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UK Health Security Agency

Biomedical Scientist / Healthcare Scientist

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are currently seeking for a Biomedical Scientist to be based in the microbiology reference units at our UKHSA Colindale site.

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. Clinical samples and isolates are received from public health departments, the National Health Service and commercial laboratories across the UK and internationally for specialist testing, characterisation and susceptibility testing.

The post holder will provide resilience to the bacteriology or virology reference departments in times of need, which include national incidents or threats to BAU activity. When not deployed during an incident, the post holder will concentrate on training, maintaining competency and development of skills required to assist in future incidents.

Individuals who are not HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist at the time of appointment will be appointed as Civil Service EO grade Healthcare Scientists and supported to achieve registration. Upon gaining registration individuals will be automatically transferred to NHS AfC Band 5 pay and conditions.

Main duties of the job

  • To undertake microbiological, serological, and molecular laboratory duties under supervision, guided by standard operating procedures (SOPs), including containment level 2 and 3.
  • To be responsible for the reading and analysis of test results generated and entry of results onto the LIMS system.
  • Collate and present data for discussion.
  • Adhering to external and internal quality control practices.
  • Attend meetings, plan, and implement project plans.
  • Monitor safety cabinets and carry out routine quality control procedures in order to maintain set standards.
  • To 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.
  • To ensure a safe and healthy working environment by maintaining adequate safety levels.
  • To 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.

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

About us

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 https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Details

Date posted

17 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-GB-301333-EXT

Job locations

Colindale

Colindale

NW9 5EQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential criteria

You will be assessed on the below (8) essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description Document.

  • BSc or equivalent in a biological science
  • HCPC Registration in Biomedical Science (or a demonstrable plan to achieve registration within 12 months of appointment)
  • Post-qualification laboratory experience in microbiology
  • Knowledge of laboratory safety requirements and quality assurance procedures
  • Experience in use of LIMS, and a range of common software (Microsoft Office, Excel)
  • Good communicator and team worker with leadership skills. Able to organise own workload and delegated priorities to junior staff.
  • Confident in presentation of ideas and information with excellent analytical skills. Good organisation skills with particular attention to detail.
  • Self-motivating, organized and meticulous, and able to problem solve in a calm and efficient manner.

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profilesassessment

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed (8) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

  • Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
  • 1000word Statement of Suitability.

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

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

Longlisting:

in the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

  • Meets all essential criteria
  • Meets some essential criteria
  • Meets no essential criteria

The following piles will be taken through to shortlisting:

  • Meets all essential criteria

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:

BSc or equivalent in a biological science Post-qualification laboratory experience in microbiology

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

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. (If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview)

Behaviours, and experience will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be :

  • Changing and improving
  • Making effective decisions
  • Collaborating and partnering Lead behaviour
  • Managing a quality service
  • Delivering at pace

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 - External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Location

This role is based at UKHSA Colindale. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

If based at one of our scientific locations you will be required to have a Counter TerrorismCheck security vetting check as a minimum. 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 Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting andapplicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice

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 a Counter-terrorist Check.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential criteria

You will be assessed on the below (8) essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description Document.

  • BSc or equivalent in a biological science
  • HCPC Registration in Biomedical Science (or a demonstrable plan to achieve registration within 12 months of appointment)
  • Post-qualification laboratory experience in microbiology
  • Knowledge of laboratory safety requirements and quality assurance procedures
  • Experience in use of LIMS, and a range of common software (Microsoft Office, Excel)
  • Good communicator and team worker with leadership skills. Able to organise own workload and delegated priorities to junior staff.
  • Confident in presentation of ideas and information with excellent analytical skills. Good organisation skills with particular attention to detail.
  • Self-motivating, organized and meticulous, and able to problem solve in a calm and efficient manner.

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profilesassessment

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed (8) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

  • Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
  • 1000word Statement of Suitability.

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

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

Longlisting:

in the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

  • Meets all essential criteria
  • Meets some essential criteria
  • Meets no essential criteria

The following piles will be taken through to shortlisting:

  • Meets all essential criteria

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:

BSc or equivalent in a biological science Post-qualification laboratory experience in microbiology

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

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. (If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview)

Behaviours, and experience will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be :

  • Changing and improving
  • Making effective decisions
  • Collaborating and partnering Lead behaviour
  • Managing a quality service
  • Delivering at pace

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 - External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Location

This role is based at UKHSA Colindale. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

If based at one of our scientific locations you will be required to have a Counter TerrorismCheck security vetting check as a minimum. 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 Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting andapplicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice

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 a Counter-terrorist Check.

Person Specification

Application form

Essential

  • Application form

Statement of suitability

Essential

  • Statement of suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Changing and improving
  • Making effective decisions
  • Collaborating and partnering - Lead behavior
  • Managing a quality service
  • Delivering at pace
Person Specification

Application form

Essential

  • Application form

Statement of suitability

Essential

  • Statement of suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Changing and improving
  • Making effective decisions
  • Collaborating and partnering - Lead behavior
  • Managing a quality service
  • Delivering at pace

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Colindale

Colindale

NW9 5EQ


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Colindale

Colindale

NW9 5EQ


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Resourcing support

Gurkamal Bhambra

Recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

17 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-GB-301333-EXT

Job locations

Colindale

Colindale

NW9 5EQ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)