Head of Virus Reference Department 919-HM-301316-EXT | Trac ID: 8002076

UK Health Security Agency -
Colindale

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Job details

Permanent | Part-time | Full-time
£109,725 - £145,478 a year
2 days ago

Benefits

Company pension
Pay rise

Qualifications

Biology
Microbiology
GMC
Doctoral degree
Laboratory experience
HCPC
Quality assurance
Presentation skills
Public health
Leadership
Teaching
Nursing

Full job description

Details

Reference number

461660

Salary

£109,725 - £145,478

per annum, pro rata

GBP

Job grade

Other

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant or Agenda for Change band 9

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Health Adviser
Health Professionals
Medical
Senior leadership

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using 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 be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at our campus. Based at our scientific campus, 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. 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.

About the job

Job summary

This senior post is based on the Colindale site but will work with and provide expertise to other UKHSA sites as required. The post-holder will provide clinical and scientific leadership as Clinical Lead for the Virus Reference Department (VRD) within the Reference Services Division, which is part of the Public Health microbiology Directorate in UKHSAs Science Group. There is a cadre of consultant medical staff based in VRD and Bacteriology Reference Department (BRD) at Colindale as well as in UKHSAs Chief Medical Advisor Group.

The postholder will provide scientific leadership and management in VRD, clinical advice, virology expertise to UKHSA and service users, contribute to strategic, academic and operational aspects of service delivery and development, and maintain oversight of clinical governance in VRD.

APPOINTMENT

This post is for a Consultant Medical Virologist or Infectious Diseases Physician with a special interest in Virology or Consultant Clinical Scientist to be employed as Clinical Lead for VRD by the UKHSA.
A detailed job plan will be agreed on appointment between the post-holder and the Deputy Director, Public Health Microbiology, Reference Services.
The job plan for this role will comprise up to 10 Programmed Activities (PAs) / 5 days per week, Applications from those wanting part-time, job-share or flexible working welcomed

This is a permanent appointment.

Working for your 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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

Clinical samples and isolates are received by VRD from public health departments, the National Health Service and commercial laboratories across the UK and internationally. Services include development and delivery of specialist molecular and serological diagnostics, complex reference testing, virus culture and characterisation, antiviral susceptibility testing, and methodology development, evaluation, validation and verification (Virus Reference Department (VRD): user manual - GOV.UK). VRD contributes to and where appropriate leads national incident responses, national guidance development, disease surveillance programmes, and epidemiology, investigation of national, uncommon, high consequence and complex outbreaks, response to international health alerts. Its eight units are accredited to ISO 15189 by UKAS.

Antiviral Unit (AVU)
Blood Borne virus unit (BBVU)
Clinical Services Unit (CSU)
Enteric Virus Unit (EVU)
Immunisation & Diagnosis Unit (IDU)
Human Papillomavirus Unit (HPVU)
Respiratory Virus Unit (RVU)
Polio Reference Service (PRS)

Working together with other parts of UKHSA, VRD has a key role in provision of expert scientific, clinical and topic specific advice to government departments and other national and international agencies, risk assessment and response to new and emerging viral threats and plays an important role in teaching and training and providing subject matter expertise to all grades of professional, nursing, scientific and technical staff.

The Clinical Lead for VRD will be expected to fulfil duties and responsibilities in the following broad areas:

Provide oversight and leadership on clinical aspects, clinical risk management and clinical governance for services provided by VRD, and contribute to scientific, strategic and operational aspects of service delivery and development in VRD.
Lead and manage the delivery of a national programme of work related to development and improvement of surveillance, investigation, prevention and control of viral infections across a range of specific areas in VRD.
Lead and contribute general clinical support, for example by providing expert clinical virology interpretation and medical advice and responding to medical queries relevant to VRDs services
Provide leadership, support and expertise to the Deputy Director and to work with the Clinical Lead of BRD, especially with various aspects of strategic planning, research and development, including clinical review and validation of new assays.
Support teaching and training initiatives related to the Division, including for medical, STP and HSST trainees.
Provide clinical and scientific leadership and subject matter expertise as part of UKHSAs response to national standard and enhanced incidents, which may include membership of Incident Management Teams, setting up and running a Laboratory Cell response or serving as an Incident Director as part of a rota.
Act as a key member of UKHSAs multidisciplinary team delivering outbreak detection, prevention, and control nationally.

In addition:

VRD, with the Immunisation division, provides a national clinical Rabies and Immunoglobulin advisory service to which the post-holder will be expected to contribute.
UKHSA Colindale provides an out-of-hours clinical on-call service for provision of advice on Rabies, VZIG, other immunoglobulins and anti-toxins and a range of public health and microbiological issues to which the postholder will be expected to contribute. This is a shared service with Consultant Epidemiologists and Microbiologists.
The post holder will be expected to contribute to an integrated daily clinical virology advice service provided by the medical staff at Colindale, including those that are based in other divisions.

