Job Description

Details

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Reference number

408480

Salary

27,275 - 31,778
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Science

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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UKHSA Porton Down, SP4 0JG

About the job

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Job summary

The Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Services (FWEMS) Laboratories are specialist microbiology laboratories within the UKHSA. Based in 3 sites across the country, the laboratories are geographically well placed to work with local authorities to protect the public from health threats posed by contaminated food, water and the environment.


The Porton FWEMS Laboratory provides a microbiology testing and advisory service to Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities, hospitals and commercial clients across the South East, South West and West Midlands The laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025 and is recognised as an Official Laboratory for the microbiological examination of food and foodstuffs within the EU.


The post holder will act as a Healthcare Scientist Practitioner and provide a technical service to customers for the diagnostic testing of Food, Water and Environmental samples as an aid to the investigation of outbreaks, food poisoning and routine control. They will perform basic and more complex investigations providing specialised testing using complex equipment.


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

Laboratory Management Team Laboratory staff across the FWEMS Service Other laboratory staff throughout UKHSA

External

Local and Port Health Authorities Commercial Customers Professional Contacts including UKAS Couriers and other sub-contractors
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Working for your organisation

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

Job description

Service Delivery

Participate in the provision of an analytical service, including the production of accurate and relevant results and reports. Assist with the supervision of the day to day running of the laboratory. Be involved in all aspects of sample reception and complete pre-analysis processing for the microbiological examination of samples received in the laboratory, ensuring samples are valid and tested appropriately. Work independently or as part of a team (under guidance) to undertake the full microbiological analysis of a wide range of samples, including test selection, in accordance with laboratory and customer requirements. Ensure important or unusual results are drawn to the attention of more senior staff and report complaints and anomalies as soon as possible. Assist other team members in all aspects of technical work and take on delegated responsibilities from more senior staff. Assist in the management of outbreaks, ensuring adequate resources are available to carry out the necessary work. Liaise with medical, scientific, and other staff of the UKHSA in all matters of common interest

Customer Relationships

Respond to requests and accurately communicate routine, unequivocal results to customers, including interpretation and reporting of written and verbal results

Quality Management Systems

Participate in activities necessary for the maintenance and development of the Quality System in accordance with UKAS requirements. Support the laboratory's accreditation to ISO 17025 and ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certification standards. Assist the Quality Manager in ensuring good working practices and maintain a high standard of work, including participating in Internal Quality Control and External Quality Assessment schemes. Assist, where appropriate, in regular audits of departmental procedures in support of the Quality Manager and assist in the analysis of the results.

Asset Management

Ensure efficient running and contribute to routine maintenance of all equipment, which will include high cost, complex equipment requiring calibration and regular maintenance. Assist in the maintenance of stocks of reagents and consumables, ensuring that they are received, stored, verified and used appropriately. Contribute to the care, maintenance and security of laboratory premises and equipment in order to ensure efficient and safe operation.

Management

Take responsibility for the supervision of the day-to-day activities of less experienced staff

Strategy, Policy and Service Development

Assist in the improvement and development of the service, in the interests of efficiency and in order to meet changing demands. Support the implementation of new methods and technologies into the laboratory, in order to maximise quality and efficiency of testing. Support and participate in FW&E surveys, trials and research work and projects in collaboration with other senior staff of the FWEMS laboratories. Support appropriate income generation activities for the laboratory, in accordance with the National FWEMS objectives, in conjunction with the Laboratory Management Team. Participate in periodic reviews of laboratory methods with respect to performance and relevance.

IT Infrastructure

Become competent in the use of the laboratory's IT systems and participate in the basic inputting of data into the system

Security/Health and Safety

Ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act, Caldicott principles and the Laboratory Information Systems and Technology Security policy. Ensure that health and safety are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors. Ensure attendance of self and managed staff on safety training courses as required in the UKHSA Health and Safety Training Policy and other safety policies as appropriate. Agree to implement safety objectives. Ensure that a Laboratory/Office Safety Code is implemented. Ensure that risk assessments are implemented and maintained. Report risks that cannot be controlled to the Laboratory Manager. Notify accidents, near misses, dangerous situations and shortcomings in health and safety via the appropriate management structure.

Other Duties

On an occasional basis the post holder will be expected to visit external sites and take samples that require special skills and training. Perform other duties as directed by the Laboratory Manager of the Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory within the framework of the job summary. Be prepared to work flexibly across the entire FWEMS if occasionally required, maintaining appropriate levels of training as necessary.

Professional Development

Pursue a program 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. Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.

Person specification

BSc (Hons) Science degree or BTEC with previous experience in microbiology or sufficient period of working in a microbiological / scientific role to effectively gain degree-level understanding of science / microbiology Have extensive working knowledge of laboratory areas, including both practical and theoretical knowledge of the various methods employed. Also, to demonstrate a sound understanding of the basic scientific principles relevant to microbiology Understanding of quality management systems, especially in relation to UKAS Accreditation Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures Experience of automated testing systems Knowledge of administrative procedures, project management or information analysis Skills for communication of complex information and administrative matters, requiring developed interpersonal and oral/ written communication skills Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands Skills for supporting project management, including ensuring that projects meet financial targets Skills for manipulating information Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, but also in relation to management systems Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 27,275, UK Health Security Agency contributes 7,901 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

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


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 a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) 1000 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.


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.


The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.


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.


Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

Extensive working knowledge of laboratory areas, including both practical and theoretical knowledge of the various methods employed. Also, to demonstrate a sound understanding of the basic scientific principles relevant to microbiology

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


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


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


Behaviours, technical and experience will be tested at interview.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Changing and Improving Working Together Developing Self and Others

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 being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton Down. Please note that hybrid working is not available for 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 Checks.


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.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.


You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Jon Payne Email : jonathan.payne@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

he law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk


http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7239709