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Science
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Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Our diverse teams of over 2,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.
Exciting opportunities have arisen to join various departments at APHA. You will have the opportunity to perform testing in order to establish the diagnosis of animal disease, monitoring animal health, screening for incursion of exotic disease, and performing statutory testing. Working as part of a cross department team of veterinary, laboratory and administration staff to deliver results to internal and external customers. Laboratory staff are required to liaise with other agency laboratories and may be required to communicate with external customers.
This diverse and varied role is suitable for anyone with a keen interest in science and animals, no laboratory experience is necessary as full training will be given. We welcome candidates to apply from the local area.
Job description
The role of Lab Assistant is to provide scientific support. This could include diagnostic testing, reagent production and registering sample submissions and processing blood samples before distributing them to the testing laboratories.
The role may include performing laboratory diagnostic techniques such as culture, PCR, ELISA, CFT, MIC, zone diffusion tests and Whole Genome Sequencing. It could involve working at a microbiological safety cabinet in a containment laboratory or carrying out cell culture.
The successful candidate will be employed in one of many busy departments depending on business needs: Virology, Pathology, Laboratory Testing.
All departments will provide full guidance and training - in return we would ask that the successful candidate is keen to learn and prepared to work within our safety and quality guidelines.
Your responsibilities may include, but won’t be limited to:
- Testing blood samples for International Trade and diagnostic testing
- Producing reagents for diagnostic tests for use within APHA and for commercial purposes.
- Using aseptic techniques for cell culture.
- Completion of workbooks and other documentation to ensure quality standards are adhered to.
- Compliance with all safety procedures including wearing appropriate PPE and reporting incidents and near misses.
- Responding to animal disease outbreaks which may involve working weekends and shifts.
- Working in containment laboratories and using microbiological safety cabinets.
- Participating in all the necessary training to allow you to perform your role correctly and safely.
Person specification
Required skills and experience:
- Experience in the use of computer software including Microsoft Office.
- Ability to organise own work and time.
- A keen interest in Science and laboratory techniques
- Good interpersonal and communication skills with colleagues at all levels.
Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak.
The post is full-time, we may consider two part-time staff on a job-share basis if continuity can be arranged. The role is based at Weybridge where the team is located and due to the nature of the role and duties required.
The post will also require Health clearance. Due to access requirements to biosecure areas, individuals must be physically able and heavy lifting will be required.
The successful candidate will need to comply with a number of health protocols and wear protective clothing and Respiratory Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) as required.
Restrictions on contact with farm or companion animals may apply.
Depending on the areas of work involved you will be expected to have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave of 25 days (rising one day per year up to 30 days after 5 years), flexible working, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
Learning
Whilst working at APHA and earning a salary you will have the opportunity to also undertake an Apprenticeship. You can undertake a Biological Degree apprenticeship with Nescot or a Laboratory Technical apprenticeship equivalent to A level depending on your current level of qualifications. You will join other staff attending College or University one day a week and will carry out specific assessments, projects and put all your learning into practice whilst working. The funding for this course will be paid for by APHA. This will give you the opportunity to increase your knowledge and experience which will assist in your development and possibly promotion.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a personal statement.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognize in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Higher Security clearance
The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Government’s response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason, all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have between for the last 3 years continuous UK residency.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Medical
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission
