As a HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist, the post-holder will work seamlessly between the Healthcare-Associated Infection (HCAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Service and Laboratories: (i) to provide scientific and technical leadership in the area of Staphylococcus spp; (ii) to lead the laboratory team delivering national Staphylococcus spp reference services; (iii) to be responsible for validating and issuing clinical reports to customers for Staphylococcus spp and Streptococcus spp; and (iv) to provide scientific and strategic leadership for introducing novel technologies into reference services to meet the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) Sepsis Division objectives.
In addition, post will act as an expert Scientific Adviser to Deputy Director/s of HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU Sepsis on Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. It will involve close liaison with laboratory staff working on these bacteria, providing scientific direction on areas of relevance to the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU Sepsis Division. In particular, this will focus on areas of national HCAI/AMR importance including outbreak investigation and assessment of vulnerable groups at risk of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus infection e.g., care home residents, people who inject drugs, prison and homeless populations.
Job description
To be a source of expert advice and information on microbiological aspects of staphylococci and the biology of staphylococcal disease. Provide information, interpretation and comment on national guidance, legislation, codes of practice and answers to Parliamentary Questions and media enquiries. Provide expert advice and knowledge to external bodies on the scientific basis of reference service tests, documents or services provided as appropriate.
To be responsible for ensuring the high-quality validation of clinical reports issued to customers for staphylococcal and streptococcal reference services, including strain characterisation, genomic assessment, virulence markers and toxin production.
To work with staff of Bacteriology Reference Division (BRD) and relevant consultant medical microbiologists in UKHSA to provide input into clinical interpretation and to ensure prompt and accurate delivery of staphylococcal reference services including discussing interpretation with microbiologists and clinicians in the field and health protection teams investigating outbreaks.
To arrange suitable and sufficient cover for reference service delivery, as necessary.
To lead staphylococcal and streptococcal service clinical governance meetings, developing automated services including auditing the impact of new methodologies including routine whole-genome sequencing for relatedness, resistance detection, and outbreak response.
Within the defined specialist area(s) to undertake the following scientific functions:
- To advise senior managers, including Deputy Directors, on all aspects of work associated with specialist area.
- To assess methodologies regularly to provide on-going improvement in services and to provide expert advice and knowledge on the scientific basis of reference service tests and results.
- To provide strategic opinion to senior managers, including Deputy Directors, for identifying methods and technologies relevant to the specialist area that are suitable for development, evaluation and implementation.
- To produce peer-reviewed publications on the results of reference and research activities. To develop, review and edit manuscripts, documents, protocols, procedures, guidelines, and other measurable outputs.
- To provide scientific advice and support in relation to internal quality controls and, where relevant, external quality assessment, proficiency testing and reference materials in collaboration with the UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Microbiology (NEQAS) and other organisations as appropriate.
- To present research findings at local, national and international scientific meetings.
- To participate in on-call services as required e.g., the Bacteria Reference Department senior scientist diphtheria on-call rota.
This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties.
Person specification
Please be aware that we will assess on the12 essential criteria stated on the advert rather than the full list on the job description document.
Essential Criteria
Qualifications
- Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment
- PhD in microbiology or a related discipline.
Knowledge and Experience
- Clinical scientific and molecular microbiology expertise of Staphylococcal Streptococcal spp.
- Familiarity with diverse molecular diagnostic platforms
- LIMS experience. Validating reports through MOLIS or similar LIMS system.
- Experience working within the healthcare associated infection field and good working knowledge of antibiotic susceptibility testing and resistance mechanisms.
- Substantive (postdoctoral) experience in Public Health microbiology in reference and/or diagnostic settings.
- Demonstrable experience of laboratory quality systems, running services accredited to ISO15189 standard.
- Proven record of research in relevant areas including significant/relevant publications.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours
- Able to provide/receive highly complex information, negotiate and present to peers/others.
- Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
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