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Job summary

Main area
Clinical Science
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
919-LT-305089-EXT
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
UKHSA Colindale
Town
London
Salary
£62,215 - £72,293 per annum, pro rata (This role will attract HCAS Outer)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
27/10/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Lead Clinical Scientist, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus Section

NHS AfC: Band 8b

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

  • Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
  • Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
  • Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
  • Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
  • Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Job overview

As a HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist, the post-holder will work seamlessly between the Healthcare-Associated Infection (HCAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Service and Laboratories: (i) to provide scientific and technical leadership in the area of Staphylococcus spp; (ii) to lead the laboratory team delivering national Staphylococcus spp reference services; (iii) to be responsible for validating and issuing clinical reports to customers for Staphylococcus spp and Streptococcus spp; and (iv) to provide scientific and strategic leadership for introducing novel technologies into reference services to meet the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) & Sepsis Division objectives.

In addition, post will act as an expert Scientific Adviser to Deputy Director/s of HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis on Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. It will involve close liaison with laboratory staff working on these bacteria, providing scientific direction on areas of relevance to the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division. In particular, this will focus on areas of national HCAI/AMR importance including outbreak investigation and assessment of vulnerable groups at risk of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus infection e.g., care home residents, people who inject drugs, prison and homeless populations.

Main duties of the job

To be a source of expert advice and information on microbiological aspects of staphylococci and the biology of staphylococcal disease. Provide information, interpretation and comment on national guidance, legislation, codes of practice and answers to Parliamentary Questions and media enquiries. Provide expert advice and knowledge to external bodies on the scientific basis of reference service tests, documents or services provided as appropriate.

To be responsible for ensuring the high-quality validation of clinical reports issued to customers for staphylococcal and streptococcal reference services, including strain characterisation, genomic assessment, virulence markers and toxin production.

To work with staff of Bacteriology Reference Division (BRD) and relevant consultant medical microbiologists in UKHSA to provide input into clinical interpretation and to ensure prompt and accurate delivery of staphylococcal reference services including discussing interpretation with microbiologists and clinicians in the field and health protection teams investigating outbreaks. 

To arrange suitable and sufficient cover for reference service delivery, as necessary.

To lead staphylococcal and streptococcal service clinical governance meetings, developing automated services including auditing the impact of new methodologies including routine whole-genome sequencing for relatedness, resistance detection, and outbreak response.

Working for our 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

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Within the defined specialist area(s) to undertake the following scientific functions:

  • To advise senior managers, including Deputy Directors, on all aspects of work associated with specialist area.
  • To assess methodologies regularly to provide on-going improvement in services and to provide expert advice and knowledge on the scientific basis of reference service tests and results.
  • To provide strategic opinion to senior managers, including Deputy Directors, for identifying methods and technologies relevant to the specialist area that are suitable for development, evaluation and implementation.
  • To produce peer-reviewed publications on the results of reference and research activities. To develop, review and edit manuscripts, documents, protocols, procedures, guidelines, and other measurable outputs.
  • To provide scientific advice and support in relation to internal quality controls and, where relevant, external quality assessment, proficiency testing and reference materials in collaboration with the UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Microbiology (NEQAS) and other organisations as appropriate.
  • To present research findings at local, national and international scientific meetings.
  • To participate in on-call services as required e.g., the Bacteria Reference Department senior scientist diphtheria on-call rota.

This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties.

Selection Process Details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria. 

Please be aware that we will assess on the12 essential criteria stated on the advert rather than the full list on the job description document.

Stage 1: Application & Sift  

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 12 essential criteria, which have been selected from the job description, 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.  

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

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

  • Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment
  • PhD in microbiology or a related discipline
  • Familiarity with diverse molecular diagnostic platforms .

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 (competency based) 

You will be invited to a (single) remote  interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview   

There will be a Presentation- details to be confirmed to those successful at securing an interview.

Interview dates 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. 

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

Eligibility Criteria
 
External 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-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

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment
  • PhD in microbiology or a related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Clinical scientific and molecular microbiology expertise of Staphylococcal & Streptococcal spp.
  • Familiarity with diverse molecular diagnostic platforms
  • LIMS experience. Validating reports through MOLIS or similar LIMS system.
  • Experience working within the healthcare associated infection field and good working knowledge of antibiotic susceptibility testing and resistance mechanisms.
  • Substantive (postdoctoral) experience in Public Health microbiology in reference and/or diagnostic settings.
  • Demonstrable experience of laboratory quality systems, running services accredited to ISO15189 standard.
  • Proven record of research in relevant areas including significant/relevant publications.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development.

Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Able to provide/receive highly complex information, negotiate and present to peers/others.
  • Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Purple SpaceApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Carer Confident -AccomplishedHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lisa Tweedie
Job title
Resourcing Support Officer
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

For additional information relating to the role, please contact Theresa Lamagni, Lead Scientist for Gram Positive Team, [email protected]

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