Biomedical Scientist – Specialist Practitioner/Healthcare Scientist (HEO) Birmingham, England
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About the job
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Location
About the job
Job summary
We are recruiting for a Biomedical Scientist – Specialist Practitioner/ Healthcare Scientist on a fixed term appointment until March 2024 to work as part of the laboratory team, providing a high-quality microbiology service in order to provide patients with the highest level of diagnosis and treatment.
You will assist in the efficient day-to-day running of an area in a section of the laboratory, be able to rotate through all the different sections in the laboratory and assist in the supervision and training of trainee BMSs or HSSWs.
You would be expected to assist in any UKHSA coordinated response or activity of a national/international nature, e.g. a Bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak.
Job description
This is a rotational post through all of the sections of the laboratory including:
- General Bacteriology including respiratory and enterics.
- Virology including Viral Serology
- Molecular diagnostics for Bacteriology and Virology.
- Regional Centre for Mycobacteriology.
- Antiviral susceptibility services
- Pathogen Genomics Sequencing
Person specification
UK Health Security Agency provides strategic leadership and a vision for protecting and improving the nation’s health. Its ambition is to lead nationally and enable locally, a transformation in the health expectations of all people in England, regardless of where they live and the circumstance of their birth. It will achieve this through the application of research, knowledge and skills. UKHSA is an executive agency of the Department of Health. It is a distinct delivery organisation with operational autonomy to advise and support the government, local authorities and the NHS in a professionally independent manner.
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promotes equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA's 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.
Specific duties of the role may vary depending upon the site and teams/functions. Please refer to the Job description for the full scope of the duties and responsibilities.
- To process the specimens received and to undertake the related tasks in the various sections of the laboratory, leading to the reporting and interpretation of results in accordance with agreed policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- To be responsible for maintenance of consumables and equipment in immediate area of work. Also, to use and maintain automated equipment following manufacturer’s guidelines and training.
- Based upon knowledge and experience, to designate, on receipt, the range of tests to be performed on the various samples.
- Utilising microbiological techniques, to work competently in all sections of West Midlands Public Health Laboratory including Bacteriology, National Mycobacteria Reference Service, Molecular Biology, and Viral Serology.
- To participate in the out-of-hours Microbiology service as required.
- To work within the UKHSA and Laboratory policies, codes of practice and professional guidelines.
- To adhere to laboratory SOPs and to organise the work of the allocated area in the laboratory.
- To maintain a high standard of professional competence in the performance of all tests and investigations carried out in the laboratory.
The successful candidate must be flexible, able to work in a team and use their own initiative.
Each of the sites operates a 7-day working week and the applicant will be required to work a maximum of 37.5 hours per week. Each site delivers a 24-hour service. The successful candidate will be required to work defined shifts, as required.
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.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- 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 average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/ Strengths/ Experience/ Technical skills.
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1250 words)
This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and achievements, and provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined.
You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history (this will be used in the sifting process and scored).
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single video interview.
All applicants that progress to an interview will be assessed on their technical experience and a blended interview against a mixture of Behaviours, and strengths elements of Success Profiles.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Managing a Quality Service
The Strengths tested during the interview stage will link to the above Behaviours:
Disciplined, Efficient, Learner, Organiser, Problem Solver, Relationship Builder, Service Focused, Team Player
Technical Skills will also be assessed against the Knowledge and capabilities criterion in the job description.
Qualification:
It is essential that all candidates hold a BSc in Biomedical Science or equivalent academic achievement ratified by the IBMS. It is desirable that they are a member of the IBMS
Applicants may be either Biomedical Scientists state registered with the HCPC or Healthcare Scientists with appropriate qualifications, knowledge and experience but not holding state registration with the HCPC. The successful applicant will hold the appropriate job description.
Eligibility Criteria
- Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
- If applying from overseas you must hold a suitable UK VISA that will allow you to work full-time and remain in the UK.
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 Basic Personnel Security Standard
People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.
Salary
New 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.
Market Pay Supplement (MPS)
- This role attracts a Market Pay Supplement, bringing the minimum salary to £32,306 per annum, pro-rata
- The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirements of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If your application falls below the HEO grade threshold, your application may be assessed against the lower grade role. If you are interviewed for the role and you do not meet the required benchmark you may be considered for an EO-grade role.
Flexible Working:
UKHSA offers hybrid working for its employees – this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our UKHSA offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business need and in line with departmental policy. Some business travel will be required to other UKHSA offices. Business travel between base location and any other UKHSA offices will be covered under the UKHSA Travel and Expenses policy. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.
Late applications will not be considered.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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