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Autoclave/Stores Healthcare Scientific Support Worker

UK Health Security Agency

Manchester

On-site

GBP 24,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

An established health security agency is seeking a dedicated individual to assist in laboratory services. This role involves maintaining stock levels, managing waste disposal, and ensuring compliance with health and safety protocols. The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic environment, contributing to the nation's health security efforts. With opportunities for learning and development, this position offers a unique chance to be part of a team that makes a real difference in public health. If you are detail-oriented and enjoy working collaboratively, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension with employer contribution

Learning and development opportunities

Inclusive workplace culture

Qualifications

Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Organizing and prioritizing workload to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

Assist in maintaining laboratory services and stock levels.
Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels and prepare orders.

Skills

Clear Communication

Data Entry

Problem Solving

Attention to Detail

Tools

Autoclave

Laboratory Equipment

Manchester, North West England, M13 9WL

Job Summary

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.

The post-holder will assist with the ordering, receipt and issue of consumables and for the safe custody of the laboratory stores. You will be required to work within a rotational shift pattern, which may include shifts throughout a 24 hours a day/7days per week period, to meet the service needs of the department and assist in maintaining laboratory services.

The Post Holder Will

Assist in maintaining Laboratory Services.
Have good accuracy and attention to detail.
Assist with autoclaving of waste material and patient samples (involves moderate lifting).
Assist with the disposal of tissue and patient samples in accordance with relevant guidelines.
Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels, receipt of deliveries and preparation of orders.

Job Description

Your key responsibilities will include:

Wash-up/sterilisation: use of equipment including autoclaves and ovens, collection and disposal of discard material/wash-up and preparation of glassware etc
Autoclaving of waste material and patient samples (involves moderate lifting).
Disposal of tissue and patient samples in accordance with relevant guidelines.
Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels, receipt of deliveries and preparation of orders.
Responsible for monitoring and maintain appropriate stock levels of pre-poured culture plates and preparation of weekly media orders for external media suppliers.
Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Dealing with visitors and other departmental deliveries.
Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and laboratory areas.
Monitoring and routine maintenance of equipment.
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, GP’s and other hospitals
Demonstrate systems and department requirements to new starters.
To participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining UKAS accreditation.
To participate in audit processes, drug trials, research projects as required in preparation of reagents and media supplies.
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.

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.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include

Wash-up/sterilisation: use of equipment including autoclaves and ovens, collection and disposal of discard material/wash-up and preparation of glassware etc
Autoclaving of waste material and patient samples (involves moderate lifting).
Disposal of tissue and patient samples in accordance with relevant guidelines.
Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels, receipt of deliveries and preparation of orders.
Responsible for monitoring and maintain appropriate stock levels of pre-poured culture plates and preparation of weekly media orders for external media suppliers.
Work in a safe manner in accordance with Laboratory Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Dealing with visitors and other departmental deliveries.
Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and laboratory areas.
Monitoring and routine maintenance of equipment.
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, GP’s and other hospitals
Demonstrate systems and department requirements to new starters.
To participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining UKAS accreditation.
To participate in audit processes, drug trials, research projects as required in preparation of reagents and media supplies.
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.

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 deadline
An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust
Good time keeping
Flexible approach to work
Ability to follow written protocols
An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Alongside your salary of £23,875, UK Health Security Agency contributes £6,916 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your knowledge and experience, and/or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Required

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 9 essential criteria listed, 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.

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

Meets all essential criteria
Meets some essential criteria
Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essential criteria will be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

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

Clear communicator with good writing, data entry and telephone skills ensuring accuracy

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.

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 (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview in Manchester. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

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 Manchester.

If based at one of our labs you will be required to have a minimum of 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).

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 consider 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/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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.

Organisation info

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

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

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 it could be time accrued over that period.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

Name : Harry McCullagh
Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk 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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/

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