UK Health Security Agency

Healthcare Scientist Support Worker

The closing date is 26 March 2026

Job summary

We are looking for enthusiastic, self-motivated individuals to play a vital role in the laboratory by supporting the Biomedical Scientists in a wide range of laboratory duties including the preparation of clinical samples, registration of patient information onto the pathology computer system and involvement in the centralised telephone enquiry service.

The Laboratory operates a 7-day working week and the applicant will be required to work 37.5 hours per week based on a shift system including a requirement to work at weekends and bank holidays.

Main duties of the job

  • Sample receipt and handing.
  • Sample preparation and reagent preparation following protocols.
  • Clerical duties, including use of computers, and data entry, telephone enquiries.
  • Provide results service to wards, GP's and other hospitals
  • Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels, receipt of deliveries and preparation of orders.
  • Perform basic manual and automated tests according to protocols.
  • Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  • Processing specimens, sub culturing of specimens, cleaning and maintenance of equipment, assisting BMS staff in analytical techniques, and use of automated equipment within Containment Level 3 laboratory.
  • Preparation of samples prior to sending away to reference laboratories.

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

12 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,651 to £27,220 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

919-JP-300663-EXT

Job locations

UKHSA Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital

Birmingham

B9 5ST


Job description

Job responsibilities

Your duties will include:

  • Disposal of tissue and patient samples in accordance with relevant guidelines
  • Autoclaving of waste material and patient samples (involves moderate lifting).
  • Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  • Processing specimens, sub culturing of specimens, cleaning and maintenance of equipment, assisting BMS staff in analytical techniques, and use ofautomated equipment within Containment Level 3 laboratory.
  • To participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining UKAS Accreditation.
  • To participate in audit processes, drug trials, research projects as required.
  • Job Holder is expected to occasionally work under remote supervision of a Registered Biomedical Scientist following defined SOP/protocols and would be expected to refer non routine issues to their supervisor.
  • Assistance with training of junior HSSW staff and trainee BMS staff.
  • Preparation of samples prior to sending away to reference laboratories

This is not an exhaustive list.

Essential criteria

  • GCSE Maths and English

Desirable criteria

  • GCSE Sciences or equivalent.
  • NVQ2 or equivalent qualification or equivalent experience.

Selection process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours, experience and strengths.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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

  • an application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
  • a 500 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.

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). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 500 words. We will not consider any words over 500 words.

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

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a face to face interview at our Birmingham lab. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, experience and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Working Together (Lead behaviour)
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communication and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

Interviews dates are 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.

Location

This role is lab based at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. Please note that hybrid working is not available with this role.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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 Terrorism Check clearance.

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.

Fixed term posts

For Temporary Appointments,if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSAs Pay policy.

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Your duties will include:

  • Disposal of tissue and patient samples in accordance with relevant guidelines
  • Autoclaving of waste material and patient samples (involves moderate lifting).
  • Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  • Processing specimens, sub culturing of specimens, cleaning and maintenance of equipment, assisting BMS staff in analytical techniques, and use ofautomated equipment within Containment Level 3 laboratory.
  • To participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining UKAS Accreditation.
  • To participate in audit processes, drug trials, research projects as required.
  • Job Holder is expected to occasionally work under remote supervision of a Registered Biomedical Scientist following defined SOP/protocols and would be expected to refer non routine issues to their supervisor.
  • Assistance with training of junior HSSW staff and trainee BMS staff.
  • Preparation of samples prior to sending away to reference laboratories

This is not an exhaustive list.

Essential criteria

  • GCSE Maths and English

Desirable criteria

  • GCSE Sciences or equivalent.
  • NVQ2 or equivalent qualification or equivalent experience.

Selection process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours, experience and strengths.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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

  • an application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
  • a 500 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.

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). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 500 words. We will not consider any words over 500 words.

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

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a face to face interview at our Birmingham lab. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, experience and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Working Together (Lead behaviour)
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communication and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

Interviews dates are 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.

Location

This role is lab based at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. Please note that hybrid working is not available with this role.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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 Terrorism Check clearance.

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.

Fixed term posts

For Temporary Appointments,if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSAs Pay policy.

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.

Person Specification

Application form and statment of suitability

Essential

  • Application form and statment of suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communication and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace
Person Specification

Application form and statment of suitability

Essential

  • Application form and statment of suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communication and Influencing
  • 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).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital

Birmingham

B9 5ST


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

UKHSA Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital

Birmingham

B9 5ST


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:

Recruitment Officer

Jon Payne

jonathan.payne@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

12 March 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,651 to £27,220 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

919-JP-300663-EXT

Job locations

UKHSA Laboratory, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital

Birmingham

B9 5ST


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