Healthcare Scientist / Biomedical Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

CSL has a strong service delivery focus and commitment to continuously improving methods for rapid and high-throughput genomics to enhance its function.

Communication and Key Working Relationships

Internal

• To liaise with the Unit head, all staff within CSL and with staff from other departments as appropriate.
• To liaise with other staff within the service and to assist and advise other scientists, registered scientists, trainees and visitors working in the group.

External

• To liaise with collaborators and external CSL customers.
• To liaise with staff in other diagnostic and research laboratories outside of UKHSA.
• Professional contacts.

Quality

In collaboration with the Quality Team & local management, to:

• Maintain a high standard of work and appraise and contribute to developing services so that they are safe, effective and economical and follow best practice.
• Work towards ensuring an efficient quality management system.
• Contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes.
• Ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certification standards.
• Ensure the continual development and compliance of internal and external audit programmes and corrective actions.

Information Technology

• To use software packages as appropriate for word processing, as well as specialist packages as required.
• To be competent in the use of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and use the LIMS system to carry out sample tracking throughout the procedure.

Safety

• To promote a strong safety culture.
• To agree safety objectives and to review performance at appraisal and support the Senior Management Team in carrying out duties with respect to:
  • Ensuring health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors.
  • Ensuring relevant UKHSA health and safety policies and laboratory safety committee recommendations and actions are implemented.
  • Ensuring implementation of remedial actions resulting from safety inspections and audits.

Other

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

Personal Development

• You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.
• Identify, discuss, and action own professional performance and training/development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal/external training events.
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Essential criteria:

• Post-graduate degree in a medical, microbiology, biological science discipline or equivalent experience working in a laboratory with Next Generation, Sanger sequencing or Oxford Nanopore Technology.
• Experience in running NGS Platforms and sequencing services without supervision.
• Knowledge of automated liquid handling.
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures.
• Skills for communication on complex information and administrative matters, requiring developed interpersonal and oral/ written communication skills.
• Problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden, unexpected demands.
• Advanced keyboard skills, use of a range of software.
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales.

Desirable criteria:

• Relevant professional qualification, i.e. registration with the Health and Care professional council (HCPC) as a clinical scientist or Biomedical Scientist.
• Basic knowledge of project principles
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to reprioritise
• Ability to pull together comprehensive draft reports, networking and persuasive skills.

Selection Process Detail

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profilesYou will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of an:

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

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 Supporting Statement will be marked together.

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.

Longlisting:

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

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

Those falling into the 'Meets all essential criteria' pile will progress to shortlisting.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Shortlisting:

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

• Post-graduate degree in a medical, microbiology, biological science discipline or equivalent experience working in a laboratory with Next Generation, Sanger sequencing or Oxford Nanopore Technology.

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.

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.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles

You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours and Technical Skills will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Communicating and influencing (Lead behaviour)
• Working together
• Developing self and others
• Delivering at pace

Technical Skills will be assessed through technical based questions, these will be based on Next Generation, Sanger Sequencing or Oxford Nanopore Technology.

Interviews 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 Criteria

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

Salary bands:

• HEO (Inner London) £37,749 to £45,353 per annum, pro rata
• NHS AfC Band 6: £38,682 to £46,580 per annum, pro rata

Candidates holding HCPC registration will be appointed to a Biomedical Scientist post on NHS AfC T&Cs at Band 6. Candidates without HCPC registration will be appointed to a Healthcare Scientist post on Civil Service T&Cs at HEO grade.

Please note: 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.

Location

This role is being offered as lab based at our laboratory in Colindale, London.Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

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 Counter-terrorist Check.

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. 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

Behaviours

Essential

• Communicating and influencing (Lead behaviour)
• Working together
• Developing self and others
• Delivering at pace

Technical

Essential

• Technical questions - (Next Generation, Sanger Sequencing or Oxford Nanopore Technology)

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

Laboratory

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

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