UK Health Security Agency
PDS Process Laboratory Technician (Bank)
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Chilton (Didcot - Scientific Campus)
Job Summary
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.
The Personal Dosimetry Service (PDS) is a commercial service, approved by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. PDS serves over 5,500 employers working with ionising radiations in the industrial, research and medical sectors, by assessing the radiation doses to their employees. This is carried out by means of passive personal dosemeters, which are worn by the employee for a period then returned to PDS for processing and reporting.
This post contributes to the health and safety of employees exposed to ionising radiation in their work environments and requires highly specialised technical, scientific and legislative knowledge and skills coupled with extensive relevant experience.
Job Description
The post holder will work as part of a team which is responsible for high-volume issuing and processing of various types of radiation dosemeter. This involves opening and receiving dosemeters in the post, loading dosemeters into equipment and monitoring performance, preparing dosemeters for issue to the customer and a small amount of data entry. This role is set in a scientific environment and requires operation of computers and laboratory equipment as well as an excellent level of customer care.
The post holder’s main duties will involve participating in the day-to-day work of the laboratories, maintaining a high level of accuracy in accordance with procedures. The work covers a wide range of tasks within the Laboratory.
This support is provided as part of a team, although the post holder may work unsupervised, carrying out straightforward functions such as dosemeter processing in accordance with procedures. The job requires a high level of concentration, accuracy, and dexterity. Full on-the-job training will be provided. There will also be close contact with other teams within PDS as well as other PHE groups such as Radiation Metrology and on-site Facilities etc.
The work is carried out to deadlines specified in regulatory requirements, in QA documentation or by line managers. The Laboratory Supervisor (line manager) will be responsible for the organisation of the whole lab workload, but the jobholder will be responsible for his/her own work and will work as part of a team to fulfil the required duties.
- Loading, operating, and monitoring specialised equipment
- Dealing with in-coming post, paperwork and dosemeters returned for processing including customer queries
- Liaising with the Lab Supervisor to investigate customer queries and ensure they are answered in a timely manner
- Using PDS bespoke software and equipment to issue and process various types of dosemeters to customers. This requires a high level of thoroughness, accuracy and checking
- Reviewing and monitoring supplies, as necessary
- Assisting the Laboratory Supervisor to ensure an efficient service to the customer at all times, including giving feedback and suggestions on working practices
- Following laboratory and QA procedures, keeping accurate records, and carrying out routine quality assurance procedures, in line with the standard operating procedures.
- Sharing in the planning of the work with the team to meet demand, and managing own time to meet targets
- The post holder will assist in investigating customer queries and in carrying out any reassessments deemed necessary
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Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- 5 GCSE’s (or equivalent qualification) including Maths, English or equivalent experience in a process laboratory role.
- Experience of scientific support work in a process laboratory type of environment, particularly dosimetry
- Experience of working in a customer-oriented environment as part of a team
- Experience of following standard quality procedures
- Ability to form good working relationships; with all stakeholders; working flexibly within the PDS team.
- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues: mainly orally at various levels
- Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy – including data entry and quality assurance checks
- High level of concentration and dexterity
- Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines
- Good organisational skills, including prioritisation and time management of own workload to set deadlines
- Competent computer skills (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel and web-based products)
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a commercial environment with knowledge of good customer care
- Experience of office-based database entry work.
- General awareness of the hazards and uses of ionising radiation
- Understanding of Data Protection legislation.
- Good degree of self-motivation and ability to question/investigate.
Alongside your salary of £27,335, UK Health Security Agency contributes £7,918 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 11 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 1000 word supporting statement.
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.
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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.
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.
Longlisting
In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting
In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:
- Experience of scientific support work in a process laboratory type of environment, particularly dosimetry
- Experience of following standard quality procedures
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a single face to face interview at UKHSA, Chilton (Didcot), OX11 0RQ
If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview
Interviews dates to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location
This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton (Didcot). Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.
Based at our scientific campus, you will be required to have 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. In exceptional circumstances 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.
Eligibility Criteria
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. Pay increases
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