Job Summary
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
The Science, Technology, Research and Analysis (STAR) Group sits at the heart of the Home Office. The group ensures the best evidence and analysis are used to address the strategic issues facing the department. We also provide the science, technology, data, and international insights and collaboration capabilities to drive delivery.
We are looking to fill up to 22 posts for Inspectors in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU). ASRU is responsible for regulating the use of animals in scientific testing. ASRU Inspectors ensure that proposals to use animals in scientific testing and research are justified, and harm to animals is minimised. It’s a highly regarded role where you’ll represent ASRU and assess licence applications. Once a licence is granted, you’ll have the critical job of ensuring that establishments are complying with the law by performing visits and thorough assessments. It’s a chance not only to protect animals but to make a positive impact on the way that scientific organisations function.
Job Description
ASRU seeks to protect animals through assuring that animals are only used in scientific research and testing where there are no alternatives and reducing harm to animals where they are used. The Regulator also strives to deliver an excellent service to the science sector to facilitate progress on critical scientific research. For example, animal testing played a crucial part in the development of Covid-19 vaccines.
Inspectors are central to the Regulator’s effectiveness and maintaining public confidence that animals in scientific testing and research are protected. Inspectors assess licence applications to assure that proposals to use animals in science are properly justified and harms to animals are minimised. Once licences are granted, inspectors check that establishments are complying with the law to protect animals through visits and assessment against licence conditions in a systematic, consistent way.
This is an exciting time to join ASRU. We are currently delivering an innovative regulatory reform programme to help us best achieve our purpose. This means your role may evolve and adapt in response to a dynamic environment. There will be opportunities for you to contribute to improvements and support the unit to adopt its aspirational cultural traits: data driven; customer focused; lean mentality; future focused; comfortable with risk; and team performance.
ASRU is committed to professional development and will work with and support appointees to realise their training and development goals.
Key Responsibilities
1. Licence application assessment: assess applications for licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) making defensible, clearly documented, consistent decisions.
2. Assess compliance of licence holders against their licence conditions. This can include the following:
3. Assess and analyse data and information gathered from a variety of sources to understand organisations’ compliance history, trends and potential issues ahead of conducting audits;
4. Conduct of on-site visits and audits where animal testing takes place;
5. Conduct cage-side checks of animals held or undergoing procedures;
6. Review establishment documentation;
7. Interview key individuals;
8. Conduct cross establishment or cross licence audit activities;
9. Write detailed audit reports;
10. Develop remedial plans where required and assess progress on remedial plans.
11. Investigate cases of non-compliance with the law, and the application of remedies.
12. Provide expert advice on ASPA and ASRU standards to a wide variety of audiences in a variety of formats. This may include developing and publishing advice notes for the regulated community and the public.
13. Manage own caseload effectively to meet statutory deadlines, business priorities and service level agreements, prioritising workload appropriately.
14. Contribute to the success of team goals through adopting a flexible, supportive approach e.g., swiftly reprioritising workload and adapting to new tasks if business needs require, though most Inspector work can be forecasted.
15. Contribute to continuous improvement of the regulator. This could involve improving operating procedures, delivering training, championing positive change, and providing constructive feedback.
16. Engage with the Animals in Science Regulation Policy Unit as required e.g., updating this unit with operational findings to influence policy or providing feedback on policy proposals.
Work pattern
These roles are available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours. They are also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 2 days per week due to business requirements.
These roles are suitable for home working. There may be an opportunity to be based in the Croydon office, subject to estates capacity. If Croydon based, there will be a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
Travel
These roles require some travel within the UK, including overnight stays, to visit licensed establishments; this is likely to be in the range of 1-2 visits per month. Where possible these visits will be in the post holder's home region, but they could be anywhere in the UK subject to business need. Personal protective equipment will need to be worn in establishments, as appropriate.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
1. Applicants must be a qualified medical doctor or veterinarian with full membership of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons or General Medical Council.
2. Written and verbal communication skills: ability to communicate complex technical and/or legal subjects in a clear, engaging manner to a variety of audiences, which could include non-specialists.
3. Impartial judgement to assess complex information to make accurate, consistent, unbiased decisions about compliance with the law.
4. Relationship-building, motivational, influencing and negotiating skills to influence often senior licence-holders to improve their compliance with the law; project a positive impression of the Home Office to external bodies; and contribute to a positive, collaborative working culture within ASRU.
5. Organisational skills to work independently and as part of a team to meet deadlines, prioritise effectively against conflicting priorities, and work flexibly to meet changing demands.
6. Experience with data collection, integration, analysis, and reporting. This is required to collect and report on licensed-establishment data, and to assess licence applications.
7. Knowledge and/or experience of biomedical and life sciences research including research principles, the UK research environment and the UK research integrity, ethics, and regulatory framework.
8. Seeing the big picture to tailor actions to meet organisation-level priorities, viewing actions as part of a wider system which creates impact at scale rather than just at an individual level.
Desirable criteria
1. Experience in research using animal models of disease, other types of animal testing or in vitro methods.
2. Experience in working with the care of laboratory animals.
3. Experience as an auditor, particularly of scientific establishments, functions or processes e.g.: MHRA, ISO9001, GMP, GLP etc.
4. Experience in regulatory delivery or regulatory policy.
Qualifications
Applicants must be a qualified medical doctor or veterinarian.
Memberships
Full membership of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons or General Medical Council.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
1. Making Effective Decisions
2. Communicating and Influencing
3. Delivering at Pace
4. Working Together
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