About the job

Job summary

Are you looking for an excellent opportunity to enhance your scientific career and gain laboratory experience and knowledge.  Join the team in Food & Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit (FEPTU) at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and make a difference in supporting the work we do.   

FEPTU is part External Quality Assurance services and provide external quality assessment (EQA) schemes for food, water and clinical microbiology laboratories throughout the United Kingdom, and worldwide. Results reported by microbiology laboratories often play a significant role in health protection and managing public health incidents; tools such as External quality assessment/Proficiency Testing is essential for laboratories to be able to demonstrate that their results are accurate, reliable and reproducible.

We are looking for a Healthcare scientist support worker to assist in services for scientific and administrative activities for the External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes. Perform basic laboratory work in FEPTU. Perform routine diagnostic tests. Assist in the preparation and dispatch of simulated specimens to participants worldwide for EQA Services. This will incorporate food, water and environmental microbiology culture and biochemical based techniques as well as molecular based techniques. Assist with the research and development of new FEPTU products and methodologies. This is a developmental role to train to be a capable healthcare scientist.

Job description

• Assist with the preparation and processing of simulated specimens, labelling different types of receptacles. The work involves handling micro-organisms, including some human pathogens
• Conduct microbiological testing of simulated food, water and environmental samples
• Assist in departmental research and development projects
• Collate data and enter accurately on correct computer system or software
• Assist with consolidation of specimen distributions and paperwork for despatch to participants according to a pre-planned schedule
• To clean benches, equipment on regular basis. Make up/dilute, decant and maintain stocks of solutions. To use equipment to sterilise lab ware (wash up/sterilisation). To collect laboratory waste and prepare for disposal
• To wash up and prepare glass ware as appropriate. To assist with administration activities

Person specification

This role offers a rewarding opportunity to work within a busy laboratory environment at UKHSA Colindale. You'll play a vital role in supporting the delivery of External Quality Assessment (EQA) programs for microbiology testing.

Gain valuable experience working with a leading public health organization and make a significant contribution to public health by supporting accurate microbiology testing.

Develop your skills and knowledge in a supportive and collaborative environment.

The successful candidate will maintain a high standard of work and contribute to developing the service of the laboratory so that service delivery is safe, effective, economical and follows best practice

If you're a motivated and detail-oriented individual with a passion for science, we encourage you to apply!

Essential criteria

• Good standard of education: science subject to A level or equivalent and Maths and English to grade qualifications at C or above at GCSE
• Interest in laboratory work
• To be able to work unsupervised
• Good understanding of general safety
• Experience of using computer software packages (including MS Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Experience doing Manual dexterity type of work
• Methodical
• Clear communicator with good writing and data entry skills ensuring accuracy
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Evidence of interest in people and quality of service
• Able to convey information to staff at all levels
• An ability to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines
• Flexible
• Attention to detail
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable criteria

• Basic Biological Science qualification
• Laboratory experience
• Problem solving skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £26,392, UK Health Security Agency contributes £7,125 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

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 essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift   

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a  1000 word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.  

The CV/ Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

Please do not exceed 1000 words.  We will not consider any words over this number. 

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.  

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage. 

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a face to face interview held at 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

There will be an Assessment. Further details will be provided if successful and invited to interview.

Interviews are expected to be held week commencing 3rd June, 2024. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria 

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.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.   

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

It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:   

• life sentences  
• arson  
• sexual offences  
• hate and terror offences  

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.    

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Starting salary  

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

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.

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.