About the job

Job summary

The Severn Pathology Infection Sciences service provides clinical diagnostic and advice services to Bristol, the South West and beyond. It is jointly managed by North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). It encompasses the UKHSA National Mycology Reference Unit and the Antimicrobial Reference Laboratory.

As the Deputy Quality Manager, you will be a key member of the Infection Sciences team charged with supporting the implementation, administration and maintenance of the Laboratory’s Quality Management System. You will support the management of the system in conjunction with the Quality Manager, ensuring that the Laboratory becomes progressively more effective in quality terms and meets both regulatory and accreditation requirements.

You will also be responsible for supporting and participating in the day-to-day running of the Infection Sciences Diagnostic Laboratories which provides routine and specialist diagnostic laboratory services in Microbiology in accordance with national and professional standards.

Location

This is a lab-based role located at Severn Pathology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB.

*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 Share; Weekends and Public Holidays on a rotational basis.

Job description

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

• Through the quality team to ensure the Laboratory continues to maintain UKAS accreditation to the appropriate standard.
• Through the quality team to ensure that the quality management system is implemented and maintained.
• To participate in the development and delivery of a programme of continuous quality improvement.
• To assist the Clinical Services Director, UKHSA Head of Laboratory Operations, Infection Sciences service Manager, Quality Manager and Departmental Leads in ensuring high standards of processing and reporting of samples.
• To contribute towards the progress of the Laboratory through continuous performance development, team work and communication.
• To assist the Quality Manager with regards to governance issues both within the UKHSA, NBT and other local Trusts where necessary.
• To support activities in appropriate areas of risk management and when required to deputise for the Quality Manager in liaising with risk managers both within UKHSA, NBT and local other NHS Trusts.
• To manage and ensure the timely and accurate reporting of adverse incidents and their outcomes, in conjunction with the Quality Manager and Departmental Leads.
• To deputise for the Quality Manager as required and support the delivery of the Quality Management system.
• To be responsible for the day-to-day organisation and supervision of the work and staff in a section of the department as necessary.

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 refer to the attached job description for the full list of roles and responsibilities.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 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

• MSc or equivalent
• State registration with HCPC
• To continue the learning process through academic or practical experience
• At least five years practical experience
• At least five year’s postgraduate experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD)
• Strong working knowledge of laboratory procedures.
• A high level of theoretical and practical microbiological knowledge.
• Sound knowledge of common IT programmes and good keyboard skills.
• Able to initiate changes in procedures or policies to induce service development
• Understands quality assurance procedures
• Able to train less qualified or experienced staff
• Able to communicate well with peers and senior staff
• Able to provide judgement on a range of complex problems
• Communicate complex and sensitive information with peers and senior staff

Desirable

• Management qualification
• Able to perform technically advanced procedures as applicable
• Experience of working in a number of different laboratories.
• ‘Expert’ knowledge in specific areas of personal interest
• Extensive competency of routine Microbiology
• Presentations skills
• Technically adept at laboratory procedures
• Good interpretative skills at bench level
• Able to organise less qualified staff
• Knowledge of specialist tests at an expert level

Benefits

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.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. 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 an interview either by video or face to face. Please note that as part of the selection process you may be asked to complete a test or presentation at interview.

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 Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following behaviours and strengths  will be used at the interview:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Analytical
• Efficient
• Organiser
• Precise

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 2nd January 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: TBC

Interviews: w/c TBC

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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

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/

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/

Complaint process:

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. 

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.