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Job summary

Main area
Administration
Grade
Civil Service: Administrative Officer (AO)
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
919-UKHSA00200
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester labs
Town
Manchester
Salary
£22,370 - £24,184 AO National
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
Today at 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Healthcare Scientific Support Worker/Medical Laboratory Assistant

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.

Job overview

  • Grade & Salary:  AO (National) £22370 - £24184
  • Location: Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, M13 9WL
This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest microbiology departments in England as an AO grade Healthcare Scientific Support Worker/Medical Laboratory Assistant. The Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership (MMMP) is a collaboration between UKHSA and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The microbiology partnership provides comprehensive routine services and specialist services to a wide range of hospitals across the North West and beyond and also assists in any UKHSA co-ordinated responses or activity of a national/international nature, e.g. Bioterrorism incident or major disease e.g enteric outbreaks, COVID19, SARS.

The department employs around 130 staff and has a workload in excess of 1.2 million specimens covering major clinical specialties including  respiratory medicine, transplantation, burns, renal medicine, urology & paediatrics.
 
The department embraces all aspects of a modern clinical bacteriology service combining traditional methodologies with laboratory automation.

The post holder will act as a laboratory assistant to provide support to the scientific team providing services to patients and clients as an aid to clinical diagnosis.
 
You will be expected to work 37.5 hours, flexible between the
hours of 8am - 8pm Monday to Sunday.

Main duties of the job

Your main duties would include:

  • Working as part of Laboratory Team
  • Rotate through various managed units within
    Microbiology
  • 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 manual, semi-automated and automated
    tests according to protocols.
  • Disposal of patient samples in accordance with
    relevant guidelines
  • Autoclaving of waste material and patient samples
    (involves moderate lifting).
  • Portering duties
  • Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory
    Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Your responsibilities would include:
 
  • 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.
  • You would be using automated equipment and assist with its maintenance within Containment Level 2 laboratories.
  • You would need to participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities, and assist the department in maintaining UKAS accreditation.
  • The postholder would participate in audit processes, drug trials, research projects as required. You would be assisting in the production of bacteriological culture media.
  • You may be expected to provide emergency cover between the laboratories at Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership.
 

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. 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 by video or onsite face to face.   

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. 

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

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.

Please note that you may be required to provide a presentation or undertake a test at interview.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the full job description.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 2nd 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.

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential criteria
  • • GCSE or Equivalent
  • • Previously worked in a laboratory
  • • Experience of working in a health care environment
  • • Clear communicator with good writing, data entry and telephone skills ensuring accuracy.
  • • Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
  • • Problem solving skills.
  • • Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines.
  • • An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
  • • Good time keeping.
  • • Flexible approach to work.
  • • Ability to follow written protocols.
Desirable criteria
  • • Evidence of ongoing training and development.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Purple SpaceApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Carer Confident -AccomplishedHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jon Payne
Job title
RPO Talent Partner
Email address
[email protected]
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