Healthcare Scientist Practitioner

Job summary

The Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Services (FWEMS) Laboratories are specialist microbiology laboratories within the UKHSA. Based in 3 sites across the country, the laboratories are geographically well placed to work with local authorities to protect the public from health threats posed by contaminated food, water and the environment. The London FWEMS Laboratory provides a microbiology testing and advisory service to Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities, hospitals and commercial clients across London, Southeast England, and Midlands Regions. The laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025 and is recognised as an Official Laboratory for the microbiological examination of food and foodstuffs within the EU.

The post holder will act as a Healthcare Scientist Practitioner and provide a technical service to customers for the diagnostic testing of Food, Water and Environmental samples as an aid to the investigation of outbreaks, food poisoning and routine control. They will perform basic and more complex investigations providing specialised testing using complex equipment.

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.

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

Participate in the provision of an analytical service, including the production of accurate and relevant results and reports. Assist with the supervision of the day to day running of the laboratory. Be involved in all aspects of sample reception and complete pre-analysis processing for the microbiological examination of samples received in the laboratory, ensuring samples are valid and tested appropriately. Work independently or as part of a team (under guidance) to undertake the full microbiological analysis of a wide range of samples, including test selection, in accordance with laboratory and customer requirements. Ensure important or unusual results are drawn to the attention of more senior staff and report complaints and anomalies as soon as possible. Assist other team members in all aspects of technical work and take on delegated responsibilities from more senior staff. Assist in the management of outbreaks, ensuring adequate resources are available to carry out the necessary work. Liaise with medical, scientific, and other staff of the UKHSA in all matters of common interest

Customer Relationships

Respond to requests and accurately communicate routine, unequivocal results to customers, including interpretation and reporting of written and verbal results

Quality Management Systems

• Participate in activities necessary for the maintenance and development of the Quality System in accordance with UKAS requirements.
• Support the laboratory’s accreditation to ISO 17025 and ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certification standards.
• Assist the Quality Manager in ensuring good working practices and maintain a high standard of work, including participating in Internal Quality Control and External Quality Assessment schemes.
• Assist, where appropriate, in regular audits of departmental procedures in support of the Quality Manager and assist in the analysis of the results.

Asset Management

• Ensure efficient running and contribute to routine maintenance of all equipment, which will include high cost, complex equipment requiring calibration and regular maintenance.
• Assist in the maintenance of stocks of reagents and consumables, ensuring that they are received, stored, verified and used appropriately.
• Contribute to the care, maintenance and security of laboratory premises and equipment in order to ensure efficient and safe operation.

Management

• Take responsibility for the supervision of the day-to-day activities of less experienced staff

Strategy, Policy and Service Development

• Assist in the improvement and development of the service, in the interests of efficiency and in order to meet changing demands.
• Support the implementation of new methods and technologies into the laboratory, in order to maximise quality and efficiency of testing.
• Support and participate in FW&E surveys, trials and research work and projects in collaboration with other senior staff of the FWEMS laboratories.
• Support appropriate income generation activities for the laboratory, in accordance with the National FWEMS objectives, in conjunction with the Laboratory Management Team.
• Participate in periodic reviews of laboratory methods with respect to performance and relevance.

IT Infrastructure

• Become competent in the use of the laboratory’s IT systems and participate in the basic inputting of data into the system

Security/Health and Safety

• Ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act, Caldicott principles and the Laboratory Information Systems and Technology Security policy.
• Ensure that health and safety are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors.
• Ensure attendance of self and managed staff on safety training courses as required in the UKHSA Health and Safety Training Policy and other safety policies as appropriate. Agree to implement safety objectives.
• Ensure that a Laboratory/Office Safety Code is implemented. Ensure that risk assessments are implemented and maintained.
• Report risks that cannot be controlled to the Laboratory Manager. Notify accidents, near misses, dangerous situations and shortcomings in health and safety via the appropriate management structure.

Other Duties

• On an occasional basis the post holder will be expected to visit external sites and take samples that require special skills and training.
• Perform other duties as directed by the Laboratory Manager of the Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory within the framework of the job summary.
• Be prepared to work flexibly across the entire FWEMS if occasionally required, maintaining appropriate levels of training as necessary.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

Professional Development

Pursue a program of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.

Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.

Attending internal / external training events.

Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Person specification

Essential role Criteria :

• BSc (Hons) Science degree or BTEC with previous experience in microbiology OR equivalent laboratory experience
• Good standard of general education i.e., GCSEs in English, Maths and Science
• Understanding of quality management systems, especially in relation to UKAS Accreditation
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures
• Have extensive working knowledge of laboratory areas, including both practical and theoretical knowledge of the various methods employed. Also, to demonstrate a sound understanding of the basic scientific principles relevant to microbiology
• Experience of automated testing systems
• Knowledge of administrative procedures, project management or information analysis
• Skills for communication of complex information and administrative matters, requiring developed interpersonal and oral/ written communication skills
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Skills for supporting project management, including ensuring that projects meet financial targets
• Skills for manipulating information
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, but also in relation to management systems
• Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,624, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,451 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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%

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 Behaviours/Strengths/Ability/ Experience/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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1,000 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 1,500 but your supporting statement must be no more than 1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.

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 CV. 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 will longlist into 3 piles of:

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

If used, the pile(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

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

• BSc (Hons) Science degree or BTEC with previous experience in microbiology OR equivalent laboratory experience

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a ( single ) face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience, Technical skills will be tested at interview.

Behaviours tested :

• Delivering at Pace (Lead Behaviour)
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

There will be a 5-10 min Technical online test aimed to asses your experience.

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

Eligibility Criteria - External

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

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.

Based at our scientific campus, 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. 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.

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.

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 :

• Basic Personnel Security Standard
• Counter-Terrorist Check

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 : Paula Smith
• Email : laboratory.recruitment@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 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 here.

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7891332