Clinical Embryologist 4 views

Liverpool Women’s NHS FT became part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG) in November 2024, following the coming together with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS FT. UHLG was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide to our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities – from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, UHLG is also their local NHS, providing general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

At Liverpool Women’s Hospital, each year we deliver approximately 7,500 babies, carry out around 50,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly and premature newborns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles, and conduct over 4,000 genetic appointments.

We believe that this, along with a strong dedication to research and innovation, makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.

Liverpool Women’s has an excellent reputation and is a centre of excellence. It is an exciting environment to work in and a great place to develop your career for many years to come.

We invite you to review why Liverpool Women’s Hospital is a great place to work:  https://vimeo.com/556197652 

We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.

Job overview

The Hewitt Fertility Centre is seeking an embryologist to provide maternity leave cover for a 12 month fixed term contract. They will be joining our highly skilled and dedicated team of 35 scientists. We are dedicated to providing the very best in patient care and offer a full range of laboratory therapeutic and diagnostic treatments. (Including IMSI, PGT, cryopreservation and donation programmes).

The Hewitt Fertility Centre offers as standard the latest time-lapse technologies for all patients in our state-of-the-art laboratories. Successful applicants should be personable with excellent communication skills, experienced in all routine embryological procedures and take part in a weekend and on-call rota.

Suitable applicants must have experience of performing clinical workload within an Embryology laboratory setting and be familiar with the HFEA Code of Practice. HCPC registration is a must and we only encourage those with HCPC registration to apply.

Part time employment will be considered, please make a note of this on your application. Please note, successful applicants will need to provide cover at both Liverpool and Knutsford sites on occasion.

Main duties of the job

To perform all laboratory procedures associated with the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment services provided by the Hewitt Fertility Centres including semen analysis, sperm preparation (including donor, and surgically retrieved testicular and epididymal sperm), oocyte and embryo handling, gamete (ejaculated and surgically retrieved sperm) and embryo cryopreservation, clinical intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), time-lapse technologies and other micromanipulation techniques.

To select embryos best suited for embryo transfer and cryopreservation.

Working for our organisation

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust delivers the highest standards of care for women, babies and families. Each year we deliver over 7,500 babies, carry out over 49,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly & preterm newborns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles and have over 4,000 genetic appointments taking place. We believe that this along with a strong dedication to research & innovation makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.

We have some of the leading experts in their field, which has been showcased on national TV and news, making our teams famous across the world for professionalism, skill & compassion.

The Trust is constantly innovating and evolving it’s services to provide the most cutting edge and modern care possible. As well as developing services on our current site we have long-term aspirations for the future. We have recently launched a number of new strategies which provide a detailed long-term plan for our services.

Check out why Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work using the links below:

Video: https://vimeo.com/556197652

 Online brochure: https://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/media/4121/recruitment-pack-great-place-to-work-16pp-v4-final.pdf

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description

To become fully proficient in, and to perform all clinical embryological procedures (including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), vitrification and time-lapse technologies) associated with the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment services provided by the Hewitt Fertility Centres.

Main duties and responsibilities

To participate in the treatment of patients with known high risk diseases (ie HIV, Hepatitis B & Hep C)

To convey, where necessary, relevant details of treatment (quality of oocytes, sperm and embryos) directly to patients in a clear, concise, and understanding manner. To suggest alternative treatments if and when necessary

To counsel patients regarding the implications of treatment options to ensure correct information is given and relevant questions answered properly in order to assist them in making an informed decision

To break bad news to patients and counsel them regarding the outcome and further treatment options

To participate in the annual embryo storage audits and to assist with the system of contact for patients with embryos in storage

To maintain the liquid nitrogen storage vessels ensuring stored material integrity. This will involve handling of liquid nitrogen, and manual handling of storage vessels in accordance with accepted safe practice

To perform all duties in accordance with the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act (1990) and the Code of Practice issued by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority, and any other relevant regulation

To undertake the formal witnessing of procedures as required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to ensure the correct identification of patients, gametes (oocytes and sperm) and fresh and frozen embryos

To ensure that informed consent (in accordance with the HFEA) is in place prior to any treatments being performed

