Consultant Microbiologist / Infectious Diseases

Job summary

The National Mycobacterium Reference Service is a UKHSA National Reference Centre for Tuberculosis and Mycobacteriology in England. It is UKAs accredited to ISO15189:2022. It provides a reference service for all mycobacterial isolates from the NHS from two centres, for London and Southern England from Colindale in London and for the Midlands and North from Birmingham. Services include speciation of mycobacterial cultures, resistance prediction and relatedness, using Whole Genome Sequencing, and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing for members of TB complex and a range of non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Clinical, diagnostic, infection prevention and health protection advice is provided, working closely with the UKHSA TB Unit clinical public health team. In addition, primary samples are processed from several NHS hospitals. The NMRS is part of the UKHSA Directorate of Clinical Network Laboratories in the Science Group. At an international level the NMRS is a WHO Supranational Reference Laboratory within the Global Programme on Drug Resistance in Tuberculosis and works with other designated National Reference Centres. In addition to its reference, diagnostic and clinical activities, the NMRS carries out research projects in the UK, and internationally.

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

Working closely with the other consultants in the NMRS, the appointee will be expected to:

• Have professional responsibility for the delivery of the clinical services provided by the NMRS, including clinical and health protection advice.
• Collaborate closely with the Clinical Lead and NMRS staff with respect to all matters pertaining to clinical service provision, and to work effectively together to ensure the delivery of a quality clinical laboratory service that honours the contractual commitments of the Laboratory.
• Assist in the strategic development of the Service in the context of national, regional and local UKHSA developments
• Liaise as necessary with senior staff of the UKHSA, partner organisations and customers and thereby to promote UKHSA interests and those of the patients that it serves
• Take a role in clinical governance activities promoting continuous quality improvement in NMRS
• Supervise clinical fellows and other trainees, including line management
• Take a role in ensuring that the Laboratory satisfies the clinical service requirements of external accreditation bodies, including UKAS and the Care Quality Commission
• Undertake annual appraisal and job planning, in accordance with NHS and UKHSA guidance.
• Undertake additional sessions in an NHS unit to maintain currency and gain experience
• The post holder will have individual objectives and a job plan with agreed programmed activities (PAs) that include these responsibilities.

There are 2 posts available, 1 of which is 1 WTE and 1 is 0.5 WTE.

These posts provide an excellent opportunity to work within and develop the National Mycobacterial Reference Service-South in UKHSA Colindale at a time when there is increasing national and global focus on mycobacterial infections. Appointees to these posts will join the existing NMRS consultant team based in Colindale and Birmingham providing a consultant-led service focused on clinical excellence, innovation, multidisciplinary delivery and public health.

The consultant will be expected to work closely with the Clinical Lead and NMRS clinical and laboratory staff on both NMRS sites. Routine clinical activity includes validation of results and clinical advice to laboratory, NHS and public health stakeholders. The postholder will be expected to provide day to day effective clinical leadership for the mycobacteriology service, ensuring appropriate communication systems are in place with service users and to collaborate closely with the clinical team in the UKHSA TB Unit. They will also be expected to provide professional leadership for members of staff within the team, to lead by example and in a manner that will encourage the development of a positive attitude by each member.

The consultant will be expected to take on roles as delegated by the clinical lead and documented in the agreed job plan. The individual is expected to undertake additional sessions in an NHS unit to maintain currency and gain experience.

In addition the postholder will identify, discuss and action their own professional performance and training / development needs with the line manager through appraisal / individual development plan, attend internal / external training events and participate in all mandatory training. The Consultant will be expected to participate in the organisation’s appraisal scheme including the professional appraisal scheme and ensure appraisal and development of any staff for which s/he is responsible. Also to pursue a programme of CPD, in accordance with appropriate professional body requirements, and undertake revalidation, audit or other measures required to remain on the GMC/GDC Specialist Register or the UK Public Health (Specialist) Register or other specialist register as appropriate.

Please refer to the Job Description for further explanation on responsibilities for this role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register in a specialty other infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology practice
• If an applicant is UK trained, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview
• If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be expected to demonstrate an equivalent level of training and experience
• Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists/Royal College of Physicians or other recognised body
• FRCPath by examination or evidence of equivalent qualification OR MRCP or evidence of equivalent qualification.

Knowledge and Experience

• Recent experience of tuberculosis control in the health protection or clinical arena
• Practical experience of application of genomics to infectious disease control
• Recent experience of clinical and/ or laboratory diagnostics for tuberculosis
• Experience of working with other agencies
• Practical experience in leading and facilitating change
• Understanding of key agencies involved in the public health infrastructure
• Experience of working at a regional and/or national level on guidelines, policies and other matters that influence tuberculosis
• Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, audit, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice
• Understanding of laboratory microbiology and clinical infectious diseases services in the NHS
• Ability to advise on prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis
• Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, data analysis and public health practice

Skills and Capabilities

• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills, including management of change
• 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
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media)
• Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies

Equality and Diversity

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable role criteria:

• Appropriate management qualification
• Postgraduate qualification in Public Health
• Peer reviewed scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars, etc.
• Budget management experience
• Experience of and training in line management

Benefits

• 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%

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/

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 internal applicants).

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

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

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

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).

If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead behaviour/criteria of insert criteria/behaviour will be conducted.

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

Only those that meet all essential criteria will be taken through to sift.

In the event of large number of applicants meeting essential criteria, desirable criteria will be used.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based)

You will be invited to an in-person interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing 30.3.26, please note these dates are subject to change.

This vacancy is being assessed using competency profiles. During the interview we will assess against the below from the job description:

• Knowledge
• Experience
• Skills and Abilities

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be 'How you see the role of NMRS developing as diagnostics become more point of care'.

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.

Additional Information

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

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.

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: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/huge-biosecurity-centre-investment-t…
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.

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 : Paula Smith
• Email : Laboratory.Recruitment@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

Attachments

Job Description Opens in new window (docx, 109kB)1.0 Job Plan Opens in new window (doc, 74kB)0.5 Job Plan Opens in new window (doc, 74kB)