Consultant in Infection in Salisbury

The Rare & Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) provides frontline clinical specialist diagnostics and advice for rare, imported or hazardous infections. The RIPL clinical/science team has 19 staff (16 whole time equivalent) including medical consultants, a clinical scientist, senior scientists, and registrars/clinical fellows. Operational management and dedicated diagnostic development support are provided by associated units on the Porton site. A key programme is the national Imported Fever Service, a joint venture between RIPL and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (part of UCLH) and the Royal Liverpool Hospital's Tropical and Infectious Disease Unit. RIPL is also the National Laboratory for Lyme disease and provides a specialist clinical advice service.

RIPL provides a reference diagnostic services for a wide range of zoonotic, imported, and dangerous pathogens including viral haemorrhagic fevers, the arbovirus group, hantaviruses, rickettsia and coxiella, anthrax, leptospirosis, tularaemia and other biothreat agents. RIPL team members are highly research-active and work closely with wider research teams across UKHSA, including on biosafety and containment, diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutic development, and public health research studies.

UKHSA Porton hosts an environmental laboratory testing samples for a range of pathogens from potentially contaminated sites. The site also includes facilities for studies on disease pathogenesis, and testing vaccines and therapeutics against dangerous infectious diseases, and there is a small vaccine production unit. The post-holder is also expected to work closely with the relevant teams at Porton and at other UKHSA sites.

The RIPL team also contributes to the UKHSA Rabies service, which is a cross-directorate, cross-group service delivered by multiple groups. The aim of this post is to consolidate some of the rabies activities in line with the development of testing services at Porton. The postholder will also contribute to the wider work of RIPL and will be expected to develop experience in risk assessment and management for the other RIPL-relevant infectious agents, as well as aspects of preventing contamination, environmental sampling and decontamination. They will provide expert consultant support for RIPL and the Imported Fever Service and will be a key part of the team offering advice on diagnosis, management, and infection control for these agents.

Lead the development of the clinical service for Rabies virus, including working with APHA and key laboratory personnel in UKHSA to improve national testing capabilities, oversight and clinical governance. Lead on development of national guidelines as required.

In addition to the above, the post holder is expected to:

• Actively assist in the development of joint plans and system wide priorities for public health action or improvement.
• Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements at all times.
• Work with Health Protection Services and relevant UKHSA departments to support surveillance and prevention programmes.
• Actively identify, lead, and contribute to quality improvement and governance initiatives in line with strategic direction of the organisation.
• Contribute to proactive and responsive media issues.
• Provide clinical/professional supervision and mentorship.
• Participate in organisational and professional appraisal and revalidation.
• Be committed to Continuing Medical Education & Development and the requirements of Clinical Governance and Audit.

This vacancy is using Competency. At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the job advert. You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability outlining how your skills, experience, and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

Hybrid working is attached to a specific Scientific Campus. This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Porton. 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.

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

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.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: Registered medical practitioner, with full General Medical Council (GMC) registration and a license to practice.
• Experience: Experience in Microbiological/virological aspects of infection control in hospitals, public places, and the environment.
• Skills and Ability: Ability to offer an expert clinical and clinical laboratory opinion on a range of problems relating to Microbiology & Virology in primary care, inpatient and tertiary referral settings.
• Behaviours: Commitment to team-working and respect and consideration for the skills of others.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.