Healthcare Science Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key working relationships

Internal:

• To work as part of the UK NEQAS for Microbiology and wider EQA Services team
• To liaise with staff throughout UKHSA Colindale as appropriate

External:

• To liaise with users of UK NEQAS for Microbiology services

Communication:

• With UK NEQAS for Microbiology colleagues and staff throughout UKHSA Colindale
• With line manager on work-related matters
• Reporting to line manager and senior staff, anomalies with procedures
• Assist in the maintenance of good customer relations

Personal & People Development:

• Actively participate in annual performance and development reviews.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with staff
• To assist in training of new members of LSS staff

Health, Safety & Security:

In accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures:

• To ensure that health, safety and welfare is an afforded priority over other issues and to demonstrate a commitment to health, safety and welfare regarding self, staff and visitors.
• To work in a safe manner.
• To report all accidents and incidents.
• To comply with safety policies, procedures, COSHH and risk assessments.
• To participate in the internal and external safety audits, as required.
• To co-operate on matters of health and safety to enable UKHSA to comply with its health and safety responsibilities.
• To notify any accidents, incidents or near misses, dangerous situations or shortcomings in health and safety training instructions via the appropriate management structure.

Your attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 which requires you to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by your acts and omissions at work; and co-operate with UKHSA on any matters of health and safety.

Quality:

In collaboration with the Quality Team:

• Maintain a high standard of work and contribute to developing the service of the laboratory so that service delivery is safe, effective and economical and follows best practice.
• Contribute to internal and external quality assessment programs.
• Ensure compliance with the appropriate accreditation and certification standards.
• Contribute to internal and external audit programs and corrective actions.
• Take every effort to suggest quality improvements.

Service Improvement:

• Work with other staff to improve working practices.

Equality & Diversity:

• Be aware of the relevant legislation and behave in a manner acceptable to all groups of staff

Estates & Facilities:

• Contribute to the care, maintenance and security of laboratory premises and equipment.
• Monitor equipment as required, reporting deficiencies or discrepancies to supervisory/senior staff.

Information & Knowledge:

• Use QPulse to retrieve controlled documentation
• Basic use of IT applications

Development & Innovation:

• Assist with the development and introduction of new specimen types.

Procurement & Commissioning:

• Maintain stores including, stock control and receiving goods in the department.

Essential Criteria:

• Educated up to NVQ 2 level in a Healthcare Science/Pathology or equivalent level of qualification or previous experience of working in healthcare Science /Pathology settings.
• Experience of manual dexterity type of work
• You have a methodical approach to tasks
• Basic understanding of general safety
• Familiar with MS Office programs
• Evidence of interest in people and quality of service
• Interest in laboratory work
• Able to convey information to staff at all levels
• Be flexible in responding to unexpected changes in planned work
• Ability to integrate into a team
• Attention to detail
• Able to concentrate for long periods of time
• Basic computer literacy

Desirable criteria:

• Laboratory experience

Selection Process Detail

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Competency-based Statements

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 13 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of: An Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 750 word Supporting StatementThis 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 Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:

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

Those that meet all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

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

• Educated up to NVQ 2 level in a Healthcare Science/Pathology or equivalent level of qualification or previous experience of working in healthcare Science /Pathology settings.
• Interest in laboratory work

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates

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

Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage

Interview stage:

You will be invited to a face-to-face interview in Colindale, London.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.Interview dates are yet to be confirmed.

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

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

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale, London.Security Clearance LevelSuccessful 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 Counter-terrorist Check. If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check 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 and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Person Specification

Application Form and Supporting Statement

Essential

• Application Form and Supporting Statement

Essential Criteria

Essential

• Questions on experience, knowledge and skills

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

61 Colindale Avenue

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

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