Healthcare Scientific Support Worker

The UKHSA Mycology Reference Laboratory in Bristol is one of the few reference laboratories that are situated outside the main reference facility currently housed at Colindale. The laboratory undertakes local diagnostic testing and national reference and referred tests across a varied panel, together these currently amount to more than 65,000 tests per year.
The Mycology Reference Laboratory (MRL) provides a comprehensive national diagnostic and reference service to assist with the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance of fungal infection and antifungal drug resistance.
This includes the isolation and identification of fungi from clinical material, serological, phenotypic, proteomic, molecular and biomarker tests, examination of histopathological sections, antifungal drug assays, in collaboration with the North Bristol Trust Antimicrobial Reference Laboratory, and susceptibility tests.
The MRL is also responsible for the provision of expert advice in the diagnosis, treatment and management of superficial and invasive fungal infection. The MRL is responsible for the UK National Collection of Pathogenic Fungi (NCPF). Together with the Quality Assurance Laboratory, the MRL is responsible for the UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme (NEQAS) for identification and susceptibility testing of fungi.
The MRL conducts formal training courses in mycology as well as providing individual training to visitors from the UK and abroad.
Key Responsibilities
Reception and clerical duties
- Receive specimens, and process requests in a timely manner.
- Receive deliveries and move them to appropriate location for storage.
- Responsible for the housekeeping and stock management of specimen reception.
- Participate in IQA/EQA schemes, as required.
- Prepare solutions and reagents for disinfecting the benches.

Specialist Skills
- Triage referred moulds suspected to be HG3 for processing at CL3.
- Put up manual antifungal susceptibility tests for moulds and yeasts
- Perform checks on safety critical equipment
- Make specialist mycological culture media.
- Process serum samples for beta glucan testing and other specialist mycological investigations.
- Perform quality checks and daily maintenance of readers.
- Sub-culture yeasts and moulds on to a variety of specialist mycological media.
- Supervise and assist in the training of visitors to the laboratory.

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
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.
Laboratory housekeeping, clerical duties and other duties;
Taking into account the operational requirements of the laboratory. These duties will be carried out under supervision and guided by standard operating procedures (SOPs), protocols, or systems of work based on training.
Laboratory Duties
Including receipt and booking in of specimens, entry of data onto the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), distribution of specimens to the laboratories, making up the disinfectant solutions and other media requirements.
To deal with queries arising from specimens received and telephoning senders for more information.
To keep any databases/spreadsheets/telephone forms/error logs, relevant to specimen reception, and dispatch, up to date and available for management reports and audit.
Professional Development
Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
To participate in all mandatory training as required, e.g. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
Key Working Relationships
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;
Internal
- Specimen Reception staff and managers
- Reference Mycology Services: operations and technical lead managers, Laboratory staff across Bacteriology and Virology Departments as required.
- Other laboratory staff throughout the National Infection Service and UK HSA.

External
- Customers of Reference Mycology, including NHS and private laboratories.

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
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
Competency-