Head of Bacteriology Reference Department in London

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 leadership as Clinical Lead for the Bacteriology Reference Department (BRD) within the Reference Services Division, which is part of the Public Health Microbiology Directorate in UKHSA's Science Group. There is a cadre of consultant medical staff based in BRD and Virology Reference Department (VRD) at Colindale as well as in UKHSA's Chief Medical Advisor Group.

This will include maintaining oversight of clinical governance in BRD, providing scientific leadership, clinical advice and medical microbiology expertise to UKHSA and service users, and contributing to strategic, academic and operational aspects of service delivery and development.

Appointment

This post is for a Consultant Medical Microbiologist or Infectious Diseases Physician with a special interest in Bacteriology or Consultant Clinical Scientist to be employed as Clinical Lead for BRD 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.

Main duties of the job

Clinical samples and isolates are received by BRD 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, bacterial culture and characterization, antibacterial susceptibility testing, and methodology development, evaluation, validation and verification. BRD 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 four units are accredited to ISO 15189 and ISO 17025 by UKAS:

• The Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections (AMRHAI) reference unit
• The Gastrointestinal Reference Unit (GBRU)
• The Sexually Transmitted Infections Reference Laboratory (STIRL)
• The Respiratory and Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit (RVPBRU)

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.

Job responsibilities

Working together with other parts of UKHSA, BRD 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 for new and emerging microbiological threats and plays an important role in teaching and training organism-specific and subject matter expertise to all grades of professional, nursing, scientific and technical staff.

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

• Provide oversight leadership on clinical aspects, clinical risk management and clinical governance for services provided by BRD, and contribute to scientific, strategic and operational aspects of service delivery and development in BRD.
• Lead and manage the delivery of a national programme of work related to development and improvement of surveillance, investigation, prevention and control of bacterial infections across a range of specific areas in BRD.
• Lead and contribute to general clinical support (expert clinical microbiology interpretation and medical advice) dealing with outbreaks, incidents, events and queries relevant to BRD's services.
• Provide leadership, support and expertise to the Deputy Director for reference microbiology services and to work with the Clinical Lead of VRD, especially with various aspects of strategic planning, research and development, including validation and clinical review of new assays.

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

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) and a 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.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based)

You will be invited to a remote interview. Interviews dates to be confirmed. A 10 minute Presentation will be required on the following: What is your vision for National Public Health Bacteriology Reference Service? 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

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.

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.

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.

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 (HCAS - 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.