Colindale, London
Job Summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly skilled Healthcare Scientist to join our busy Clinical Services Unit. The Unit delivers high throughput serological and molecular testing.
Our work is wide ranging and varied. The unit delivers a range of specialist testing and supports the microbiology reference laboratories which provide clinical microbiological advice and diagnosis, complex reference services, methodology development, microbial epidemiology, investigation of national and uncommon outbreaks, response to international health alerts, and advice on the risks posed by various infections.
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.
Job Description
The post holder will be a Healthcare Scientist with extensive experience of both manual and automated serological and molecular techniques and will join a team within the Clinical Services Unit. They will support the team to ensure it delivers a performance that meets the clinical and scientific requirements of the Unit and complies with the best quality and laboratory practices while ensuring the work is performed safely, economically, and effectively.
In This Role The Post Holder Will Be Required To Develop, Direct And Manage a Team Of Staff Within The Clinical Services Unit. Your Responsibilities Will Include :
* Delivering technical and related services which meet the clinical and scientific requirements, comply with the best laboratory practices and are safe, economical and effective.
* Working with colleagues across UKHSA to foster close collaborative working between the Clinical Services Unit and Research and Development Groups to improve service provision.
* Supporting the provision of an efficient, effective and timely service ensuring maximum efficiency within allocated resources.
* Assiting the validation of patient results ensuring assays reach quality control criteria and appropriate interpretations are made prior to medical sign off .
* Supporting the use of automation of Serological and Molecular services.
* Supporting the training of junior staff.
* Being proactive in suggesting operational improvements within CSU and supporting operational improvement intiatives.
* Deputising for senior staff in the Unit as required and where appropriate.
* Developing yourself and your team to support the work of CSU and to support national laboratory emergency response
Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.
The post holder will be a Healthcare Scientist with extensive experience of both manual and automated serological and molecular techniques and will join a team within the Clinical Services Unit. They will support the team to ensure it delivers a performance that meets the clinical and scientific requirements of the Unit and complies with the best quality and laboratory practices while ensuring the work is performed safely, economically, and effectively.
In This Role The Post Holder Will Be Required To Develop, Direct And Manage a Team Of Staff Within The Clinical Services Unit. Your Responsibilities Will Include :
* Delivering technical and related services which meet the clinical and scientific requirements, comply with the best laboratory practices and are safe, economical and effective.
* Working with colleagues across UKHSA to foster close collaborative working between the Clinical Services Unit and Research and Development Groups to improve service provision.
* Supporting the provision of an efficient, effective and timely service ensuring maximum efficiency within allocated resources.
* Assiting the validation of patient results ensuring assays reach quality control criteria and appropriate interpretations are made prior to medical sign off .
* Supporting the use of automation of Serological and Molecular services.
* Supporting the training of junior staff.
* Being proactive in suggesting operational improvements within CSU and supporting operational improvement intiatives.
* Deputising for senior staff in the Unit as required and where appropriate.
* Developing yourself and your team to support the work of CSU and to support national laboratory emergency response
Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.
Person specification
* BSc in Biological sciences or equivalent.
* Maintains professional competence in biomedical sciences.
* Experience with quality assurance principles and procedures.
* Knows and understands laboratory safety requirements and procedures.
* Experience of working in a microbiological/molecular diagnostic (preferably virological) laboratory, or equivalent.
* Experience of supervision and training of technical staff.
* Able to work carefully, with precision and be able to balance laboratory duties with accurate record keeping.
* Computer literate, ability to analyse data, create reports, and present findings to others.
* Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
* Professional in dealing with external laboratories and other contacts to facilitate receipt of clinical samples and highly sensitive clinical information.
* 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
* Able to convey ideas and opinions clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
* High level of motivation and commitment to high standards.
* Able to analyse and evaluate data based on evidence.
* Ability to troubleshoot both laboratory-based and project-based problems effectively.
* Able to deal with problems in a calm and efficient manner.
* Able to work to prioritise workload, work to deadlines and remain focused.
Alongside your salary of £31,224, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,045 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%
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, experience and technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You Will Be Required To Complete An Application Form. You Will Be Assessed On The Listed 10 Essential Criteria That Have Been Selected From The Job Description, And This Will Be In The Form Of A:
* Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
* 1000 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
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
Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
* BSc in Biological sciences or equivalent.
* Experience of working in a microbiological/molecular diagnostic (preferably virological) laboratory, or equivalent.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Behaviours, technical skills and experience will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours Tested During The Interview Stage Will Be:
* Making effective decisions
* Managing a quality service
* Changing and improving
* Leadership
* Developing self and others
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location:
This role is being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale, London. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
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 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.
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.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.
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.
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.
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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a 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 : Jon Payne
* Email : jonathan.payne@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
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