About the job

Job summary

Applications are invited for a full time consultant clinical scientist post, one of two new senior roles created to support the regional clinical virology service and contribute to the mission and strategic goals of UKHSA. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team of clinical virologists in a dynamic, innovative service, based at UKHSA South West Regional Laboratory, Bristol. Our Specialist Virology Centre is part of Severn Infection Sciences, situated in a modern multidisciplinary pathology environment. We provide comprehensive clinical advice and diagnostics to three local trusts, and regional specialist and public health virology, as well as national STI services. 

The Infection Sciences Department at North Bristol NHS Trust is formed from a collaboration between the UK Health Security Agency and North Bristol NHS Trust (Severn Pathology). This is a busy and forward-looking laboratory that receives in excess of 1.3 million specimens a year from a large number of clinical specialities located within Bristol and Bath hospital trusts and beyond, which contribute to an interesting and varied workload. The laboratory located within North Bristol NHS Trust and is a new, modern and fully automated laboratory incorporating state of the art equipment. We have close links with our host Trusts as well as both Universities in Bristol and the proximity of the motorway network makes an ideal base for travel to London, the Midlands, Wales and the coastal resorts of the Southwest.

Job description

• To deputise for the Clinical Lead as required
• To provide strategic and clinical leadership of the Virology Service within the context of patient centred care as identified by national priorities, established standards of practice and the needs of UKHSA and the T local service
• To contribute to the strategic planning of the Department of Clinical Virology and the Division of Laboratory Medicine and lead on the development and initiation of novel diagnostic techniques (within the Virology section)
• To work as a consultant clinical scientist within the UKHSA clinical virology service SW regional laboratory and associated structure of national UKHSA and local Severn Infection Sciences
• The main duties and responsibilities are commensurate with being a clinical service consultant clinical scientist within UKHSA. Complementary to clinical activities,  is assisting UKHSA to deliver its mission, including close liaison with health protection services and field epidemiology, support to national public health initiatives, and participation in the public health first responder function
• To provide clinical and scientific leadership and training in the Virology laboratory. To participate in the supervision of medical and scientific staff and other healthcare professionals, liaising with other Medical Consultant, Clinical Scientist and Biomedical Scientist colleagues as appropriate

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.

Person specification

Registration

Essential criteria

• Registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist

Desirable criteria

• Eligible for Higher Specialist Scientific register (HSSR)

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Honours degree in relevant science subject
• PhD in Clinical Virology or equivalent
• Professional- Fellow of Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) OR assessed equivalent knowledge and expertise within speciality of clinical Virology

Experience

Essential criteria

• Recent post registration experience as a Registered Clinical Scientist in Clinical Virology in an HSST post
• Experience of leadership and management including service planning and development
• Record of research and development in clinical Virology including peer reviewed publications and oral presentations at local and national meetings

Desirable criteria

• Scientific and clinical experience of Virology
• Leadership or management qualification

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Scientific - Comprehensive scientific and technical knowledge of Clinical Virology including antivirals infective processes, aetiology and drug interactions/spectrum of activity
• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical analytical and research methods, regulatory standards, accreditation (ISO), quality assurance and problem solving
• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical aspects of Virology to provide consultant level advice to scientific, medical and nursing staff on investigations in clinical Virology, and on the clinical interpretation/public health advice based on diagnostic information in complex diagnostic situations
• Clinical - Thorough Knowledge of managerial procedures in general, in the Trust and NHS/UKHSA and a good understanding of the principles or Clinical and Research Governance
• Knowledge of resource management and procurement

Desirable criteria

• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical virology, advice and antimicrobials

Skills and Attributes

• Well-developed clinical and professional awareness within and beyond context of own specialty
• Thorough knowledge of PC packages for word processing, presentations spreadsheets and databases
• Ability to lead on service development and delivery in Clinical Virology
• Ability to deal on own initiative with complex and unpredictable situations and lead others
• Well developed analytical and technical skills. Ability to lead and direct method development projects including in the evolving field of Pathogen Genomics
• Ability to initiate, lead and supervise R&D activities
• Able to advise clinical staff on investigations and interpretations of clinical Virology tests
• Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations and assess differential diagnoses
• Able to conduct clinical audit of services and instigate corrective action
• Able to use and manipulate PC packages and laboratory and hospital information systems
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Able to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal training and teaching environments
• Able to prepare and present complex scientific and clinical information at local, national and international meetings to large audiences
• Able to impart bad news in a sympathetic manner
• Good hand eye co-ordination for fine manipulation of delicate instrumentation
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Able to work collaboratively with laboratory and clinical teams
• Committed to personal and team development via recognised CPD schemes
• Able to make judgements requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• Motivation, drive and enthusiasm
• Able to maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations
• Able to maintain concentration on important tasks despite interruption
• Good organisational and time management abilities

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of regional or national committees of professional body or NHS groups

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

STAGE 1 – Application & Sift: 

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the person specification.  You will be required to complete an application form. You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria. 

Applicants are strongly advised to use the person specification section as sub-headings in the application to make it clear how you meet each of the selection criteria. 

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview and assessment, a presentation will form part of this assessment.  

STAGE 2 – Interview 

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will progress to an interview and will be assessed on the essential criteria as advertised. 

Option 3 – External - 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.  

The successful candidate will be appointed to the  NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.

 ‘Clinical scientist’ is a protected title and all clinical scientists are required to be registered 
with the Health and Care Professionals Council (http://www.hcpc-uk.org/) before they can 
take up an appointment. 

For further details / informal visits contact:

Jonathan Steer, Regional Head of Operations,

email: jonathan.steer@ukhsa.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.