Consultant Virologist or Consultant Clinical Scientist in Virology

Job description

Job responsibilities

The UKHSA microbiology laboratory in Cambridge is a directly managed public health laboratory based at Addenbrookes Hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The laboratory functions as part of the UKHSA regional laboratory network and partners similar facilities in Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester as well as the collaborating centres in Brighton and Leeds.

The appointee will work with colleagues to enable the laboratory to fulfil its role as a Regional public health laboratory and to contribute to the provision of the local clinical microbiology service in virology within Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the surrounding health economy, including healthcare providers contracting with the Cambridge laboratory. He or she will also promote the high quality care of communicable diseases within the local area and more widely in the East of England.

Applicants will be expected to have relevant qualifications and experience in providing specialist microbiology services in virology and the clinical management of communicable disease and its application to public health.

Any medical applicants must have Full and Specialist registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) (with a license to practice) for Medical Microbiology & Virology/Medical Virology, or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.

Consultant Clinical Scientists should hold state registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), have a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant subject and should have exited Virology HSST with certification or be within 6 months of exit.

Applicants should have wide and recent experience in the management of microbiological services and experience of outbreak investigation and policy development.

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

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a (1500) 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 Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered .

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment

Please do not exceed 1500 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 an in person interview; remote attendance may be permitted in exceptional circumstances.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview .

A 10 minute presentation will be required, the subject will be provided prior to interview. Slides can be used.

Interviews will be held week commencing 3rd February 2025 or week commencing 10th February 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Successful candidates for this role must pass an enhanced disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification or, if applying as a Clinical Scientist, a PhD or equivalent in virology or microbiology / molecular biology
• Medical applicants should have Full and Specialist GMC registration (with a license to practice) in Medical Microbiology & Virology/MV and/or Infectious Diseases, or be eligible for registration within six months of interview or Clinical Scientists should have HCPC registration, or demonstration of active work to complete the portfolio in an appropriate discipline within 6 months of interview
• Medically-qualified applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT. Clinical Scientists should have exited Virology HSST with certification, or be within 6 months of exit.
• FRCPath in Microbiology or Virology by examination and MRCP if applying as an ID physician
• Evidence of continuing medical education (existing consultants must be able to demonstrate active participation in a recognised CPD scheme)

Desirable

• For medically-qualified applicants, an MD or PhD in virology or microbiology / molecular biology

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Proven track record of clinical virology experience with the ability to offer an expert clinical and laboratory opinion on a range of problems relating to virology in primary and secondary care, and tertiary referral settings, including infection control.
• Experience of public health virology and understanding of the role of UKHSA and the importance of a good relationship with staff and stakeholders
• Evidence of clinical risk management and of leadership and promotion of good Clinical Governance and of investigating issues arising
• Experience of teaching and training both medical and non-medical staff at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Understanding of quality assurance principles, safety requirements and procedures

Desirable

• Active interest in research and development in medical virology & microbiology evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations, prizes and/or honours.
• Understanding of issues of pathogen containment and exposures

Skills and capabilities

Essential

• Leadership: able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate and get the best out of people
• Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner and to work across organizational boundaries
• Good interpersonal, written and communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, GPs, nurses and staff from other agencies.

Equality and diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

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 Laboratory, Cambridge Biomedical Campus

Cambridge

CB2 0QW

Employer's website

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