About the job

Job summary

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 serology, microbiology, parasitology.

The post holder will be required to:

• Test submissions using scientific techniques
• Work to Agency safety and quality standards
• Provide support and undertake duties on behalf of local Quality and Safety managers

Two of these posts are full-time only, the second post is part-time, working Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Job description

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., Laboratory staff may be required to provide support to veterinary colleagues in the post mortem room taking samples for testing, preparing cultures from carcases, viscera or clinical material and may also be required to assist on farm visits to help with sampling, recording and other work as required.

Gamma Interferon duties:

• Ensure all samples received for gamma testing are processed as efficiently as possible
• Ensure reagents and consumables records are maintained
• Register submissions on to the LIMS system
• Stimulation of high volumes of whole blood samples
• Carry out ELISA testing
• Data entry of sample information

Parasitology Duties:

Carrying out parasitological techniques for the identification and enumeration of various ecto and endoparasites. These include:

• Speciation of coccidial Oocysts
• Detection of eggs of Haemonchus spp using FITC labelled peanut agglutinin
• Giardia Cysts
• Fluke egg demonstration by faecal sedementation
• Identifying Faecal nematode eggs and coccidial oocysts
• Isolation of Lungworm larva from faeces by the Baermann technique
• Worm counting of the ruminent alimentary tract
• Diagnosis of Dirofiliaria immitis, microfillariae, Canine and Feline heartworm, by filtration technique
• Preparation of reagents, sterile/clean equipment
• Staining for specific organisms, such as Cryptosporidia

Post-mortem Room Duties:

• To assist Veterinary colleagues in taking samples for testing
• Preparation and reading of smears
• Storage and archiving and retention of samples
• Dispatching of samples for processing to other locations
• Disposal and manual handling of carcass waste

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

Quality:

• Accurate record keeping
• Working to Standard Operating Procedures
• Working to quality standards (ISO 17025)
• Participate in proficiency testing schemes
• Participate in audits to support the local quality manager

Administration Support

To assist with general administrative duties within the centre and across the wider Department to include telephone duties, use of APHA bespoke IT systems, dealing with enquiries etc.

Outbreak Response

Flexible to adapt to changing situations within the Regional Laboratory and prepared to support other parts of APHA in the event of an outbreak.

Person specification

Required experience:

• Experience in a laboratory environment
• Experience of Microsoft Office software

The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing as required

A valid full driving licence is necessary or access to an alternative means of transport.

Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, individuals must be physically able.

Out of hours work may be required in the event of an incident.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £22,150, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £5,980 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a behaviour statement.

Please write up to 500 words demonstrating how you match the required skills and experience for this post, referring to the job description.

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, Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours and experience.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra 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.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. 

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.

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.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

Full Time Only

Two of these roles are 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. 

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 www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

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 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.