Consultant in Infection, Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL)

Job summary

The Rare & Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) provides frontline clinical diagnostics, specialist diagnostics, and clinical advice for rare, imported or hazardous infections. The RIPL clinical/science team has 19 staff (16 whole time equivalent) including medical consultants, a clinical scientist, senior scientists, and registrars/clinical fellows. Operational management and a dedicated diagnostic development unit are provided by associated units on the Porton site. A key programme is the National Imported Fever Service, a joint venture between RIPL and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (part of UCLH) and the Royal Liverpool Hospital’s Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit. RIPL is also the National Laboratory for Lyme disease and provides a specialist clinical advice service.

RIPL provides a reference diagnostic services for a wide range of zoonotic, imported, and dangerous pathogens including viral haemorrhagic fevers, the arbovirus group, hantaviruses, rickettsia and coxiella, anthrax, leptospirosis, tularaemia and other biothreat agents.

RIPL team members are highly research-active and also work closely with the wider research teams across UKHSA, including on biosafety and containment, diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutic development, and public health research studies.

UKHSA Porton hosts an environmental laboratory testing samples for a range of pathogens from potentially contaminated sites. The site also includes facilities for studies on disease pathogenesis, and testing vaccines and therapeutics against dangerous infectious diseases, and there is a small vaccine production unit. The post-holder is also expected to work closely with the relevant teams at Porton and at other UKHSA sites.

In addition to supporting the clinical work of the Imported Fever Service, the consultant will gain experience in working with dangerous infectious organisms, in risk assessment and management for infectious agents, and aspects of preventing contamination, environmental sampling and decontamination. This knowledge is used to advise hospital staff on how to apply these principles rationally in their setting to allow both safe and effective working in the interests of patients and carers.

The Consultant in Infection will provide expert consultant support for RIPL and the Imported Fever Service. The work covers a wide range of imported bacterial and viral agents and zoonoses and vector borne diseases in the UK, and the consultant will be a key part of the team offering advice on diagnosis, management, and infection control for these agents. As an expert in control of infection and antimicrobial resistance the consultant will bring this expertise to RIPL and UKHSA as required.

Job description

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

Main duties of the job

• Set up all aspects of clinical service and interface for a clinical metagenomics service.
• Provide the clinical and public health microbiology services for metagenomics to NHS and other service users including private hospitals, devolved administrations and other countries through Service Level Agreements and as WHO collaborating centre.
• Share with colleagues’ responsibility for the day-to-day provision of a comprehensive clinical microbiology and virology service covering unusual pathogens including arboviruses, Rickettsia, Q fever, Lyme disease. Additional training and support/mentoring will be provided through consultant colleagues as the range of pathogens extends beyond standard specialties.
• Provide clinical support for RIPL services at a national level
• Liaise with patient and professional interest groups provide evidence-based advice to them and professional groups.
• Demonstrate high professional standards and a willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional, national, or international levels.
• Share on-call duties with professional colleagues and to cross-cover for annual and study leave as necessary, in proportion to the postholder’s base PAs (currently overall, averaged across the year, the post-holder will be on call on a c.1:4 rota for nights and weekends: intensity supplement = A).
• Actively assist in the development of joint plans and system wide priorities for public health action or improvement.
• Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements at all times.
• Liaise with patient and professional interest groups provide evidence-based advice to them and professional groups.
• Assist with teaching and training of medical, scientific, biomedical scientist staff, international visitors, and undergraduates and postgraduates within UKHSA, university partners and other agencies.
• Assist in the provision of a service to support public health investigations and management of cases and outbreaks of unusual diseases
• Be involved in the collection of epidemiological data in close liaison with the Health Protection Services, and in surveillance and prevention programmes as appropriate.
• Provide clinical/professional supervision and mentorship as appropriate.
• Participate in organisational and professional appraisal and revalidation as appropriate.

Person specification

Role Criteria and Other Requirements

Essential role criteria:

• Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining UK CCT or its recognised equivalence in any relevant combination of Microbiology/ Virology/Infectious Diseases/Tropical Medicine
• Ability to offer an expert clinical and clinical laboratory opinion on a range of problems relating to Microbiology & Virology in primary care, inpatient and tertiary referral settings
• Experience in Microbiological/virological aspects of infection control in hospitals, public places, and the environment
• Experience relevant to RIPL pathogens during training or prior roles, for example DTM&H or tropical medicine experience
• Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty
• Adaptable to situations, can communicate with people of all capabilities and attitudes
• Project management
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media)
• Effective interpersonal, motivational, and influencing skills
• Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Computer literate
• Commitment to team-working and respect and consideration for the skills of others
• Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative
• High standards of professional probity
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, and in relation to management systems
• Must be prepared to work at the base laboratory and must be willing to travel occasionally to other sites necessitated by the role
• Commitment to Continuing Medical Education & Development and the requirements of Clinical Governance and Audit
• Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional, and national level

Desirable role criteria:

• Peer reviewed scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars, etc.
• Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation
• Experience of people management, training and mentoring

Requirements of the role (e.g. qualifications, licenses and registrations)

Essential:

• Recognised registered medical practitioner, with full registration and a license to practice with the General Medical Council (GMC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview
• Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register in a specialty other than infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of infectious
• Applicants that are UK trained must be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in a relevant specialty or specialties (e.g. Microbiology, Virology, Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine) or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. Applicants that are non-UK trained will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT

Desirable:

• Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists or equivalent

Benefits

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

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.

AfC Band 8d

£94,356 - £108,814

Consultant

£109,725 - £145,478

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

External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency .

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the Job Description & Person Specification attached to this vacancy advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 word Statement of Suitability/ behaviour statements / technical statements

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.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please 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 may longlist into 3 piles of:

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

Shortlisting:

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

• Recognised registered medical practitioner, with full registration and a license to practice with the General Medical Council (GMC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview

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

We will only take through applications that meet all essential criteria.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a face to face interview, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Interviews will be held at Porton Down, Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, SP4 0JG

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

This vacancy is being assessed using a competency based method. During the interview we will assess against the below:

Knowledge
Experience
Skills and Abilities

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

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)

If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice

Public Health Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.

Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or eligibility within six months of interview).

Non‑medical applicants who are not yet fully registered with the UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within six months of gaining specialist registration at the date of interview. All other non‑medical applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the UKPHR Specialist Register (for example, confirmation that a UKPHR specialist portfolio has been submitted).

Security Clearance

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

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

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.

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: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

NHS Pension

This role is offered under Agenda for Change (AFC) Terms and Conditions.

• 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.

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.

UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer

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

Security

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

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 : Tracy Lowe
• Email : Tracy.Lowe@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scs.mdrecruitment@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 UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: 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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk