Coronavirus in Edinburgh: Swab testers needed at Covid-19 test centre at Edinburgh Airport

Multinational services and facilities management firm Sodexo is recruiting people to work in a team of 'test operatives' at sites in the Capital, as the government ramps up its testing programme for key workers.

Successful applicants are recommended to work three shifts or more a week from 9am-5pm for £13.50 an hour.

It comes as Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Friday the UK Government will meet or “come close to” its target of 100,000 daily coronavirus tests.

More Covid-19 swab testers are being sought at testing centres in Edinburgh. | JPIMedia

A drive-through test centre is already running at Edinburgh Airport for NHS staff, carers and other key workers as well as those in their household who are showing Covid-19 symptoms.

NHS Lothian has also been testing at the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre in Edinburgh since March 26th, with another facility opening at West Lothian College providing appointment-based swab tests since April 23rd.

Key Responsibilities

The main responsibility of the role advertised by Sodexo is to safely and correctly administer a throat and nasal swab test to frontline and key workers who visit the test site. These will be given up the nose or down the back of the throat – so applicants need to be comfortable doing this.

The French-based firm, which is helping in the global fight against coronavirus, says applicants should have experience working with members of the public or patients and have excellent interpersonal skills and a supportive nature.

Candidates must also be able to physically stand for several hours with good mobility to be able to reach into vehicles, and have a willingness to work outside and stick to the strict guidelines required.

They also need to have native or bilingual proficiency level of English and experience working in a medical, clinical or health environment is desirable.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over and in general good health with no symptoms of Covid-19, nor must anyone else in their household.

People classified as being in high-risk groups, or living with someone in these groups, are also asked not to apply. These include: Those living with a long-term condition, being pregnant, having immune deficiencies through medical conditions or therapy; being aged over 70.

The job advert also states that training and full personal protective equipment will be provided.

Sodexo does state that it may soon remove the advert if it starts to get a high number of applications.

About the company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs 36,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at more than 2,000 locations in the energy, corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors.

The company has an annual turnover of £1 billion and provides everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services.

The company says it’s committed to promoting equality opportunities and values diversity and inclusion, and is a Disability Confident Leader employer.

The firm is also developing pathways to support ex Armed Forces personnel and reservists into their job roles, with those applying for positions who meet the ideal candidate criteria “guaranteed to progress to the selection process.”