About the job

Job summary

Biomedical Scientist/Healthcare Scientist

Grade AFC Band 5 (Outer) - £32,720 to £39,769/ EO (Inner) - £29,737 to £34,453

UKHSA Colindale

Permanent Contract

Are you passionate about combating antimicrobial resistance and making a difference in public health? The Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit within the Bacteriology Reference Department (BRD) is offering an exciting opportunity to be part of our dynamic team. As the national reference laboratory, w e delve into antibiotic resistance in Healthcare-associated pathogens. Our mission if to define outbreaks and identify transmission pathways. We characterise pathogens and employ both established and developmental cutting edge methods to isolate and identify markers of virulence, fitness and epidemicity. We infer likely mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance. Our expertise lies in molecular detection and confirmation to monitor resistance and provide guidance on outbreaks and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. In addition, we provide specialist identification services for ‘unknowns’, which includes atypical, difficult to isolate and emerging bacterial pathogens detected in culture-negative clinical samples and for isolates with no national reference facility.

As a Biomedical Scientist/Healthcare scientist, you will be part of a dynamic team making an impact on public health through provision of key reference services. You will have the diagnostic skills to efficiently process specimens, perform necessary laboratory tests and validate results for our valued customers.

UKHSA – On-site

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.* 

Working Pattern – Full Time

Job description

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• To work within the AMRHAI Reference Unit to deliver reference services and to participate in surveillance projects.
• To undertake basic microbiology and molecular laboratory duties under supervision guided by standard operating procedures, protocols or systems of work based on training provided, and taking into account the operational, safety and quality requirements of the laboratory.
• You will be able to make judgements, plan activities and contribute to service development, and may have responsibility for supervision of some staff. You will have knowledge of how to deal with a range of non-routine activities, such as work allocation, problem solving for a team or area of work
• To be responsible for the reading and analysis of test results generated and entry of results onto the LIMS system and to score typing results and technically validate the results.
• To undertake responsibilities related to UKAS accreditation requirements and Safety regulations through Technical Manager such as IQA submission/review, equipment activities, follow up on internal/external audit findings
• Adhering to external and internal quality control practices.
• Attend meetings, plan and implement project plans.
• Monitor safety cabinets and carry out routine quality control procedures in order to maintain set standards.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Please see job description attached for full list of duties and competencies associated with the post.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

• BSc or equivalent in a biological science
• HCPC Registration, CPD evidence and certification (for Biomedical Scientist) / able to achieve HCPC registration within 18 months (for Healthcare Scientist)
• Post-qualification laboratory experience in microbiology pathogens or antimicrobial susceptibility testing
• Experience of working in a laboratory including using Pre Analytical techniques applicable to Bacterial, Serological or Molecular methods
• Experience in use of LIMS, and a range of common software (Microsoft Office, Access)

Desirable

• Experience and/or understanding of scientific principles of molecular assays including RT-PCR and sequencing technologies, and serological assays

Please ensure that your statement of suitability does not contain any personal identifiers such as Name, Gender, Location, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation or Religion. The UKHSA operates a fair and open recruitment policy.

 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,737, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,028 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

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve a face to face interview. 

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. 

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

The competency based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following will be used at the interview:

• Technical Skills
• Knowledge
• Experience

 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 10th April 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: 19th April 2024

Interviews: 30th April or 2nd May 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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 BPSS Clearance.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

OR

This role is to be appointed under NHS Terms & Conditions. Full duties on the T&C’s are found hhtps:/ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

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.