Go back
UK Health Security Agency

Healthcare Scientist Support Worker

The closing date is 30 May 2025

Apply for this job

Job summary

We are looking for enthusiastic, self-motivated individuals to play a vital role in the laboratory by supporting the Biomedical Scientists in a wide range of laboratory duties including the preparation of clinical samples, registration of patient information onto the pathology computer system and involvement in the centralised telephone enquiry service.

The Laboratory operates a 7-day working week and the applicant will be required to work 37.5 hours per week based on a shift system including a requirement to work at weekends and bank holidays.

Main duties of the job

The Public Health Laboratory in Birmingham is a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) microbiology laboratory and is in partnership with University Hospitals Birmingham Trust (UHB). The microbiology partnership provides comprehensive microbiology services and specialist services to Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, Solihull Hospital and general practitioners throughout the area.

The post holder will:

  • Act as a Healthcare Scientist Support Worker (HSSW) on a permanent basis to provide technical and clerical support to the scientific services to patients and clients as an aid to clinical diagnosis.
  • Work as part of Laboratory Team
  • Be expected to rotate through various managed units within Microbiology

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Details

Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£23,875 to £25,394 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-HM-300624-EXT

Job locations

Heartlands Hospital

Bordesley Green East

Birmingham

B9 5SS


Job description

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Sample receipt and handing.
  • Sample preparation and reagent preparation following protocols.
  • Clerical duties, including use of computers, and data entry, telephone enquiries.
  • Provide results service to wards, GPs and other hospitals
  • Dealing with patients, visitors and deliveries.
  • Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels, receipt of deliveries and preparation of orders.
  • Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and laboratory areas.
  • Monitoring and routine maintenance of equipment.
  • Perform basic manual and automated tests according to protocols.
  • Disposal of tissue and patient samples in accordance with relevant guidelines
  • Autoclaving of waste material and patient samples (involves moderate lifting).
  • Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  • Processing specimens, sub culturing of specimens, cleaning and maintenance of equipment, assisting BMS staff in analytical techniques, and use of automated equipment within Containment Level 3 laboratory.
  • To participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining UKASA Accreditation.
  • To participate in audit processes, drug trials, research projects as required.
  • Job Holder is expected to occasionally work under remote supervision of a Registered Biomedical Scientist following defined SOP/protocols and would be expected to refer non routine issues to their supervisor.
  • Assistance with training of junior HSSW staff and trainee BMS staff.
  • Preparation of samples prior to sending away to reference laboratories.

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.

Essential Criteria

  • GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above or equivalent qualification
  • Previously worked in Laboratory

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess yourBehaviours, Experience, Strengths and Technical skills.

Stage 1 - Application & Sift:

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 2 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

  • Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

  • 500-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.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

  • Meets all essentialcriteria

  • Meets some essential criteria

  • Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteriawill be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

  • GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above or equivalent qualification

Please do not exceed500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Technical, Experience and Strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviour's tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Delivering at pace (lead)
  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the bigger picture

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

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our site in Birmingham.

If based at one of our labs, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Sample receipt and handing.
  • Sample preparation and reagent preparation following protocols.
  • Clerical duties, including use of computers, and data entry, telephone enquiries.
  • Provide results service to wards, GPs and other hospitals
  • Dealing with patients, visitors and deliveries.
  • Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels, receipt of deliveries and preparation of orders.
  • Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and laboratory areas.
  • Monitoring and routine maintenance of equipment.
  • Perform basic manual and automated tests according to protocols.
  • Disposal of tissue and patient samples in accordance with relevant guidelines
  • Autoclaving of waste material and patient samples (involves moderate lifting).
  • Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory Health and Safety policies and procedures.
  • Processing specimens, sub culturing of specimens, cleaning and maintenance of equipment, assisting BMS staff in analytical techniques, and use of automated equipment within Containment Level 3 laboratory.
  • To participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining UKASA Accreditation.
  • To participate in audit processes, drug trials, research projects as required.
  • Job Holder is expected to occasionally work under remote supervision of a Registered Biomedical Scientist following defined SOP/protocols and would be expected to refer non routine issues to their supervisor.
  • Assistance with training of junior HSSW staff and trainee BMS staff.
  • Preparation of samples prior to sending away to reference laboratories.

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.

Essential Criteria

  • GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above or equivalent qualification
  • Previously worked in Laboratory

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess yourBehaviours, Experience, Strengths and Technical skills.

Stage 1 - Application & Sift:

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 2 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

  • Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

  • 500-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.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

  • Meets all essentialcriteria

  • Meets some essential criteria

  • Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteriawill be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

  • GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above or equivalent qualification

Please do not exceed500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Technical, Experience and Strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviour's tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Delivering at pace (lead)
  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the bigger picture

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

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our site in Birmingham.

If based at one of our labs, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Person Specification

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Essential

  • Application form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Delivering at pace (lead)
  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the bigger picture
Person Specification

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Essential

  • Application form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Delivering at pace (lead)
  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the bigger picture

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Heartlands Hospital

Bordesley Green East

Birmingham

B9 5SS


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Heartlands Hospital

Bordesley Green East

Birmingham

B9 5SS


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Resourcing Officer

Harry McCullagh

recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£23,875 to £25,394 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-HM-300624-EXT

Job locations

Heartlands Hospital

Bordesley Green East

Birmingham

B9 5SS


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)