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Location
About the job
Job summary
External Quality Assessment (EQA) Services is part of UKHSA Colindale Site, National Standards, Quality and Safety directorate and provides external quality assessment (EQA) schemes (also known as proficiency testing (PT) schemes) for food, water and clinical microbiology laboratories throughout the United Kingdom, and also worldwide. Results reported by microbiology laboratories often play a significant role in health protection and managing public health incidents; tools such as EQA/PT is essential for laboratories to be able to demonstrate that their results are accurate, reliable and reproducible.
To ensure that external quality assessment service meets the requirements of Health and Safety and Bio-security legislation and Corporate Health and Safety strategy, policy and procedures.
Location
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in our Colindale 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 needs and in line with departmental policy.
*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*
Working Pattern – Full Time Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working.
Job description
Responsibilities section:
As the Health and Safety Co-Ordinator your main responsibilities will include:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Ensure the timely progression of health and safety actions arising from incidents investigation, inspections and audits
- Ensure that regular inspection programmes (e.g., quarterly H&S inspections, visual electrical checks etc.) are carried out for EQA activities
- Contribute to the system of auditing and seeking assurance of health and safety in accordance with UKHSA polices and procedure and UKHSA H&S plan
- Have an overview of data entry onto the Trackwise Integrated Governance Information system, as applied to H&S incidents and near misses, to ensure the quality of reports and the appropriate root cause analysis and progression of actions
- Produce regular H&S reports for management as required
- Contribute to the development of H&S standards and systems applied to Colindale
- Assist management to ensure planned review of all risk assessments, to ensure that they are suitable, sufficient and in date
- Participate and lead as necessary in emergency and unplanned events, this may include participating in investigations of accidents and incidents as necessary
- To identity, coordinate and deliver (where appropriate) H&S training requirements for EQA activities, including safety inductions, and ensure that they are implemented
- In conjunction with other safety personnel, to develop and deliver training in core safety subject
- Participate in H&S meetings as required, and ensure that actions affecting the department arising from these meetings are carried out in a proper and timely manner
- To undertake work in accordance with UKHSA policies and guidance, and to work within the quality systems that are applicable to EQA activities
- In conjunction with EQA senior staff, ensure that all existing and new equipment is fit for purpose with respect to safety and positioned/maintained to allow safe working
- In conjunction with EQA senior staff, ensure that all laboratory spaces are fit for purpose and maintained to enable safe working
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
We are looking for an exceptional Health and Safety Co-Ordinator.
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- MSc Microbiology/Medical Microbiology OR equivalent such as a safety qualification
- Several years knowledge and experience of managing safety requirements.
- Leadership – able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate, and get the best out of people.
Desirable
- Registration with HCPC
- Several years knowledge and experience in diagnostic microbiology.
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
Selection process details
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
Please ensure that your statement of suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g. name in either the file name or content of the document and is uploaded in MS Word format.
STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW
This competition will involve a Face-to-Face interview.
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 16th May 2023 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Shortlist: W/C 22nd May 2023
Interviews: W/C 19th June 2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Medical
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team