Join to apply for the Assistant Scientific Officer(ID3332) role at Animal and Plant Health Agency
Join to apply for the Assistant Scientific Officer(ID3332) role at Animal and Plant Health Agency
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Job Summary
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
Penrith
Job Summary
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.
The successful candidate will carry out laboratory testing duties in the APHA Penrith Laboratory. The role covers work in Bacteriology and Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) culture work with support to other areas as required. The purpose of the job is to be a member of a team carrying out sample testing to establish the diagnosis of animal disease, monitoring animal health, screening for incursion of exotic disease, and performing statutory testing. A wide variety of tests are undertaken utilising microbiology, molecular biology and serology. All work is undertaken in a minimum of Containment Level 2 laboratories, with some areas of work being undertaken at Containment Level 3.
Job Description
The post holder will be required to:
* Work to Agency safety and quality standards.
* Test submissions using scientific techniques used in APHA.
* Provide support and undertake duties on behalf of local Quality and Safety managers.
Laboratory scientists are required to gain a high level of competency in all technical disciplines undertaken at the laboratory and are required to work in different areas of the laboratory involving different disciplines on a rotational basis to provide testing cover where it is needed.
Bacteriology/CEM duties working with veterinary and administrative teams
* To learn laboratory tests across a wide range of disciplines.
* Work in all laboratory departments as required.
* Carry out tests requested by our customers.
* Record results onto LIMS or to admin staff as soon as available
* Occasional weekend overtime (Rostered weekends)
* Ensuring the appropriate disposal of specimens and other clinical laboratory and animal waste.
* Setting up Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) cultures
* Reading culture plates
* Performing biochemical tests to determine ID
Quality
* Work to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and local procedures
* Check and report results, liaising with line manager
* Maintain laboratory daybooks and records
* Ensure equipment logs are up to date and that failures are reported to Responsible Officer
* Assist with maintenance of ISO17025 accreditation by working to SOP’s
* Contribute to the ethos of working to the highest quality standards
* Archive specimens according to agreed procedures
Health and safety
* Contributing to a positive safety culture by following Agency safety policies and procedures
* Understanding and following controls in Risk Assessments.
* Ensuring equipment maintenance duties are carried out in all areas of the laboratory.
* Participate in contingency exercises and other safety training
* Participate in safety audits/inspections to support the local safety manager
The Post Holder Will Be Required To
* Work to Agency safety and quality standards.
* Test submissions using scientific techniques used in APHA.
* Provide support and undertake duties on behalf of local Quality and Safety managers.
Laboratory scientists are required to gain a high level of competency in all technical disciplines undertaken at the laboratory and are required to work in different areas of the laboratory involving different disciplines on a rotational basis to provide testing cover where it is needed.
Bacteriology/CEM duties working with veterinary and administrative teams
* To learn laboratory tests across a wide range of disciplines.
* Work in all laboratory departments as required.
* Carry out tests requested by our customers.
* Record results onto LIMS or to admin staff as soon as available
* Occasional weekend overtime (Rostered weekends)
* Ensuring the appropriate disposal of specimens and other clinical laboratory and animal waste.
* Setting up Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) cultures
* Reading culture plates
* Performing biochemical tests to determine ID
Quality
* Work to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and local procedures
* Check and report results, liaising with line manager
* Maintain laboratory daybooks and records
* Ensure equipment logs are up to date and that failures are reported to Responsible Officer
* Assist with maintenance of ISO17025 accreditation by working to SOP’s
* Contribute to the ethos of working to the highest quality standards
* Archive specimens according to agreed procedures
Health and safety
* Contributing to a positive safety culture by following Agency safety policies and procedures
* Understanding and following controls in Risk Assessments.
* Ensuring equipment maintenance duties are carried out in all areas of the laboratory.
* Participate in contingency exercises and other safety training
* Participate in safety audits/inspections to support the local safety manager
Person specification
You Will Need To Demonstrate The Following
* Laboratory skills or experience (e.g. Microbiology)
* Team working skills
* Communication skill
Ways of Working
This post requires you to be working in the Laboratory five days per week on site with no option for homeworking.
Work activities may change depending on the needs of the business which may involve working in different departments, training for additional tests and tasks not detailed on this job description.
Staff (excluding under 18-year-olds) may be required to work rostered weekends, Bank Holidays and occasional evenings. APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment. The work of the post can be physically demanding
Travel may occasionally be required to attend training courses and undertake farm visits. You must have a valid driving licence or be able to call upon suitable alternate means of transport.
The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
Behaviours
Well assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Working Together
* Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Working Together
Alongside your salary of £25,070, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £7,262 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training as inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a generous employer contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering days per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.
Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV-style template, a 500-word personal statement detailing your suitability for the role, and a 250 word behaviour statement(Working Together).
Please use the STAR technique (Situation Task, Action, Result) to provide evidence of each of the criteria in your application form and at the interview.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Working Together. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your skills and experience, Strengths, and Behaviours stated in the job advert.
Confirmation of interview dates will be given once sift results are released. Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Location
Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in a Defra/APHA group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
As part of the pre-employment process, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).
Where the location is National the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
For this role, the requirement is to work primarily on site with no homeworking option. This role will be based at APHA Penrith.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Full Time Only
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Existing Civil Servants moving on level transfer will retain their current salary or move onto the pay range minimum, whichever is the higher. Staff moving on promotion will have their pay increased by 10% or move onto the pay range minimum, whichever is the higher. As a general rule allowances and supplements will not be recognised.
Use Of Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Applications
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be carefully reviewed and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn.
We understand that you might use artificial intelligence (AI) and other resources for your application; however, we also value the personal touch and urge applicants to write statements without the use of AI to emphasise their own unique experiences. Please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
* Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
* Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the Contact point for applicants section.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
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 Commissions 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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
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 Commissions 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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
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 : Science.DirectorateHR@apha.gov.uk
* Email : Science.DirectorateHR@apha.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
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 Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here
Seniority level
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