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.

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

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