Healthcare Scientist Support Worker

Job summary

We are currently recruiting for a Healthcare Scientist Support Worker to be positioned within the Clinical Services Unit of Reference Microbiology Services.

Reference laboratories carry out complex, specialist microbiology using nationally unique capabilities, providing validated analyses for clinical and food‑related problems. They support outbreak detection, develop methods, advise on emerging threats, design surveillance programmes, and deliver advanced characterisation and susceptibility testing for samples from the NHS, public health bodies and international partners.

Job description

The post carries delegated responsibility from the Technical Manager, in line with UKHSA policies, across technical, support, quality, research and development (R&D) and governance functions.

Technical Services

• Process and track laboratory specimens, ensuring correct handling, storage and interpretation in line with SOPs.
• Prepare and quality control reagents; run assays, controls and IQC following training.
• Monitor laboratory equipment, report issues, and maintain stock levels and solutions.
• Work independently or within multidisciplinary CSU teams to deliver reference microbiology services.
• Perform routine sample preparation, examination and archiving.
• Record results on MOLIS LIMS where no interpretation is required and provide data to senior staff.
• Use laboratory IT systems competently.
• Maintain a clean, safe and well stocked laboratory environment and ensure waste is disposed of according to safety standards.
• Respond to telephone queries and contribute to laboratory meetings.

Support Services & Equipment

• Ensure laboratory services and engineering/maintenance support are delivered to a satisfactory standard.
• Use software tools including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Draft documentation and SOPs relevant to laboratory work.

Quality & Governance

In collaboration with the Quality Assurance Manager and Technical Manager:

• Maintain high standards of work and compliance with SOPs, UKAS, and accreditation requirements.
• Contribute to service development to ensure safe, effective and economical delivery.
• Participate in internal/external QA schemes, audits and corrective actions.
• Suggest and support implementation of quality improvements.

Research & Development

• Support R&D and surveillance projects within the laboratory.

Management of Staff

• Assist with organising and delivering training for staff and visitors.

Financial Responsibilities

• Ensure resources and consumables are used efficiently.

UKHSA Committees & Working Groups

• Participate in relevant committees or working parties as required.

General Duties

• Ensure confidentiality and compliance with data protection requirements.
• Collaborate with other departments and external partners to support surveys and reference microbiology services.
• Undertake training to develop professional expertise and engage in performance review processes.
• Maintain CPD in line with professional or statutory requirements and contribute to improvements in working practices.

The above is not an exhaustive list, and is only an outline of the core components, tasks and outcomes required of the role.

You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may also be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and the UKHSA.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Educated to GCSE in English, Maths and Science or equivalent level of education in the aforementioned subjects.
• Recent, relevant experience of working in a laboratory including using Pre-Analytical techniques applicable to Bacterial, Serological or Molecular methods.
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures, and experience of working in a lab environment using computerised data systems.
• Clear communicator with good writing, data entry and telephone skills ensuring accuracy.
• Problem solving skills, dealing with problems in a calm and efficient manner.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, and able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines.
• Able to follow standard operating procedures.
• Good time keeping.
• Able to follow instructions – written and oral.
• Well-developed physical skills, especially in the manipulation of pipettes and other laboratory equipment. Also, must be adept and precise when handling samples. Must be physically fit, able to lift and move racks, push trolleys and be able to use step stools or step ladders safely.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
• An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
• Adaptable and willing to have a flexible approach to work.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in a health care environment.
• Awareness of a range of Health Services provisions.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of NHS issues.
• Understanding of Data Protection legislation.
• Live within a reasonable distance of the service site.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,613, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,578 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%

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

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 will be evaluated using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge, experience, skills and abilities outlined in the Essential Criteria listed in this job advert.

Application & Sift (Competency-based)

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 13 Essential Criteria listed in this job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 800 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 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 your CV.

Healthjobsuk has a word limit of 1500 but your statement of suitabilitymust be no more than 800 words. We will not consider any words over 800.

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 'Meets all Essential Criteria' will progress to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift on the following Essential Criteria:

• Recent, relevant experience of working in a laboratory including using Pre-Analytical techniques applicable to Bacterial, Serological or Molecular methods.
  

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview (Competency-based)

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

Location and date(s) to be confirmed.

During the interview we will assess against the below in relation to the Essential Criteria:

• 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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Salary Information

Grade: AO

AO Inner: £29,613 - £30,266 per annum, pro rata

This role comes with a Market Payment Supplement (MPS) and will be applied to bring the minimum starting salary to £32,578 per annum, pro rata.

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.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale, London NW9 5EQ.

Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

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 Check. 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 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.

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: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

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.

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

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 : Sarah Handy
• Email : sarah.handy@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/job/v7780277