Associate Practitioner - Mycology Reference Laboratory

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Maintain personal development and relevant core competencies through further study and attendance at appropriate courses and meetings as required and participate in internal and external teaching and training programmes.
• Undertake a structured training programme to successfully acquire core competencies outlined in competency training manual and maintain required standards of competence when undertaking duties.
• Assist in maintenance of safety checks and working to Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations.

Responsible for Finance & Physical Resources

• Replace stocks of consumables and reagents when required and inform the section leader if back-up stocks are low.
• Assist in use and maintenance of equipment, following manufacturers guidelines and training/assisting in troubleshooting when equipment problems occur.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Healthcare Scientist Support Worker (HSSW) and other support staff.

Other Duties

• Undertake any reasonable task delegated by a senior member of staff.
• Use equipment and perform duties in a safe and responsible manner.

Other

• There is a need to concentrate for long periods of time at technically demanding procedures.
• Strenuous physical effort is rarely required.

Professional development

To pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, whilst maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.

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.

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.

Essential Criteria

• 2 A levels or equivalent to NVQ4 level in a scientific subject or relevant laboratory experience
• Be committed to and focused on quality, promoting high standards
• Be able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public
• Be able to actively develop themselves and support others to do the same
• Be understanding of the importance of confidentiality
• Have previous experience of working in a laboratory
• Have previous experience and use of Laboratory Information System (LIMS)
• Be a clear communicator with good writing, data entry and telephone skills ensuring accuracy
• Be able to work effectively as part of a team
• Be adept at problem solving
• Be flexible with their approach to work
• Be a good timekeeper
• Be able to use their initiative
• Have manual dexterity

Desirable Criteria

• Be able to work well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
• Be ableto multi-task

Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency.

You will be required to complete an application form.

You will be assessed on the listed 14 Essential Criteria. This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability. This will be in the form of:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1,000 word Supporting Statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1,500 but your Supporting Statement must be no more than 1,000 words.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement.

The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible.

Longlisting

If a large number of applications are received, we will longlist into 3 piles of:

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

Only those that "Meets all essential criteria" will progress to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist against the lead criteria as follows:

• 2 A levels or equivalent to NVQ4 level in a scientific subject or relevant laboratory experience

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

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview

You will be invited to a face-to-face interview.

In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

This vacancy is being assessed using Competency framework. During the interview we will assess against the below:

• Knowledge
• Experience
• Skills and Abilities

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 Information

Grade: AO

AO National minimum: £25,651

AO National maximum: £27,220

There is a Market Pay Supplement attached to this role to bring the salary up to a minimum of £28, 164 until 31/03/2027.

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 based at Southmead Hospital, Southmead, Bristol BS10 5NB.If based at one of our scientific campuses or labs, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum.Security Clearance Level

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

• Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

DBS Requirement:

• Basic DBS

For this role you will also need to meet:

• Counter Terrorism 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 Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vettingand applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Person Specification

Application Form & Supporting Statement

Essential

• Application Form & Supporting Statement

Essential Criteria

Essential

• Knowledge, Experience, Skills & Abilities

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

Southmead Hospital

Southmead

Bristol

BS10 5NB

Employer's website

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