This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
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Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
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1,000 word Supporting Statement
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500 but your supporting statement must be no more than1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.
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 CV. 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 will longlist into 3 piles of:
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Meets all essential criteria
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Meets some essential criteria
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Meets no essential criteria
If used, the pile(s) Meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of :
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Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration as Biomedical Scientist
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Microbiology Laboratory Experience working within a microbiology or virology laboratory molecular and serological assay development, validation, and service delivery
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Knows and understands quality assurance and laboratory safety requirements and procedures
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a ( single )face to face interview at UKHSA, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HT.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview .
Interviews dates to be confirmed
Eligibility Criteria - External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants)
Location - Colindale ( London )
This role is being offered as lab based at our site in Colindale. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
You will be required to have 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.
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.
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/
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.
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.
Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Security Clearance Level Requirement - Basic DBS + CTC
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:
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Baseline Personnel Security Standard
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Counter-Terrorist Check
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