To anticipate and handle the day-to-day workload and ensure that preparations and procedures are performed effectively and to the highest possible standard, paying meticulous attention to detail

To work flexibly and perform tasks as and when necessary including out of ‘normal working hours’ and to participate in a weekend rota. This will include working across all Hewitt Fertility Centre sites

To perform a daily audit of all equipment to ensure that they are functioning correctly and within critical parameters

To participate in the maintenance of laboratory equipment and cleaning of the embryology and laboratory and associated areas

To liaise with centres outside of the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust regarding workload, treatments, outcome of treatments and transfer of gametes or embryos between centres

To critically analyse and audit laboratory performance

To perform accurate and complete data collection as required by the Hewitt Fertility Centre and by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority

To liaise directly, and by telephone, with colleagues and other members of the Hewitt Fertility Centre staff and other healthcare professionals ensuring that information is conveyed to colleagues accurately and in a timely manner

To actively participate in the development and maintenance of research within the Hewitt Fertility Centre

To disseminate research findings and other relevant material at a local, national and international level

To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide the highest possible standard of care

To assist in the training and supervision of trainees and less experienced staff. To participate in the demonstration of procedures during the induction of new members of staff

To provide Andrology cover when short staffed by performing all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures associated with the Andrology laboratory within the Hewitt Fertility Centres

To participate in the external QC (UKNEQAS) scheme in accordance with the World Health Organisation and ISO 15189 standards to maintain UKAS accreditation

To be proficient and use the computer database systems used by the Hewitt Fertility Centre. To carry out required administrative duties associated with the embryology laboratory

To follow procedures, standards and protocols to ensure the best possible clinical outcomes and ensure that procedures are performed effectively and to the highest possible standard, paying meticulous attention to detail

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Bachelor of Science Degree in life sciences (or an equivalent qualification) from an EU University; alternative degrees or other qualifications may be acceptable
• Certificate Clinical Embryology awarded by the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) and the Institute of Biology or a graduate of the Modernising Scientific Careers STP training programme.

Desirable criteria

• Relevant higher degree

Professional requirements

Essential criteria

• Professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. Ability to work without direct supervision and ability to take charge of organising the laboratory on a day to day basis.

Desirable criteria

• Recognised by the HFEA as an ICSI practitioner
• Vitrification

Previous experience

Essential criteria

• Experience within the field of assisted conception and reproductive medicine

Desirable criteria

• Micromanipulation experience
• Research experience
• NHS experience

Team Work

Essential criteria

• Able to work within a multidisciplinary team

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Posts advertised to ‘internal staff’ are open to employees of hospitals within University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and you should confirm your employment within your application form.

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust has a responsibility and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and for ensuring that they are protected from harm. Every employee of the Trust has a responsibility and is duty bound always to act in the best interest of a child or adult about whom we may have concerns.

Trust policy requires the cost of DBS applications be recovered via salary. The amount of £21.50(standard) or £41.50(enhanced) can be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement in post. DBS applications submitted from 2nd December will be subject to the new DBS fee of £26.40 (standard) and £54.40 (Enhanced).

The Trust is committed to creating a well-managed,flexible working environment that supports staff & promotes welfare & development. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity;we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community.We operate Zero Tolerance to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment.We will make reasonable adjustments to ensure our recruitment & selection process is accessible to all.Flexible Working applications will be considered.

If you are disabled and have special support needs in applying for a job, attending for an interview or in undertaking any tests as part of a selection process, please contact the Trust’s recruitment team on 0151 7064666 and someone from that team will ensure that the recruiting manager is aware of your particular needs.

Please Note: new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first paypoint of the relevant band.

LWH has a responsibility & is committed to safeguarding & promoting the welfare of children, young people & vulnerable adults & for ensuring that they are protected from harm. Every employee of the Trust has a responsibility & is duty bound always to act in the best interest of a child or adult about whom we may have concerns.

Liverpool Women’s Hospital is committed to having a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. To this end, we particularly welcome applicants from racially minoritised backgrounds, who have a disability, or are members of the Armed Forces, Reservists or Veterans.