Clinical Genetics Service Manager

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic manager to join our Clinical Genetics team within the Pathology Clinical Service Unit. The Clinical Genetics service will need to adapt and respond to its increasingly important role within the Trust and regionally.

Main Duties of the Job

The Clinical Genetics Service Manager will be responsible for the operational management of the Clinical Genetics department, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, effective, and efficient services. The post holder will report to the General Manager and work in partnership with senior colleagues within Pathology and the wider Trust to ensure the delivery of the portfolio of Pathology CSU activities within a financially sustainable model.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead on the delivery of operational service targets within the Clinical Service Unit to ensure that income is maximised and targets achieved.
2. Line manage the Clinical Genetics Business Support Manager and have overall accountability for the performance of the patient administration function, ensuring services are managed within agreed budgets.
3. Ensure the development of effective business systems and procedures within the Directorate.
4. Ensure that robust activity and financial management systems are in place to maintain business continuity during planning and commissioning of the service plans.
5. Monitor contract activity and ensure that systems are in place to deliver planned contract activity.
6. Ensure that appropriate risk management strategies are developed and that the risk register is updated regularly to reflect the current issues facing the service.
7. Delegated budget holder to be involved in budget setting for services.
8. Create, collate, interpret, and analyse data to turn into useful information to enable the Clinical Service Unit to monitor and control performance and quality along with changes in financial activity modelling.
9. Participate and deliver quality assurance checks and visits within the clinical environment, wards, outpatients, etc., with matrons to review the environment, equipment, and ensure it meets the necessary standards.
10. Participate in quality assurance of facilities, for example, when commissioning/relocating services, to ensure that facilities comply with national guidelines and legislation.

Service Development

The Clinical Genetics Service Manager will take lead responsibility for developing a robust project management framework to support the delivery of service changes, including the preparation of a detailed project plan, key outcomes, deliverables, and timescales.

Ensure that projects are delivered within the available resources and to the agreed timescales, providing regular highlight reports to the Clinical Service Unit, General Manager.

Play a leading role in project groups, ensuring that the work of various subgroups are on track, that the project as a whole is coordinated, and that significant issues/problems are raised in a timely manner, enabling early remedial action if required through the development of options and recommendations to mitigate risk.

Propose changes to processes, procedures, and patient pathways. Lead on developing new processes and procedures, supporting the development of clinical protocols and models of delivery at regional level.

Identify areas of improvement within the service and lead on the development of required changes to impact on access, quality, performance, and finance. Sometimes these service developments will have a national profile.

Be involved in the development and creation of policies, some of which may impact on other Regional organisations and units, District General Hospitals, etc.

Implement and performance manage adherence to Trust and departmental service policies.

Ensure active engagement and ownership of key stakeholders in the project, liaising with key professions, including clinicians, managers, nursing, service users, and planners.

Act as a change agent, consulting with all involved parties, gaining agreement and approval for new ways of working. Ensure new patterns of work are monitored and evaluated.

Establish and maintain an effective communications strategy, to ensure that all stakeholders are fully informed.

Take the lead on the development of revised finance and activity plans, working closely with clinical and finance colleagues to identify the costs of the agreed packages of care, and a revised pricing structure.

Represent the Trust in discussions with commissioners about any revisions to activity levels, prices, and service specifications.

Work with the Lead Clinician and Counsellor Manager to develop business cases for equipment or staffing.

Develop and deliver on a marketing strategy for the service units.

Ensure training and induction packages are in place for all staff groups.

General Management

Deputise where appropriate for the CSU General Manager.

Attend and contribute as a key member at the Clinical Service Unit Team meetings.

Investigate complex complaints in line with the Trust's Complaints Procedure and ensure that all complaints are used positively to improve service deficiencies.

Research, Audit, and Activity

Contribute to staff surveys, Clinical Service Unit patient experience surveys, etc., to identify areas of improvement.

Regularly conduct audits, such as secretarial audits, outpatient follow-ups, readmissions, monthly key performance indicators, length of stay, theatre utilisation, delayed discharges.

Support the setup of clinical trials, work with clinical and research teams to monitor the recruitment of patients, and ensure the business process that coordinates the R&D programmes are effective.

Health and Safety, Risk Management

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system.

Infection Control

The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

Equality and Diversity

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person, whether they are staff, patient, or visitor, should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, etc.

Patient and Public Involvement

The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff has a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback.

Training and Personal Development, Continuous Professional Development

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

The jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

Communication and Working Relationships

Key stakeholders: CSU triumvirate team, clinicians, medical and counsellor staff, managers, regional service users, business unit supply personnel.

Developing presentations to lead, influence, and engage with multidisciplinary teams.

Negotiation and influence outside of own service, eg, with other Clinical Service Units and specialties.

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