitioners, other NHS Trusts, and other service users.
• Provide specialised scientific knowledge and work as part of the team to assess, plan, and contribute to the provision of a specialised service.
• Operate laboratory equipment, including microscopy, reporting appropriate specimens and referring abnormalities for medical opinion.
• Deliver a patient-focused service in relevant wards and clinics, including phlebotomy and near-patient testing to provide immediate results for clinical staff.
• Ensure laboratory diagnostic tests and procedures—including those on "High Risk" specimens—are performed accurately and efficiently, using judgement to determine if further tests are necessary.
• Use advanced knowledge and experience to coordinate activity in all laboratory and point-of-care areas while directing other staff members.
• Assess blood and body fluid samples, reporting cases not requiring medical opinion.
• Undertake internal and external quality control of all aspects of the Blood Sciences test repertoire to ensure the highest quality of service.
• Validate results macroscopically and microscopically, using judgement to determine if further tests or procedures are necessary.
• Ensure the performance of laboratory equipment complies with standards and take prompt action in the event of failure or malfunction.
• Ensure Blood Sciences conforms to all internally and externally defined quality standards, including UKAS accreditation requirements.
• Comply with local health and safety rules, Trust and departmental policies (including COSHH, risk assessments, and Standard Operating Procedures), and report any non-compliances.
• Implement automation in Blood Sciences and write Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Address quality issues in Blood Sciences, including audit, External Quality Assessment (EQA), and Internal Quality Control (IQC).
• Train staff and undertake appraisals.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the Data Protection Act and manage stock control.
• Handle problem-solving, equipment maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Deal with grievance procedures and staff appraisals as required.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Essential:
  • Accredited degree.
  • Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  • Further specialist qualification (Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science or a Master’s degree).
• Desirable:
  • Management qualification.

Skills

• Essential:
  • Evidence of effective leadership skills.
  • Strong analytical, organisational, and planning skills.
  • Ability to understand complex problems quickly and identify workable solutions.
  • Evidence of effective team-building skills.
  • Ability to multitask.
  • Good hand-eye coordination.
• Desirable:
  • Keyboard and IT-related skills.

Experience

• Essential:
  • Previous experience in a Senior BMS role with supervisory responsibilities in a Blood Sciences-related discipline.
  • Extensive experience and in-depth specialist knowledge of Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, or Immunology.
  • Broad experience across the main sections of a Blood Sciences-related discipline.
  • Experience promoting and participating in Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
  • Firm understanding of UKAS accreditation requirements.
  • Experience implementing automation in Blood Sciences.
  • Experience writing SOPs.
  • Experience with quality issues in Blood Sciences (Audit, EQA, and IQC).
  • Practical experience in management.
  • Experience in training staff.
  • Working knowledge of Health & Safety issues.
  • Experience in problem-solving, maintaining, and troubleshooting equipment.
  • Sound working knowledge of the Data Protection Act.
• Desirable:
  • Experience dealing with grievance procedures.
  • Experience with staff appraisals and the appraisal system.
  • Experience in stock control.
  • Training in undertaking staff appraisals.

Benefits

As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we strive to accommodate arrangements that work for both the service and you. For more details on staff benefits, please refer to the attached Newcastle Staff Benefits document.

Further details

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

• Name: John Hardy
• Job title: Laboratory Manager
• Email: john.hardy3@nhs.net
• Telephone: 0191 223 1687