Head of Virus Reference Department

Job summary
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 and scientific leadership as Clinical Lead for the Virus Reference Department (VRD) 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 VRD and Bacteriology Reference Department (BRD) at Colindale as well as in UKHSA's Chief Medical Advisor Group.

The postholder will provide scientific leadership and management in VRD, clinical advice, virology expertise to UKHSA and service users, contribute to strategic, academic and operational aspects of service delivery and development, and maintain oversight of clinical governance in VRD.

APPOINTMENT

• This post is for a Consultant Medical Virologist or Infectious Diseases Physician with a special interest in Virology or Consultant Clinical Scientist to be employed as Clinical Lead for VRD 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 VRD 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, virus culture and characterisation, antiviral susceptibility testing, and methodology development, evaluation, validation and verification (Virus Reference Department (VRD): user manual - GOV.UK). VRD 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 eight units are accredited to ISO 15189 by UKAS.

• Antiviral Unit (AVU)
• Blood Borne virus unit (BBVU)
• Clinical Services Unit (CSU)
• Enteric Virus Unit (EVU)
• Immunisation & Diagnosis Unit (IDU)
• Human Papillomavirus Unit (HPVU)
• Respiratory Virus Unit (RVU)
• Polio Reference Service (PRS)

Working together with other parts of UKHSA, VRD 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 and response to new and emerging viral threats and plays an important role in teaching and training and providing subject matter expertise to all grades of professional, nursing, scientific and technical staff.

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

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

• Provide oversight and leadership on clinical aspects, clinical risk management and clinical governance for services provided by VRD, and contribute to scientific, strategic and operational aspects of service delivery and development in VRD.
• Lead and manage the delivery of a national programme of work related to development and improvement of surveillance, investigation, prevention and control of viral infections across a range of specific areas in VRD.
• Lead and contribute general clinical support, for example by providing expert clinical virology interpretation and medical advice and responding to medical queries relevant to VRDs services
• Provide leadership, support and expertise to the Deputy Director and to work with the Clinical Lead of BRD, especially with various aspects of strategic planning, research and development, including clinical review and validation of new assays.
• Support teaching and training initiatives related to the Division, including for medical, STP and HSST trainees.
• Provide clinical and scientific leadership and subject matter expertise as part of UKHSAs response to national standard and enhanced incidents, which may include membership of Incident Management Teams, setting up and running a Laboratory Cell response or serving as an Incident Director as part of a rota.
• Act as a key member of UKHSAs multidisciplinary team delivering outbreak detection, prevention, and control nationally.

In addition:

• VRD, with the Immunisation division, provides a national clinical Rabies and Immunoglobulin advisory service to which the post-holder will be expected to contribute.
• UKHSA Colindale provides an out-of-hours clinical on-call service for provision of advice on Rabies, VZIG, other immunoglobulins and anti-toxins and a range of public health and microbiological issues to which the postholder will be expected to contribute. This is a shared service with Consultant Epidemiologists and Microbiologists.
• The post holder will be expected to contribute to an integrated daily clinical virology advice service provided by the medical staff at Colindale, including those that are based in other divisions.

For full details, please see attached Job Description & Person Specification.

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)
• 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.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Medical practitioners must have Full and Specialist registration (and with alicence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) for MedicalMicrobiology/Virology and/or Infectious Diseases Clinical Scientists must haveRegistration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in anappropriate discipline.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.
We will only take through applications that meet all essential criteria.
Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

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 Virology Reference Services?

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 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.
Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or eligibility within six months of interview).
Nonmedical applicants who are not yet fully registered with the UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within six months of gaining specialist registration at the date of interview. All other nonmedical applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the UKPHR Specialist Register (for example, confirmation that a UKPHR specialist portfolio has been submitted).

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. Based at our scientific campus, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

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

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential
  • Medical practitioners must have Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) for Medical Microbiology/Virology and/or Infectious Diseases Clinical Scientists must have Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in an appropriate discipline.
  • Medical practitioners must have MBBS or equivalent medical qualification Clinical Scientists must have a PhD in virology / molecular biology
  • Medical practitioners must be UK trained and ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT Clinical Scientists must have FRCPath in Microbiology or Virology by examination or MRCP if applying as an ID physician
  • Clinical Scientists must have evidence of continuing professional development (existing consultants must be able to demonstrate active participation in recognised CPD scheme)
• Desirable
  • For medically qualified applicants, an MD or PhD in virology / molecular biology

Knowledge and Experience

• Essential
  • Proven track record of clinical virology experience with broad experience of laboratory methods, suitable for diagnostic and reference and/or research purposes
  • Experience of public health microbiology, and understands the role of the UKHSA and the importance of a good relationship with staff and stakeholders
  • Evidence of clinical risk management and of leadership and promotion of good Clinical Governance and of contributing to investigating issues arising
  • Understands quality assurance principles, safety requirements and procedures

Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours

• Essential
  • Leadership: able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate and get the best out of people
  • Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner and to work across organizational boundaries
  • Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance
• Desirable
  • Active interest in research and development in virology evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations, prizes and/or honours
  • Understanding of WHO global eradication programmes (e.g. GAPIII for polio) and issues of containment and exposures
  • Experience in teaching and training both medical and non-medical staff stakeholders

Equality and Diversity

• Essential
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: UK Health Security Agency
Address: Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Deputy Director, Public Health Microbiology
Tamyo Mbisa
Tamyo.Mbisa@ukhsa.gov.uk