About this role
Job summary
High Containment and Biological Services operate within and supports the wider UKHSA mission to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. The Biological Services Group provides high containment in-vivo research services, with the primary aim of protecting the UK public from a range of health risks. Ongoing areas of work include vaccine batch release testing, influenza, COVID-19, tuberculosis, anthrax, and emerging human pathogens.
The post holder will be expected to achieve and maintain the listed responsibilities and criteria to meet the requirements of the role. It is not expected that an applicant will meet all requirements on appointment, but would be able to achieve, and maintain, competency through provided training.
Main duties of the job
Work within the team to provide the highest standards of care and welfare while facilitating regulated scientific procedures. Carrying out general husbandryduties. Monitoring health, identifying pain or distress and reporting these to the appropriate named people. Maintain training. Liaise with scientific groupsensuring accurate data is delivered.
About us
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
Job description Job responsibilities
Work with the team to provide animal care and welfare of the highest standard. Recognise, report and record ill health and welfare issues. Communicate and document issues to relevant team members, e.g. NACWO, NVS, Study Director. Carry out general husbandry duties. Work safely with animal species infected with high consequence pathogens in a variety of laboratory facilities and primary containment. Hold a Home Office Procedural Individual License Module A/B in required species. Carry out regulated and non-regulated procedures within a high containment environment. Record all information regarding duties performed in relevant documentation and within specific guidelines. Operate and maintain specialist equipment, e.g. x-ray machine, MSCII, and downdraught tables. Assist with the supervision of specific designated areas such as the prep-room, surgical procedures room, sample receipt and storage areas. Support trainees as required in all their activities and ensure they are adequately trained in all operational processes requirements. Take part in rota system for weekend and public holiday working and essential out of hours scoring of animals in study. To ensure all assistants and self are wearing suitable protective personal equipment in accordance with departmental and UK Health Security Agency Protective Personal Equipment policy To fulfil the requirements of UKHSA values and behaviours commensurate with grade. To comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures. The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.
You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.
Essential criteria
Good general education with GCSE (or equivalent) certification in Science/English/Maths Grade C/4 and above or equivalent experience in an animal based role Can demonstrate reliability & the ability to work as part of a team and communicate effectively with peers, managers, and scientists Ability to keep detailed and accurate records Computer literate in Microsoft Office Available to work weekends / bank holidays Willingness to undergo vaccinations as determined by work Ability and willingness to undergo, and maintain, DoH SC level security clearance Able to travel independently to work Understanding of why animals are used for research purposes Desirable criteria
Experience in laboratory Animal Husbandry Experience of working in a high containment facility. Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Ability/Experience.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed 9 essential criteria,and this will be in the form ofa:
Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1200 word supporting statement. This should outline how you consider your skills,experienceandknowledgeprovide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please beadvisedyou will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.
HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1200 words. We will not consider any words over 1200 words.
In the event ofa large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria If used, the pilesMeets all essential criteria and Meets some essential criteria willproceedto shortlisting.
In the event ofa large number ofapplications wemay conductan initialsift, on the lead criteria of:
Understanding of why animals are used for research purposes Can demonstrate reliability & the ability to work as part of a team and communicate effectively with peers, managers, and scientists Desirable criteria may be used in the event ofa large number ofapplications/largeamountof successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2:Interview
You will be invited to a single face to face interview at BIG, Porton Down, Manor Farm Road, Salisbury, SP4 0JG
If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Behaviours/Ability/Experience will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
Working Together (Lead behaviour) Changing and Improving Delivering at Pace Interviewsdates are to be confirmed.
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 lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton (Salisbury).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check (SC).
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 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. 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
External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).
Salary Information
If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
Person Specification
Application form and supporting statement Essential
Application form and supporting statement
Interview - Behaviours Essential
Changing and improving Working together Delivering at pace
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name UK Health Security Agency
Address Scientific Campus
Porton (Salisbury)
SP4 0JG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)