Biomedical Scientist

£32,073 - £39,043

Per annum, pro-rata + this role attracts HCAS Outer: 15% of annual salary, subject to a minimum payment of £4,870 and a maximum payment of £6,137

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information: UKHSA Hub, Civil Service Careers

Grade: AfC Band 5

£32,073 - £39,043 per annum, pro-rata

This role attracts HCAS Outer: 15% of annual salary, subject to a minimum payment of £4,870 and a maximum payment of £6,137.

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

At Public Health Microbiology, laboratory teams undertake services of complex and highly skilled techniques which often require nationally or internationally unique capabilities or facilities. Reference laboratories are required to provide authoritative, final and validated analysis for complex clinical or food microbiological/virological problems and be innovative in driving microbiological/virological methodology developments and standards.

The work of microbiology reference units includes clinical microbiological advice and diagnosis, complex reference, service delivery, methodology development, microbial epidemiology, investigation of national and uncommon outbreaks, response to international health alerts and advice on the risks posed by various infections.

In response to threats to business-as-usual (BAU) service delivery and enhanced incidents, it is the role of the Operational Response Team (ORT) to be deployed to support reference service units and the operations team. The Biomedical Scientist will provide resilience to the bacteriology reference departments (BRD) or virology reference departments (VRD) in times of need.

When not deployed during an incident, they will concentrate on training, maintaining competency and development of skills required to assist in future incidents.

The Biomedical Scientist will work as part of the host laboratory team to deliver the reference laboratory services.

They will be responsible for the efficient processing of specimens and performing additional laboratory duties to ensure the efficient day to day performance of the laboratory, under the supervision of more senior Biomedical Scientist and Clinical Scientist staff.

They will undertake booking of specimens, inputting of data, filing, answering the telephone, reception work and perform other additional clerical and office duties appropriate to grade.

The Biomedical Scientist would be expected to assist in any UKHSA co-ordinated response or activity of a national/international nature.

• Undertaking microbiological, serological and molecular laboratory duties under supervision guided by standard operating procedures (SOPs) including containment level 2 and 3.
• Be responsible for the reading and analysis of test results generated and entry of results onto the LIMS system.
• Collating and presenting data for discussion.
• Adhering to external and internal quality control practices.
• Attending meetings, plan and implement project plans.
• Monitoring safety cabinets and carrying out routine quality control procedures to maintain set standards.
• Participating in and supporting the research and development (R&D) activities within BRD & VRD and the organisation.
• Be responsible for health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors in your own area ensuring that health and safety are afforded priority over other issues.
• Ensure a safe and healthy working environment by maintaining adequate safety levels.
• Notify any accidents, incidents or near misses, dangerous situations or shortcomings in health and safety training instructions via the appropriate management structure.
• Ensure compliance of work with UKAS ISO15189.
• Participate in internal and external audits and implementing corrective actions.
• Take responsibility for maintenance and acquisition of stock in order to ensure adequate service provision and continuity.
• Use databases and software packages as appropriate.
• Apply computer technology to the management of biological information.
• Data entry, spreadsheet analysis and managing the flow of paperwork.
• Ensure that routine services are maintained/designed to a satisfactory standard.
• Monitor the performance and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act in collaboration with the designated Caldicott Guardian, Data Protection Officer and Security of Information Officer.
• Actively participate and maintain a continuing professional development programme and be aware of relevant developments in microbiology and other biomedical science.
• Develop professional expertise by undertaking further appropriate training as required.

It should be noted that the work of the laboratory is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Permanent
Loan
Secondment

Permanent

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

489729

Other

AfC Band 5

1

Laboratory based at UKHSA Colindale, North London.

This role is being offered as laboratory based at UKHSA Colindale, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ.

Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA's incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service as well as internal applicants.

This role may also be available as a loan (for existing Civil Servants only) or secondment arrangement, subject to business need and agreement from the hiring manager and, where applicable, the employee's home organisation.

This role is offered under Agenda for Change (AFC) Terms and Conditions.

If you are already on AFC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AFC Pension.

If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing, substantive T&Cs.

If the role is available under either AFC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC). For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Security CTC clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Resourcing contact listed in the advert for further advice.

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

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)

• Name : Sarah Handy
• Email : sarah.handy@ukhsa.gov.uk

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v8415776

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