Consultant Medical Virologist in Birmingham

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods. We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.

This is a full-time post for virology services at UKHSA Clinical Network Laboratory, Birmingham, providing Consultant level input into the laboratory, clinical virology and public health service. The post is based at the Lead Public Health Laboratory for the Midlands which is situated at the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (Teaching). However, it is a requirement of employment that the post holder be prepared to work at any additional or different location owned or served by the trust, either on an on-going or temporary basis according to the demands of the service.

The provision of clinical virology services at Good Hope, Solihull, Birmingham Heartlands Hospitals and Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be by rotation and in partnership with other infection service consultants. In addition to the clinical virology service, the post holder will be providing public health functions for the Midlands Region.

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• Work with colleagues for the provision of a comprehensive clinical medical virology service including: advice regarding appropriate specimens, involvement in specimen analysis, validation and interpretation of results for transmission to service users. Appropriate involvement in policies guidelines and standard operating procedures preparation, relevant to consultant virologist duties. On-call duty will be shared equitably with the other consultants in virology and will involve supervision and support of the on-call Specialist Trainees on front-line duty and provision for cover for consultant colleagues’ periods of leave. The on-call support is generally through telephone consultation and only on rare occasions is attendance necessary.
• In conjunction with the other infection (microbiology, virology, infectious diseases, and immunology) consultants, provide ward-based and telephone advice on the prevention, diagnosis and management of infection in individual patients and outbreaks of infection. This will involve ad hoc clinical consults arising from referrals or significant laboratory results, attending multi-disciplinary clinical meetings and regular ward rounds.
• Collaborate with colleagues in UKHSABPHL and Infectious Disease Unit in delivering a joint infection service for the host Trust and other users of the service.

Working for our 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Develop specialist expertise for services in accordance with the needs of the clinical service.
• Provision, with consultant and other colleagues, and when necessary, with the support of Microbiology Services Colindale, of microbiological and epidemiological support, including surveillance, for Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, Environmental Health Officers, DH and others, and for clinical staff in hospitals and the community, within the catchment area of the Laboratory.
• Collaboration with UKHSA central reference and epidemiological facilities in the reporting and investigation of infections, control of outbreaks, assessment of vaccines, development of laboratory methods, involvement in surveys, etc.
• Professional supervision, training and management of junior medical staff.
• Responsibilities for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and for contributing to postgraduate and continuing professional development activities locally and nationally.
• Research activities consistent with the priorities of the UKHSA and subject to the availability of funding and resources.
• Participation in medical audit, quality control and clinical governance within the laboratory.
• Participation in the RCPath or the RCP scheme of Continuing Professional Development. Study leave will be available in accordance with the terms and conditions of service for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff England and Wales. Funding will be available for agreed purposes.
• Is responsible for the medical authorisation of reports and issuing clinical advice for Antenatal and New Born (ANNB) screening programme.
• Participation in arrangements within the UKHSA for appraisal, revalidation and career development.
• Such additional duties as may be required from time to time by the Clinical Service Director after appropriate consultation.
• Ensure that expert virological advice is available to HPTs and Local Authorities in the management of infections or infectious diseases in the community.

Benefits of working at UKHSA include:

• Generous annual leave: 26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service, 28 days after 5 years of continuous service, 32 days after 10 years of continuous service, plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours).
• A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.

Hybrid Working:

UKHSA operates 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.