Job summary
Applications are invited for a full time medical consultant virologist post, one of two new roles created to support the regional clinical virology service and contribute to the mission and strategic goals of UKHSA. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team of clinical virologists in a dynamic, innovative service, based at UKHSA South West Regional Laboratory, Bristol. Our Specialist Virology Centre is part of Severn Infection Sciences, situated in a modern multidisciplinary pathology environment. We provide comprehensive clinical advice and diagnostics to three local trusts, and regional specialist and public health virology, as well as national STI services.
The departmental and service delivery needs are for the equivalent of a whole-time post, however part-time and flexible working will be considered.
Bristol is a popular, vibrant and diverse city known for its green spaces, sustainability, music and good transport links to other parts of the UK
Main duties of the job
To work as a consultant medical virologist within the UKHSA clinical virology service SW regional laboratory, and associated structure of national UKHSA and local Severn Infection Sciences.
The main duties and responsibilities are commensurate with being a clinical service medical consultant virologist within UKHSA. Complementary to clinical activities, is assisting UKHSA to deliver its mission, including close liaison with health protection services and field epidemiology, support to national public health initiatives, and participation in the public health first responder function.
The laboratory is one of the largest diagnostic laboratories in the UK, processing approximately 1 million specimens annually.
The clinical virology on call commitment is currently at a frequency of 1 in 3 category A with cross cover. This is expected to reduce proportionally to 1 in 4 or less, as the consultant vacancies are filled.
About us
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our staff are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.
Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.
Please note that civil service terms and conditions do not apply to this post; please refer to NHS terms and conditions for contractual terms such as annual leave.
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.
Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.
Please note that civil service terms and conditions do not apply to this post; please refer to NHS terms and conditions for contractual terms such as annual leave.
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Registration
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent
- Full and specialist registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and licence to practise (or be eligible for such registration within six months of interview).
- UK trained applicants must also hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in medical virology or medical microbiology and virology or medical virology with infectious diseases (or be within six months of achieving CCT by the time of interview). Non-UK applicants will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
- Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination in virology, or equivalent in training and experience.
- Evidence of continuing medical education and professional development. Existing consultants must demonstrate active participation in a recognised CPD scheme.
Desirable
- Five years' supervised training in an appropriate training programme
- Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP).
- Higher academic qualification (MD, PhD or equivalent), MSc, or a teaching or management qualification
Knowledge, Training, and Experience
Essential
- Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining FRCPath in virology by examination and UK CCT in virology
- Recent clinical experience of managing viral infection in the acute hospital setting.
- Recent experience and familiarity of UK hospital systems and practices (or equivalent).
- Ability to offer an expert clinical and clinical laboratory opinion on a range of problems relating to virology in primary care, inpatient and tertiary referral settings (including the immunosuppressed).
- Recent experience of public health virology.
- Experience in the interpretation of complex laboratory results including molecular virology.
- Experience in clinical audit, quality improvement and report writing.
- Ability to teach a range of healthcare and allied healthcare staff including medical under-graduates & postgraduates.
Desirable
- Experience in teaching and training of medical and non-medical staff.
- Completion of a general management course or programme
Skills, Capabilities, Behaviours
Essential
- Caring attitude to patients
- Competent to work without direct supervision where appropriate
- Effective in written communication.
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and a wide range of healthcare professionals and other agencies
- Good interpersonal skills: including building rapport, listening, negotiating, motivating.
- Ability to lead a team and form effective working relationships within a team.
- Ability to organize self and own work to prioritise clinical need.
- Enquiring, critical approach to work
- Reliability- punctual; sense of responsibility.
- Resilience- ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
- Decisiveness- able to take responsibility, show leadership, and make decisions.
- Flexibility- able to adapt, including ability to respond appropriately in unplanned situations
- Enthusiasm- well motivated
- Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, and also seeks out innovation.
- Honesty, integrity, appreciation of ethical dilemmas.
- Ability to adhere to the UKHSA values and behaviours.
- Commitment to Continuing Medical Education & Development and the requirements of Clinical Governance and Audit.
Desirable
- Willingness to undertake research
- Peer-reviewed publications.
Equality and diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Registration
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent
- Full and specialist registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and licence to practise (or be eligible for such registration within six months of interview).
- UK trained applicants must also hold a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in medical virology or medical microbiology and virology or medical virology with infectious diseases (or be within six months of achieving CCT by the time of interview). Non-UK applicants will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
- Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination in virology, or equivalent in training and experience.
- Evidence of continuing medical education and professional development. Existing consultants must demonstrate active participation in a recognised CPD scheme.
Desirable
- Five years' supervised training in an appropriate training programme
- Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP).
- Higher academic qualification (MD, PhD or equivalent), MSc, or a teaching or management qualification
Knowledge, Training, and Experience
Essential
- Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining FRCPath in virology by examination and UK CCT in virology
- Recent clinical experience of managing viral infection in the acute hospital setting.
- Recent experience and familiarity of UK hospital systems and practices (or equivalent).
- Ability to offer an expert clinical and clinical laboratory opinion on a range of problems relating to virology in primary care, inpatient and tertiary referral settings (including the immunosuppressed).
- Recent experience of public health virology.
- Experience in the interpretation of complex laboratory results including molecular virology.
- Experience in clinical audit, quality improvement and report writing.
- Ability to teach a range of healthcare and allied healthcare staff including medical under-graduates & postgraduates.
Desirable
- Experience in teaching and training of medical and non-medical staff.
- Completion of a general management course or programme
Skills, Capabilities, Behaviours
Essential
- Caring attitude to patients
- Competent to work without direct supervision where appropriate
- Effective in written communication.
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and a wide range of healthcare professionals and other agencies
- Good interpersonal skills: including building rapport, listening, negotiating, motivating.
- Ability to lead a team and form effective working relationships within a team.
- Ability to organize self and own work to prioritise clinical need.
- Enquiring, critical approach to work
- Reliability- punctual; sense of responsibility.
- Resilience- ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
- Decisiveness- able to take responsibility, show leadership, and make decisions.
- Flexibility- able to adapt, including ability to respond appropriately in unplanned situations
- Enthusiasm- well motivated
- Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, and also seeks out innovation.
- Honesty, integrity, appreciation of ethical dilemmas.
- Ability to adhere to the UKHSA values and behaviours.
- Commitment to Continuing Medical Education & Development and the requirements of Clinical Governance and Audit.
Desirable
- Willingness to undertake research
- Peer-reviewed publications.
Equality and diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
