Healthcare Scientific Support Worker - Bacteriology

We are looking for a Healthcare Scientist Support Worker, to work in the laboratory in Bristol. The laboratory is situated within the Severn Pathology suite of laboratories at North Bristol NHS Trust Southmead site. The laboratory receives in excess of 1 million specimens a year from a large number of clinical specialties across the Bristol and Bath hospital trusts which contribute to an interesting and varied workload.

The scope of this role is to learn and maintain good laboratory practice in the interests of the departmental commitment to provide an efficient service and to become a positive member of a team or teams in the function of service provision.

The applicant must have a keen interest in science, educated to GCSE or O level in Maths and English and Sciences (or equivalent) .

The laboratory is accredited by UKAS and we actively encourage CPD activities.

In return we will provide a comprehensive induction programme and you will be appraised on a yearly basis with a view to developing knowledge and skills where appropriate.

The department requires staff to support 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.

Your key responsibilities will include:
Under the supervision of a State Registered Biomedical Scientist:

• To receive, sort, unpack, label and process specimens in the laboratory
• To understand the use of the laboratory information system (LIMS) and undertake data entry e.g. for samples received and referred.
• To maintain a high standard of competence in the performance of all tests appropriate to grade and investigations carried out in that area, following appropriate training.
• To perform general clerical duties e.g. photocopying, filing, telephone answering, dealing with queries from clients, customers and other NHS staff and to undertake data entry.
• To rotate through all relevant sections of the department as directed.
• To respond to changes in laboratory protocols as directed.
• To work in a conscientious and responsible manner ensuring care and accuracy.
• To help prepare and dispatch items/samples for referral, transport and posting.
• To issue specimen collection kits, containers and reagents to appropriate areas.
• To undertake sterilisation and disposal of laboratory waste including collection of discard and waste material, loading and unloading discard bins to autoclaves, transfer of laboratory waste to designated collection/disposal areas.

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.

For further information, please view the job description and person specification document that has been listed under the attachments for this advert.

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the person specification (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria. Please also see job description for competencies

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours/Strengths

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and achievements, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined.

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history (this will not be used in sifting process and will not be scored).

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single interview.

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on a blended interview against a mixture of Behaviours and Strength elements of Success Profiles.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Seeing the bigger picture
• Working together
• Developing self and others
• Delivering at pace

Strengths:

• Adaptable
• Precise
• Team Player

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