Laboratory competencies - Laboratory management competencies

Details

Title

Laboratory competencies - Laboratory management competencies

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS115

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of developing skills to take independent responsibility for the direction and management of the analytical toxicology service be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform, adapt and master a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• understand request initiation, specimen transport and factors that contribute to error.
• organisation of the analytical and reporting process
• principles of successful management
• the structure and organisation of the NHS, where decision making occurs, process of change and ways of influencing decisions
• practical experience of business planning, finance, financial control, costing, pricing, contracting, purchasing, resource management
• practical aspects of personnel management, industrial relations, team building, staff training, motivation, continuing education, appraisal, dealing with problems, colleagues
• apply the concepts of accreditation, e.g. CPA, good laboratory practice, MHRA, HTA, etc.
• CE marking
• Vigilance systems including Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
• conversant with legal requirements and Department of Health guidance
• multidisciplinary working patterns

Quality assurance

• control the quality of a method
• internal quality control programmes and quality control rules
• use of EQA programmes
• laboratory accreditation (CPA, ISO15189, ISO17025)

Health and safety

• health and safety and COSHH
• individual and collective responsibility
• handling potentially infectious samples and noxious chemicals
• radiation protection measures
• mechanical, fire and electrical safety

Selection of analytical equipment

• dealing with an accident
• current safety guidelines
• specification and evaluation of an analytical system
• financial issues relating to equipment installation (capital purchase, reagent rental, competitive tendering, European Union rules on tenders above a certain threshold, tender response documents)

IT

• the role of IT in delivery and management of a service
• stages in producing results and problems with turnaround time
• instrument interfaces
• links to other computers
• reporting/authorisation procedures
• patient identification and methods of ensuring accuracy
• management statistics
• e-mail and intranet/internet
• Data Protection Act
• retention of records.
• review of pathology services
• Freedom of Information Act

Communication skills

• Acquiring skills to operate with organisations, scientific and medical communities, coroners, police, and the public
• principles of effective negotiation, influencing colleagues.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance, adaptation and mastery of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• formal training in reception
• appreciation of the place of laboratory automation and IT
• management course training
• personnel management including industrial relations
• shadowing senior departmental staff involved in business planning, writing business case, contracting, finance and resource management
• participation where appropriate in appointment of junior staff
• participation in departmental staff appraisal programme, using appraisal to developing your own skills
• attendance at departmental management meetings
• understanding mentoring and supervision relative to personal and professional development, prioritising work, time management, delegation, planning, staff motivation
• undertaking accreditation review of a section of the laboratory
• interpretation of quality control/quality assurance data and advise on subsequent course of action
• acting/assisting laboratory quality control officer and attending laboratory quality control meetings
• application to point-of-care testing
• attending laboratory safety committee meetings
• participation in the local process
• IT affecting all aspects of clinical biochemistry and analytical toxicology
• resolving technical, scientific, clinical and management problems through leadership skills and promoting morale
• explaining laboratory procedures to visitors
• working within a team, communicating with clinical, managerial and other health care staff
• producing competency assessment/training programmes
• preparing, presenting, and explaining scientific reviews/data/findings, both orally and in writing
• understanding yourselfcompliance with CPA standards to ensure that training facilities are adequate
• conflict resolution.

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to apply knowledge of laboratory management competencies to perform, adapt and master the clinical skills necessary to manage:

• liaison with clinical staff.