Biomedical Scientist, Mycology Reference Laboratory

Job description

Job responsibilities

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Understand use of the LIMS, undertake data entry for samples received and look up results.
• Assist in the production/dissemination of lab reports, data and statistics, including issuing of authorised reports by telephone. Awareness of the priority of reports.
• Liaise with service users for general enquiries.
• Process clinical specimens, including reading and interpreting cultures.
• Perform/interpret identification and sensitivity tests on clinical isolates.
• Recognise anomalous results and ensure that important/unusual reports are drawn to the attention of senior staff. Report complaints or anomalies as soon as possible.
• Liaise with medical, scientific and other healthcare staff in all matters relating to diagnosis.
• Assist in calibration and maintenance of equipment. Use equipment in a safe and responsible manner. Assist in the research/evaluation of new methods/equipment.
• Maintain a high standard of professional competence and technical skill in all tests carried out in the laboratory.
• The postholder would assist in the training of other staff and visitors to the laboratory and to cover the duties of other healthcare staff in their absence where possible.
• You would help revive, prepare and dispatch items for the National Collection of Pathogenic Fungi.

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.

For the full list of responsibilities and duties, please see the full job description.

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. 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.

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW:

This competition will involve an interview either by video or face to face.

Please note that you may be asked to undertake a test or presentation at 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.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 6th March 2024 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: TBC 2024

Interviews: w/c TBC 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis 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 theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• 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

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 embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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.

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.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• BSc in a relevant subject
• State registration with HCPC
• Working knowledge of mycology laboratory procedures
• At least 2 years post-registration experience in a relevant field
• Experience with LIMS
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Good computer skills and sound knowledge of common IT programmes
• Evidence of ability to train others
• Knowledge of health and safety practices
• Able to provide judgement on a range of problems
• Communicate complex and sensitive information with peers and senior staff

Desirable

• MSc in a relevant subject
• Practical experience in a mycology laboratory
• Experience of working in a healthcare environment

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Mycology Reference Laboratory

Bristol

BS10 5NB

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)