Healthcare Scientist Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; London Borough of Barnet; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

UK Health Security Agency in London is seeking a Healthcare Scientist Practitioner to provide an analytical microbiology service across diverse samples, supporting outbreak investigations and routine control. You will supervise daily lab operations, interpret results, and liaise with clinical and public health colleagues.

The role requires HCPC registration, a science degree with microbiology experience, and a strong grasp of quality management and UKAS accreditation.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) science degree or BTEC with microbiology experience, or equivalent laboratory experience
• HCPC registration as a healthcare science practitioner
• Knowledge of quality management systems and UKAS accreditation

Responsibilities

• Provide an analytical service producing accurate results and reports
• Carry out full microbiological analysis of a wide range of samples, including test selection
• Handle sample reception and pre-analysis processing, ensuring samples are valid and appropriately tested
• Assist with supervision of the day-to-day running of the laboratory
• Take responsibility for day-to-day supervision of less experienced staff
• Report routine results to customers, including interpreting written and verbal results
• Escalate important or unusual results, complaints and anomalies promptly
• Assist in managing outbreaks and liaise with medical, scientific and other UKHSA staff
• Support the quality system and ISO 17025 accreditation, in line with UKAS requirements
• Keep high-cost, complex equipment running efficiently, including calibration and routine maintenance
• Manage receipt, storage, verification and use of reagents and consumables
• Support service development, new methods, surveys, trials, research and periodic method reviews

Skills

Quality management

UKAS accreditation

Safety procedures

Interpersonal communication

Problem solving

Initiative

Education

BSc (Hons) science or BTEC with microbiology experience

Job description

This Healthcare Scientist Practitioner post sits in UKHSA's London Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology laboratory, serving local authorities, port health, hospitals and commercial clients. The core work is microbiological analysis of food, water and environmental samples to support outbreak investigations and routine control, with results reported to customers. The role also covers sample reception, supervision of day-to-day lab work and support for the quality system. Selection uses Success Profiles and a technical test, and the post needs Counter Terrorist Check clearance.

What the job involves

• Provide an analytical service producing accurate results and reports
• Carry out full microbiological analysis of a wide range of samples, including test selection
• Handle sample reception and pre-analysis processing, ensuring samples are valid and appropriately tested
• Assist with supervision of the day-to-day running of the laboratory
• Take responsibility for day-to-day supervision of less experienced staff
• Report routine results to customers, including interpreting written and verbal results
• Escalate important or unusual results, complaints and anomalies promptly
• Assist in managing outbreaks and liaise with medical, scientific and other UKHSA staff
• Support the quality system and ISO 17025 accreditation, in line with UKAS requirements
• Keep high-cost, complex equipment running efficiently, including calibration and routine maintenance
• Manage receipt, storage, verification and use of reagents and consumables
• Support service development, new methods, surveys, trials, research and periodic method reviews

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) science degree or BTEC with previous microbiology experience, or equivalent laboratory experience

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration as a healthcare science practitioner

Skills & knowledge

• Understanding of quality management systems, especially UKAS accreditation
• Knowledge of laboratory safety requirements and procedures
• Communicating complex information, with developed interpersonal, oral and written skills
• Problem solving and responding to sudden, unexpected demands
• Working on own initiative with minimal supervision to tight, often changing timescales

Checks & eligibility

• Counter Terrorist Check clearance as a minimum, normally after three years' UK residence
• Basic disclosure and barring (DBS) check before appointment

Other

• Values diversity and difference, and operates with integrity and openness