About the job

Job summary

Sterile Services Technician

Grade AO (National) - £22,194 to £24,184

UKHSA Porton Down

Permanent Contract

Media Services Porton is responsible for the provision of a full service for the destruction of all contaminated waste produced on the Porton site. The work includes the collection of contaminated waste from agreed locations throughout the main building and the Vaccine Task Force (VTF) buildings, and its transportation to the Media Services central autoclave suite for thermal destruction. The resulting material is then processed; glass and other recyclable material is washed in the department’s wash-up area and waste material for disposal off-site is processed and/or packaged appropriately. A central site-wide autoclave sterilisation service is provided from the media production area autoclaves.

The work includes manual loading and unloading of autoclaves. There is an expectation to work with laboratory staff to ensure the correct loads are collected and in a safe manner also to act as a point of contact for all customer relations concerning waste management.

This role is being offered on a full-time basis. There is one vacancy available.

UKHSA Porton Down Salisbury SP4 0JG (Lab based)

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

Job description

Main Responsibilities:

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

• To run the autoclaves in the area – Main building, VTF and media production.
• To collect appropriate waste from labs across the site.
• To check that items are correct and in good condition.
• To ensure delivery/collection of customer discard or yellow bins.
• To ensure colleagues and self are wearing suitable protective personal equipment in accordance with departmental and UK Health Security Agency Protective Personal Equipment policy.
• Upon full training and competency to provide training to production and other staff in the safe operation and use of autoclaves as required.
• Support trainees as required in all their activities and ensure they are adequately trained in all operational process’s requirements.
• Take responsibility for checklists of routine daily tasks such as area and equipment cleaning and servicing.
• Contribute to the care, maintenance and security of the premises and equipment by taking responsibility for the set-up and smooth running of all equipment in section and assist in problem solving issues for both equipment and procedures.
• To sign and file collection documents.
• To work with the Central Autoclave Service Team Leader to ensure risk assessments and SOPs are up to date.

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.

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Please see full duties and responsibilities attached

Person specification

Essential

• Education to GCSE level OR equivalent experience in aligned field.
• Good numeracy and literacy.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Understanding and practice of good cleanliness.
• An awareness of health and safety issues.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £22,194, UK Health Security Agency contributes £5,992 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

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed using Success Profiles metrics.

Your Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) 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).

**Please do not submit your CV, we require you to complete the full application process including a Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability, as outlined below. Please ensure that your Statement of Suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g. name in either the file name or content of the document.**

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.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview by video (MS Teams). 

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. 

The Behaviours that will be used are:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

The Technicals that will be used are:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Understanding and practice of cleanliness to a UK Health Security.
• Agency Specialised Microbiology & Laboratories level.
• An awareness of health and safety issues.

 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 29th February 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.

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

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.

Check just a basic check is required.

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/

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.