Healthcare Scientist Support Worker

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., 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.
Short Summary
The Food, Water and Environmental (FW&E) Microbiology 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 London FW&E Laboratory provides a microbiology testing and advisory service to Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities, hospitals and commercial clients across London, Southeast England, and Midlands Regions. 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 provide a range of routine tasks, including sample reception and preparation and will work as part of a team to perform routine examination of samples and update laboratory IT systems.
Communication and 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
+ Laboratory Management Team
+ Laboratory staff across the FW&E Service
+ other laboratory staff throughout UKHSA
External
+ Local and Port Health Authorities
+ Commercial Customers
Professional Contacts including UKAS

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., Service Delivery
+ Contribute to the provision of an analytical microbiology service for food, water and environmental samples
+ Under supervision, assist in the receipt of samples into the laboratory and complete pre-analysis processing of specimens
+ Work as part of a team to undertake routine preparation and examination of a wide range of samples under supervision
+ Become competent in the use of laboratory equipment including balances and pipettes
+ Re-stock laboratory consumables, sterile equipment and glassware
+ Assist with waste disposal following local procedures
+ Respond to requests and accurately communicate information and results to other laboratory staff, as required
+ Refer queries to other, more senior staff, as appropriate
Quality Systems Management
+ 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
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
+ Take responsibility for stock control in the FW&E laboratory, ensuring sufficient stock levels are maintained for efficient service provision
+ Contribute to the care, maintenance and security of laboratory premises and equipment in order to ensure efficient and safe operation
Strategy, Policy and Service Development
+ Support the implementation of new methods and technologies into the laboratory, in order to maximise quality and efficiency of testing
+ Support appropriate income generation activities for the laboratory, in accordance with the National FW&E objectives, in conjunction with the Laboratory Management Team
IT Infrastructure
+ Become competent in the use of the laboratory's IT systems and assist with the basic inputting of data into the system
Security / Health & 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
Your attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which requires you to take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and others which may be affected by your acts and omissions at work; and co-operate with UKHSA on matters of health and safety.
Other
+ The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.
+ The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and UKHSA.
+ It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.
Professional Development
+ 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., You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
+ a CV/ Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application)
+ a 500 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The CV/ Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.
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
You will be invited to a face to face interview
Behaviours and strengths will be tested at interview.
A Short 15min Assessment/Test related to daily elements of the job role .
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ 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.
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. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
It's important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
+ life sentences
+ arson
+ sexual offences
+ hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available
Starting salary
Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.
Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment
Face to Face interviews
If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview .
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.
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) (opens in a new window)
+ 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
For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.
For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.
For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan. 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 UKHSA's Pay policy.
Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.
Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. The 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 (attached as a supporting document).
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: [email protected] 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 here.
Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.
Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.
If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Benefits of working at UKHSA include

+ Good standard of general education i.e. GCSE's (grade C or above) in English, maths and science or educated to NVQ 2 level in a relevant subject, or equivalent level of qualification, or significant equivalent previous proven experience
Knowledge and experience
+ Previous experience of working in an administrative environment using computerised data systems.
+ Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word and Excel.
Skills and capabilities
+ Well-developed physical skills including manual dexterity.
+ Clear communicator with good writing, data entry and telephone skills ensuring accuracy
+ Ability to work effectively as part of a team
+ Problem solving skills
+ Demonstrate a high level of motivation and commitment to high standards
+ Good time keeping.
+ Flexible approach to work.
Equality and diversity
+ An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable Criteria:
+ Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures
+ Previous experience of working in a laboratory
+ Experience of managing and communicating sensitive/confidential information
+ Educated to A Level/NVQ level 3 standard or equivalent

Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King's birthday
+ Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
+ Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
+ Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
+ We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
+ We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.
Hybrid Working
UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.
As a hybrid worker, you will usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.
Disability Confident Scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview. If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.
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 take into account 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