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Job summary

Main area
Healthcare Science
Grade
Civil Service: Administrative Officer (AO)
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (Rotational shift pattern, which may include shifts through 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.)
Job ref
919-CJ-309359-EXT
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Southmead Hospital
Town
Bristol
Salary
£22,370 - £24,184 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
10/11/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Healthcare Scientist Support Worker

Civil Service: Administrative Officer (AO)

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

The laboratory in Bristol is situated within the Severn Pathology suite of laboratories at North Bristol NHS Trust Southmead site. The laboratory receives in excess of 1 million specimens a year from a large number of clinical specialties across the Bristol and Bath hospital trusts which contribute to an interesting and varied workload.

The scope of this role is to learn and maintain good laboratory practice in the interests of the departmental commitment to provide an efficient service and to become a positive member of a team or teams in the function of service provision.

The post holder will report on biomedical investigations and utilise the appropriate testing to assist the Biomedical Scientists. The Post holder will rotate through different sections in the laboratory and be expected to supervise and train staff. The post holder should be a good communicator and effective at prioritising competing workloads. In return we will provide a comprehensive induction programme and you will be appraised on a yearly basis with a view to developing knowledge and skills where appropriate.

Main duties of the job

The post holder would be required to help prepare and dispatch items/samples for referral, transport and posting issue specimen collection kits, containers and reagents to appropriate areas.

The post holder would undertake sterilisation and disposal of laboratory waste including collection of discard and waste material, loading and unloading discard bins to autoclaves, transfer of laboratory waste to designated collection/disposal areas.
The post holder will undertake any reasonable task delegated by a senior member of staff.

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

The post holders main responsibilities will be to:

  • receive, sort, unpack, label and process specimens in the laboratory
  • understand the use of the laboratory information system (LIMS) and undertake data entry e.g. for samples received and referred
  • electronically request and receive tests and look up results etc
  • solve minor problems with mislabelled or mislaid samples and to generate worksheets
  • collect and transfer laboratory consumables and samples to and from delivery points, storage areas and workstations
  • accurately prepare samples for analysis
  • assist with the setting up of automated and semi-automated tests
  • follow various technical procedures e.g. Preparation of specimens for C. difficile toxin detection.  Inoculation of samples on to culture media etc
  • maintain a high standard of competence in the performance of all tests appropriate to grade and investigations carried out in that area, following appropriate training
  • perform technical work under the supervision of a Biomedical Scientist
  • ensure important or unusual results are drawn to the attention of senior staff and to report complaints or anomalies as soon as possible
  • use equipment in a safe and responsible manner
  • perform general laboratory duties e.g. checking and cleaning instruments/equipment, recording temperatures, preparing reagents and assistance with stock control
  • perform general clerical duties e.g. photocopying, filing, telephone answering, dealing with queries from clients, customers and other NHS staff and to undertake data entry
  • assist in the training of other healthcare support worker staff
  • rotate through all relevant sections of the department as directed

Essential Criteria

  • interest in Science and technology
  • basic knowledge of health and safety and safe working practices
  • previous experience of using computerised data systems.  And working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word and Excel
  • clear communicator with good writing, data entry and telephone skills ensuring accuracy and attention to detail
  • ability to work effectively as part of a team
  • problem solving skills
  • able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Ability/ Experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift  

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

  • Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
  • 500 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.

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  

Please note that candidates in the Disability Confident Scheme will be shortlisted if you meet the minimum essential criteria.

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

Please do not exceed 500 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number. 

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.   

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles) 

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours experience and ability will be tested at interview. 

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be: 

  • seeing the big picture
  • working together
  • developing self and others
  • delivering at pace

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 working based at Bristol (Southmead Hospital). Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

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. 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

Application form & Statement of suitability

Essential criteria
  • Application form & Statement of suitability

Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Seeing the big picture
  • Working together
  • Developing self and others
  • Delivering at pace

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

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carlie James
Job title
Resourcing Support
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

For Information regarding the role please contact Paula Smith,  Public Health Microbiology Workforce Lead at [email protected].

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