Senior Healthcare Scientist

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 Porton FWEMS Laboratory provides a microbiology testing and advisory service to Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities, hospitals and commercial clients across the south and west of England. 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.

Job description

The post holder will provide a technical service to local authorities (LAs) and commercial clients 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 laboratory investigations and be required to supervise and manage staff in sections of the laboratory. The post holder will also approve test reports.

There will be an active involvement in the laboratory’s Quality System, including leading and performing audits; and Health and Safety arrangements including working within Containment Level 3 facilities. An active involvement in the training of FW&E staff will also be expected.

The post holder will perform a range of advanced technical activities and provide highly specialist advice to other professionals and customers. They will supervise the FW&E Microbiology laboratory and deputise for the Unit Head and/or Laboratory Manager in their absence. The post holder will also be eligible to act as a Food Examiner.

Specific requirements of the advertised role can be found in the Appendix

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.

Service Delivery

Supervise the day to day working of the technical staff, ensuring that a high standard of work is maintained & that all staff adhere to written procedures. Participate in the provision of an analytical microbiology service for food, water & environmental samples. Deputise for the Unit Head and/or Laboratory Manager. Oversee all aspects of sample reception & complete pre-analysis processing samples received in the laboratory, ensuring samples are valid & tested appropriately. Use specialist FW&E microbiology skills to interpret results in line with appropriate guidelines. Be competent to work with samples that occasionally contain higher risk pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157, using appropriate containment conditions and protection systems. Ensure important or unusual results are drawn to the attention of senior staff & to ensure that timely remedial action is performed because of complaints or anomalies. Act as Food Examiner in the laboratory. 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 UKHSA /NHS laboratories in all matters of common interest. Represent the laboratory at meetings and on committees as appropriate.

Customer Relationships

Respond to requests and communicate accurately, sensitive information and complex results to customers, including interpretation & reporting 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. Assist the Quality Manager in ensuring good working practices and to maintain a high standard of work especially with respect to Internal Control and External Quality Assessment schemes. Assist & take a lead role, in regular audits of departmental procedures in support of the Quality Manager.

Asset Management

Ensure efficient running & contribute to routine maintenance of all equipment, which will include high cost, complex equipment requiring calibration and regular maintenance. Be responsible for the maintenance of stocks of reagents and consumables, ensuring that they are received, stored, verified and used appropriately.

Management

Participate in the education & training of other FW&E staff within the laboratory, to include performance reviews, Personal Development Plans and performance management and ensure the maintenance of training policies, procedures, and records

Strategy, Policy and Service Development

Assist the Unit Head & Laboratory Manager in determining the long-term development of FW&E services. Support the implementation of new methods & technologies into the laboratory, to maximise quality & efficiency of testing. Support & participate in FW&E surveys, trials and research work & projects in collaboration with other senior staff of the FWEMS network. Support appropriate income generation activities for the laboratory, in accordance with the National FWEMS objectives.

Security/Health and Safety

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

Other Duties

Act as a member of the Management Team. Assist at other sites within the FW&E Network and at sites outside the laboratories including the provision of training, advice & sampling that require special skills and training. Perform other duties as directed by the Lead FW&E Scientist, Unit Head or Laboratory Manager, Food, Water & Environmental Microbiology Network within the framework of the job summary.

This list is not exhaustive

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Higher Degree e.g., MSc or equivalent qualification appropriate to Food Examiner status
• Significant post graduate experience
• Educated to degree level in microbiology, food safety or public health or equivalent level qualification, or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
• Suitable qualification in microbiology, food safety or public health and experience to act as a Food Examiner, according to the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations
• Significant knowledge & experience of quality management systems, especially in relation to UKAS Accreditation (ideally ISO 17025)
• Previous experience of supervising and/or training staff
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures
• Extensive working knowledge of laboratory areas, including both practical and theoretical knowledge of the various methods employed. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the basic scientific principles relevant to microbiology

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,983, UK Health Security Agency contributes £12,162 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).

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

• 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 and Experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1000 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.

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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over1000 words.

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) that 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:

• Educated to degree level in microbiology, food safety or public health or equivalent level qualification, or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profilesSuccess Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single face to face interview at our Scientific Campus in Porton.

When face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours and Strengths will be tested at interview in the form of questions.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Interview dates are 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.

Please Note - 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.

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 Porton. Please note that 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 (CTC) Counter-Terrorist Check.

When based at or 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. 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.

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. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

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 basic (or equivalent) 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 : John Inglis
• Email : john.inglis@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