HEALTH & SAFETY

The post holder will undertake the following:

Provide medical advice through relevant channels for relevant aspects of health and safety, and welfare of self, staff and visitors across the specific area of responsibility.
Ensure health, safety and welfare are afforded priority and to lead by example.
Support the implementation of the UKHSA Health and Safety Training Policy, including training on post-exposure risk assessment and management
Work with the Management Team to review risk assessments for any new and existing work. Help ensure that clinical advice on risk assessment and post exposure management advice is up to date.
Report risks that cannot be controlled to the Deputy Director and help ensure that appropriate risk registers are completed and include all controlled and uncontrolled risks.
Support the VRD and Reference Services Management Teams at Safety Meetings and raise relevant microbiological and clinical safety issues at the various relevant meetings.
Your attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which requires you to take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and others which may be affected by your acts and omissions at work; and co-operate with the UKHSA on matters of health and safety.

JOB PLAN

The details of the job plan will be agreed on appointment and will be reviewed after six months. Either party may request a job plan review at any time.

Up to 8 PAs / 4 days for (i) Clinical / Public Health Virology Service role, including teaching and training (ii) specialist input into one or more VRD Reference Units and Service Development including translational research and audit. This may also include up to 2 PAs for sessions as a clinical virologist or ID physician at a London hospital to be arranged according to priorities related to the post.
2.0 PA / 1 day Supporting Activities (SPAs) - Supporting activities have been allocated 2.0 PA in this role as it is envisaged that audit, training and translational research will be an integral part of the Clinical Consultant Virology / ID Physician role

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Medical practitioners must have Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) for Medical Microbiology/Virology and/or Infectious Diseases Clinical Scientists must have Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in an appropriate discipline.
Medical practitioners must have MBBS or equivalent medical qualification Clinical Scientists must have a PhD in virology / molecular biology
Medical practitioners must be UK trained and ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT Clinical Scientists must have FRCPath in Microbiology or Virology by examination or MRCP if applying as an ID physician
Clinical Scientists must have evidence of continuing professional development (existing consultants must be able to demonstrate active participation in recognised CPD scheme)

Desirable criteria

For medically qualified applicants, an MD or PhD in virology / molecular biology

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

Proven track record of clinical virology experience with broad experience of laboratory methods, suitable for diagnostic and reference and/or research purposes
Experience of public health microbiology, and understands the role of the UKHSA and the importance of a good relationship with staff and stakeholders
Evidence of clinical risk management and of leadership and promotion of good Clinical Governance and of contributing to investigating issues arising
Understands quality assurance principles, safety requirements and procedures

Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours

Essential criteria

Leadership: able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate and get the best out of people
Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner and to work across organizational boundaries
Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance

Desirable criteria

Active interest in research and development in virology evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations, prizes and/or honours
Understanding of WHO global eradication programmes (e.g. GAPIII for polio) and issues of containment and exposures
Experience in teaching and training both medical and non-medical staff stakeholders

Equality and Diversity

Essential criteria

An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

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.

AfC Band 9 (UKPHR)

£112,782 - £129,783 (plus 15% basic salary to a maximum £6,137)

Consultant (GMC)

£109,725 - £145,478 (plus £2,162 London Weighting)

UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the Job Description & Person Specification attached to this vacancy advert.

You will be required to complete an:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
1000 word Statement of Suitability/ behaviour statements / technical statements

Health jobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000.

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.

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 be advised you 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.

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

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

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

Medical practitioners must have Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) for Medical Microbiology/Virology and/or Infectious Diseases Clinical Scientists must have Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in an
appropriate discipline.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

We will only take through applications that meet all essential criteria.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a remote interview.

Interview dates to be confirmed.

A 10 minute Presentation will be required on the following:

What is your vision for National Public Health Virology Reference Services?

This vacancy is being assessed using a competency based method. During the interview we will assess against the below:

Knowledge
Experience
Skills and Abilities

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

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 9.

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)

If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice

Public Health Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.

Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or eligibility within six months of interview).

Non‑medical applicants who are not yet fully registered with the UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within six months of gaining specialist registration at the date of interview. All other non‑medical applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the UKPHR Specialist Register (for example, confirmation that a UKPHR specialist portfolio has been submitted).

Security Clearance

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-terrorist Check.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicants 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.

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: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

NHS Pension

This role is offered under Agenda for Change (AFC) Terms and Conditions.

If you are already on AFC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AFC Pension.
If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing, substantive T&Cs.
If the role is available under either AFC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're
appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .

See our vetting charter .

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

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)
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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .

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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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 : Tamyo Mbisa
Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

Email : [email protected]

Further information

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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Follow link to apply

www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v8002076

Apply Now

Details

Reference number

Salary

Job grade

Contract type

Type of role

Working pattern

Number of jobs available

Contents

Location

About the job

Job summary

Working for your organisation

Job description

Person specification

Benefits

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Selection process details

Security

Nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

Diversity and Inclusion

Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Recruitment team

Further information

Follow link to apply

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