Clinical Scientist

Job summary

We are seeking a HCPC registered Clinical/Biomedical Scientist (AfC Band 7) or a Healthcare Scientist Practitioner (SEO).

Candidates holding HCPC registration will be appointed on NHS Terms & Conditions at NHS AfC Band 7. Candidates without HCPC registration will be appointed on Civil Service Terms and Conditions at SEO grade.

GBRU (Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit) is a National Reference Laboratory and provides specialist and reference services for a specific range of hazard group 2 and 3 gastrointestinal and foodborne bacterial pathogens. GBRU works at local, regional, national and international levels to reduce the impact of food, water and environmentally borne illnesses on people’s health. Activities include provision of bacterial typing services to assist national surveillance, the detection and investigation of outbreaks and specialist microbiological services for the examination of clinical, food, water and environmental samples. Undertake laboratory procedures and assist senior staff members to maintain an excellent Safety and Quality Management Systems to ensure compliance with accreditation standards. To assist the Section Heads in ensuring that GBRU provides a robust service in all aspects of the work of the Sections. Work of microbiology reference units includes clinical microbiological advice and diagnosis, complex reference microbiology, methodology development, investigation of national outbreaks, and advice on the risks posed by various infections.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

Service Delivery

• Support the provision of safe, timely, high-quality, and cost-effective reference services
• Validate clinical results and analyse genotypic data, maintaining subtyping databases
• Contribute to public health responses, including outbreaks and incidents
• Support implementation of new methods and maintain SOPs, COSHHs, and risk assessments
• Apply microbiology expertise in routine testing and maintain professional competence
• Contribute to R&D, including data analysis, presentation, and publications

Health & Safety

• Prioritise health, safety, and welfare of staff and visitors
• Attend and report from relevant safety meetings

Risk Management

• Support implementation and monitoring of risk controls and escalate new risks

Information Technology

• Use LIMS to enter results, manage data, and support reporting

Quality & Governance

• Ensure compliance with ISO and accreditation standards
• Participate in audits and incident reporting (Trackwise), including investigations

Research & Development

• Support R&D activities, evaluation of new technologies, and research projects
• Contribute to grant applications and lead publications

Staff Management & Training

• Support recruitment, appraisal, and performance reviews
• Assist in training programmes and competency assessment

Support Services & Equipment

• Oversee equipment maintenance and ensure performance compliance

Strategy & Service Development

• Contribute to strategy, innovation, and stakeholder relationships

Main Duties

• To assist the Head of Service and other Senior Staff in ensuring that GBRU provides a national and international service in all aspects of the work of the unit. They will work with senior staff to ensure that both the service and non-service work of the unit is carried out in a safe, effective, timely manner and operates to a quality system: this includes molecular and conventional microbiological analysis on a range of gastrointestinal bacterial isolates and clinical specimen
• To work with senior staff to ensure that both the service and non-service work of the unit is carried out in a safe, effective, timely manner and operates to a quality system: this includes molecular and conventional microbiological analysis on a range of gastrointestinal bacterial isolates and clinical specimens
• To participate in research and development activities within GBRU, analyses data and publish research

Please note this list is not exhaustive

Person specification

Essential Criteria

For AfC T&Cs:

• HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist or Biomedical Scientist (with equivalent clinical scientist work experience)

For either AfC/Civil Service T&Cs:

• Degree in Microbiology or relevant biological science or equivalent level of qualification and experience
• MSc or equivalent higher degree in Microbiology or relevant science subject
• Demonstrable research experience (practical), evidenced through outputs such as involvement in research projects, publications (e.g. peer-reviewed papers), or equivalent experience (e.g. PhD-level work)
• Significant experience in delivering reference & diagnostic microbiology
• Experience and knowledge of working in a microbiology laboratory at containment level 2
• Knows and understands laboratory safety requirements and procedures and has practiced laboratory safety requirements
• Good understanding of quality assurance principles and procedures
• Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing including publications and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis
• Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
• Consistently looks to improve what they do, looks for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation
• Ability to interpret diagnostic laboratory results
• Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing systems and processes to innovate and initiate change in laboratory practice
• IT skills including Microsoft Word and Excel
• Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales
  
  

Desirable criteria:

• Evidence of managerial training/advanced technical expertise
• Experience and knowledge of working in a microbiology laboratory at containment level 3
• Demonstrated experience in a Healthcare environment
• Knowledge of Gram negative and positive foodborne bacteria and their virulence factors
• Team leadership or management
• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of writing SOPs
• Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

OR

NHS Pension

• If you are already on AFC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AFC Pension.
• If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing, substantive T&Cs.
• If the role is available under either AFC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Experience, Behaviours, and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift
Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 18 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 word supporting statement

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV).

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications, we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

We will take piles "Meets all essential criteria" through to shortlisting and assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Degree in Microbiology or relevant biological science
• MSc or equivalent higher degree in Microbiology or biological science

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview
Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a face to face interview at our site in Colindale. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Behaviours, and Technical skills will be tested at interview. The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and improving (lead behaviour)
• Managing a quality service
• Delivering at pac

You will need to perform a maximum of an 8-minute presentation. The presentation will be based on a dataset that you will be provided with.

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Additional Information

Location
This role is being offered as lab based at our site in Colindale. You will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist.

Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants)

Salary Information
If you are successful at interview and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms

Salary bands
Civil Service SEO (Inner): £46,310 - £52,113 per annum, pro rata
AfC Band 7: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro rata

For those appointed on AfC T&Cs, you will be entitled to 15% of the basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £4,870 and a maximum payment of £6,137.

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Future Location
UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Tom Geldeard
• Email : tom.geldeard@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk