About the job

Job summary

The Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) provides the national diagnostic service for the detection of arboviruses, rickettsiae, leptospirosis, viral haemorrhagic fevers and a range of ACDP hazard group 3 bacteria including Bacillus anthracis and Francisella tularensis. The Lyme disease specialist unit diagnostic service was transferred into RIPL in 2012.  RIPL is part of the National Infection Service of the UK Health Security Agency and works closely with other departments covering a wide range of infectious disease services and associated epidemiology services.  RIPL is also home to the national Imported Fever Service, a partnership between RIPL clinicians and clinicians from the Tropical Infectious Diseases units of the Royal Liverpool and University College Hospitals.  RIPL is a category 1 response laboratory for high consequence infectious diseases and biothreat agents, and forms part of the UK’s national resilience provisions.  RIPL also works closely with DEFRA teams on certain zoonotic diseases.

Working for your organisation

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health. 

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work. 

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working. 

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. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Job description

• Provision of specialist clinical services and advice within the scope of RIPL’s activities relating to the care and treatment of patients, infection control and environmental sampling, acting as a primary point of contact for clinicians.
• Interpretation and reporting of laboratory results.
• Taking an active part in the scientific research activities supporting the work of RIPL and the evidence base for the test strategies we employ.
• Participation in the quality and governance programmes of RIP to develop an understanding of laboratory management

The candidate will be strongly encouraged to identify a project of their own in a topic relevant to the RIPL service. Examples include analysis of cases referred to the service, the risk factors and demographics associated with a particular disease in returning travellers, or ways of improving the output of the service to make them as relevant and informative as possible to the clinicians and patients involved. 

The job is based at RIPL, UKHSA Porton Down, and is an opportunity to learn about the recognition, diagnosis and management of a wide range of imported and zoonotic diseases. The job is suitable for a trainee ideally towards the end of their training programme, but as a minimum at ST3 or above in microbiology, virology infectious disease or a joint programme of microbiology/virology with infectious diseases. Candidates will be expected to have a basic knowledge of laboratory practice in microbiology and virology, and a good understanding of the pathological basis of disease and case management. The post-holder will form part of the clinical team and take part in all activities from selection of tests and initial advice on case management and infection control through to the interpretation and reporting of results of a wide range of assays for unusual diseases. The postholder will also gain experience in laboratory management and quality systems and will be encouraged to undertake a project to develop our understanding of unusual diseases imported into the UK.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Recognised medical degree meeting UK requirements for registration
• Registered for a UK or equivalent international medical specialist trainee programme in microbiology, virology, infectious diseases or a relevant combined programme
• GMC registration or eligibility for registration

Desirable criteria

• Experience of laboratory safety requirements and procedures

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Specialist training/experience in specific methods required for the post
• Experience in clinical interpretation of complex laboratory tests for infectious diseases, including molecular & serological methods
• Experience in the clinical presentation and management of infectious conditions
• Bacteriology experience
• Virology experience

Desirable criteria

• Experience of laboratory safety requirements and procedures

Skills and Capabilities

Essential criteria

• Good communicator and team worker
• Familiarity with Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to assimilate varied information and solve complex problems
• Highly motivated and able to self-determine
• Decisive, with excellent analytical skills
• Able to work to tight deadlines
• Reliable and conscientious
• Good organiser
• Able to organise self
• Attention to detail
• Ambitious
• Able to set priorities and manage time effectively
• Ability to work under pressure from other staff and customers

Desirable criteria

• Confident in presentation of ideas and information
• Experience of presentation of data at professional meetings
• Leadership skills

Equality and Diversity

Essential criteria

• 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

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria; please refer to the Person Specification for a full overview.  Please also see job description for competencies. 

Inclusion in the GMC Full Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)

Prospective candidates are invited to an informal discussion about the post with Tim Brooks via email tim.brooks@ukhsa.gov.uk, Clinical Services Director in the first instance.

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

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: Complaints1@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 here

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

Security

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.