Job vacancy: Healthcare Science Support Worker, UK Health Security Agency, York

Job summary

Main area

Labatories

Grade

Civil Service: Administrative Officer (AO)

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Job ref

919-HM-300539-EXT

Employer: UK Health Security Agency
Employer type: Public (Non NHS)
Site: York Laboratory, Biotech Campus
Town: York
Salary: £23,489 - £25,394 per annum, pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 01/12/2024 23:59

Healthcare Science Support Worker

Civil Service: Administrative Officer (AO)

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Service Delivery

Contribute to the provision of an analytical microbiology service for food, water and environmental samples
Under supervision, assist in the receipt of samples into the laboratory and complete pre-analysis processing of specimens
Work as part of a team to undertake routine preparation and examination of a wide range of samples under supervision
Become competent in the use of laboratory equipment including balances and pipettes
Assist with waste disposal following local procedures
Respond to requests and accurately communicate information and results to other laboratory staff, as required

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 standards

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
Take responsibility for stock control in the FW&E laboratory, ensuring sufficient stock levels are maintained for efficient service provision

Strategy, Policy and Service Development

Support the implementation of new methods and technologies into the laboratory, in order to maximise quality and efficiency of testing

IT Infrastructure

Become competent in the use of the laboratory’s IT systems and assist with the basic inputting of data into the system

Security / Health & Safety

Ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act, Caldicott principles and the Laboratory Information Systems and Technology Security policy
Ensure attendance of self and managed staff on safety training courses as required in the UKHSA Health and Safety Training Policy and other safety policies as appropriate.
Ensure that a Laboratory/Office Safety Code is implemented
Ensure that risk assessments are implemented and maintained
Notify accidents, near misses, dangerous situations and shortcomings in health and safety via the appropriate management structure

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

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:

Good standard of general education i.e. GCSE’s (grade C or above) in English, maths and science or educated to NVQ 2 level in a relevant subject, or equivalent level of qualification, or significant equivalent previous proven experience
Previous experience of working in an administrative environment using computerised data systems
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word and Excel
Good manual dexterity skills and confidence handling pathogens
Clear communicator with good writing, data entry and telephone skills ensuring accuracy
Ability to work effectively as part of a team
Demonstrate a high level of motivation and commitment to high standards
An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable

Educated to A Level/NVQ level 3 standard or equivalent
Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures
Previous experience of working in a laboratory
Experience of managing and communicating sensitive/confidential information

For a full list of essential criteria, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application
750 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.

Please do not exceed 750 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.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview.

Behaviour's and strengths will be tested at interview.

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

Working Together
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace

Interviews will be held week commencing TBC. 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.

Location

This role is being offered as office working based at:

York Biotech Campus
Sand Hutton,
York
YO41 1LZ

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.  

Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC).

Person specification

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Essential criteria

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential criteria

Working Together
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)

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.

The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.

For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.

For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment.  If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You can not take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy. 

Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.

Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via  email:  [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here.

Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.

Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.

UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.

If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

 Benefits of working at UKHSA include:

Generous annual leave:
-26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
-28 days after 5 years of continuous service
-32 days after 10 years of continuous service
-Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday
Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.

Hybrid Working

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.

As a hybrid worker, you will usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.

Disability Confident Scheme

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview.   If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.

To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.

This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police Check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and could be time accrued over that period.