Job description

We are looking for a Healthcare Scientist Practitioner who provides, on a daily basis, a technical service to local authorities (LA’s) and commercial clients for the diagnostic testing of Food, Water and Environmental samples as an aid to the investigation of outbreaks, food poisoning and routine control. He/she will perform basic and more complex investigations providing specialized testing using complex equipment.

The Food, Water and Environmental (FW&E) Microbiology Laboratories are specialist microbiology laboratories within the UKHSA. Based in 3 sites across the country, the laboratories are geographically well placed to work with local authorities in order to protect the public from health threats posed by contaminated food, water and the environment. The London FW&E Laboratory provides a microbiology testing and advisory service to Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities, hospitals and commercial clients in London. The laboratory accredited to ISO 17025 and is recognised as an Official Food Control Laboratory for the microbiological examination of food and foodstuffs within the EU.

Your key responsibilities will include:
Service Delivery

Participate in the provision of an analytical microbiology service for food, water and environmental samples, including the production of accurate and relevant results and reports

• To assist with the supervision of the day to day running of the FW&E laboratory
• To be involved in all aspects of sample reception and complete pre-analysis processing for the microbiological examination of samples received in the laboratory, ensuring samples are valid and tested appropriately
• Work independently or as part of a team (under guidance) to undertake the full microbiological analysis of a wide range of samples, including test selection, in accordance with laboratory and customer requirements
• To ensure important or unusual results are drawn to the attention of more senior staff and to report complaints and anomalies as soon as possible
• Assist other team members in all aspects of technical work and take on delegated responsibilities from more senior staff
• To assist in the management of outbreaks, ensuring adequate resources are available to carry out the necessary work
• To liaise with medical, scientific and other staff of the Public Health England in all matters of common interest

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.

Customer Relationships

• Respond to requests and communicate accurately, routine, unequivocal results to customers, including interpretation and reporting written and verbal results

•

Quality Systems Management

• Participate in activities necessary for the maintenance and development of the Quality

System in accordance with UKAS requirements

• Support the laboratory’s accreditation to ISO 17025 and ensure compliance with UKAS

and other accreditation and certification standard

• To assist the Quality Manager in ensuring good working practices and to maintain a high

standard of work especially with respect to Internal Quality Control and External

Quality Assessment schemes

• To assist, where appropriate, in regular audits of departmental procedures in support of the

Quality Manager and assist in the analysis of the results

Asset Management

• Ensure efficient running and contribute to routine maintenance of all equipment, which will include high cost, complex equipment requiring calibration and regular maintenance
• Assist in the maintenance of stocks of reagents and consumables, ensuring that they are received, stored, verified and used appropriately
• Contribute to the care, maintenance and security of laboratory premises and equipment in order to ensure efficient and safe operation

Management

• To be responsible for supervision of the day-to-day activities of less experienced staff

Strategy, Policy and Service Development

• Assist in the improvement and development of the service, in the interests of efficiency and in order to meet changing demands
• To support the implementation of new methods and technologies into the laboratory, in order to maximise quality and efficiency of testing
• Support and participate in FW&E surveys, trials and research work and projects in collaboration with other senior staff of the FW&E Microbiology Laboratories
• Support appropriate income generation activities for the laboratory, in accordance with the National FW&E objectives, in conjunction with the Laboratory Management Team
• Participate in periodic reviews of laboratory methods with respect to performance and relevancy

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours/Strengths/Ability

At sift stage you will be assessed on essential criteria and this will be in the form of a CV/ Application form Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and achievements, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined.

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history (this will be used in sifting process and will be scored).

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake an interview.

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on a blended interview against a mixture of Behaviours and Strength elements of Success Profiles.

• External recruitment; Fair & Open Competition (FOC). (including by definition internal applicants)

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