Consultant Virologist or Consultant Clinical Scientist in Virology

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include:

Internal

• The UKHSA Clinical Services Director, Head of Laboratory Operations, Network Business Managers, and other senior staff of the UKHSA Science Group.
• UKHSA Consultants in Public Health and Infection, Regional Epidemiologists, and other senior staff in Field Services.
• The local HPT Director, and Consultants and senior staff of HPTs within the Region

External

• Consultant microbiologists and virologists, clinical scientists, BMS and other staff employed at the Cambridge laboratory.
• Consultant clinical staff and medical trainees at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Papworth NHS Foundation Trust and other service users contracting with the laboratory.
• General Practitioners and other Primary Care staff within the catchment areas of the above hospitals and who may have contracts and service level agreements with the Cambridge laboratory.
• Infection control nurses and other senior nursing, paramedical and administrative staff in the Trusts and other healthcare providers served by the laboratory.
• The Chief Executives, Medical Directors, Directors of Pathology and other senior staff of, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Papworth NHS Trust and East & North Herts NHS Trust.
• Consultant microbiologists and other health care staff in the wider East of England.
• Senior NHS public health staff, including Directors of Public Health in the Region
• EHOs and other Local Authority staff in the Region
• Local Occupational Health Services

Applicants will be expected to have relevant qualifications and experience in providing specialist microbiology services in virology and the clinical management of communicable disease and its application to public health.

Any medical applicants must have Full and Specialist registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) (with a license to practice) for Medical Microbiology & Virology/Medical Virology, or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.

Clinical Scientists should have a PhD, or equivalent, in a relevant subject and hold state registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), or be within 6 months of exit from Virology HSST.

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency .

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the Job Description & Person Specification attached to this vacancy advert.

You will be required to complete an:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) Up to 800 word Statement of Suitability

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 800

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

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 C.V please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible)

An initial sift against the lead criteria will be conducted:

• Medical applicants should have full registration (with license to practice) with the GMC and be on its Specialist Register Medical Microbiology & Virology or Medical Virology (+/- Infectious Diseases) or be eligible for registration within six months of interview
• Consultant Clinical Scientist applicants should have HCPC registration, or demonstration of active work to complete the HSST portfolio in an appropriate discipline within 6 months of interview

We will only take through applications to full sift that meet the lead essential criteria.

Desirable criteria may be used if we receive a large number of applications

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):

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

Interviews will be held at Cambridge Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, dates to be confirmed.

This vacancy is being assessed using a competency based method. During the interview we will assess against the below:

KnowledgeExperienceSkills 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.

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview).

Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.

Security Clearance

Successful candidates for this role must pass an enhanced disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter Terrorist Check.

Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum, with a willingness and capability to work towards Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years to obtain Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Salary Information

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.

Consultant

£109,725 - £145,478 (National)

AfC band 8D

£91,342 - £105,337 (National)

Location

This role is based at Addenbrookes Hospital Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

This role is being offered as lab based at our site in Addenbrookes Hospital

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

Qualifications

Essential

• Medical applicants must have MBBS or equivalent medical qualification Consultant clinical scientist applicants must have a PhD or equivalent in virology, microbiology or molecular biology
• Medical applicants should have full registration (with license to practice) with the GMC and be on it's Specialist Register Medical Microbiology & Virology or Medical Virology (+/- Infectious Diseases) or be eligible for registration within six months of interview Consultant Clinical Scientist applicants should have HCPC registration, or demonstration of active work to complete the HSST portfolio in an appropriate discipline within 6 months of interview
• Medically-qualified applicants that are UK trained, must be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. Applicants that are non-UK trained and not on the GMC Specialist Register, will be required to show evidence from the GMC that they are eligible to join the Specialist Register in Medical Microbiology & Virology or Medical Virology within 6 months of the interview date Clinical Scientists should have exited Virology HSST with certification, or be within 6 months of exit
• Both medical and clinical consultant scientist applicants must have FRCPath in Virology by examination or evidence of an equivalent qualification

Desirable

• Further academic qualifications (MD, PhD, MPhil, Masters) in Medical Virology or related area are desirable for both medically qualified applicants and clinical consultant scientist applicants
• Formal Teaching and Training qualification(s) (Diploma, Masters) are desirable
• Formal Leadership and Management qualification(s) (Masters, Diploma) are desirable

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Clinical virology experience with the ability to offer an expert clinical and laboratory opinion on a range of problems relating to virology in primary and secondary care, and tertiary referral settings, including infection control
• Experience of teaching and training both medical and non-medical staff at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Understanding of laboratory and clinical quality assurance principles and safety requirements
• Evidence of engagement with quality improvement activity

Desirable

• Experience of public health virology and understanding of the role of UKHSA and the importance of a good relationship with staff and stakeholders
• Active interest in research and development in medical virology & microbiology evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations, prizes and/or honours

Skills and Capabilities

Essential

• Able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate and get the best out of people
• Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner and to work across organizational boundaries
• Good interpersonal, written and communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and staff from other agencies

Equality and Diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

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

Laboratory

Cambridge

CB2 0QW

Employer's website

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