About the job

Job summary

We are seeking an Advanced Health Protection Practitioner (AHPP) who will be an essential member of our multidisciplinary team, responsible for the daily acute service response.  They will collaborate with other senior health protection team members to oversee and manage incidents and outbreaks of infectious and non-infectious environmental hazards.

The role demands excellent public health skills, with a focus on leading specific areas of work and fostering partnerships with external organisations.  The AHPP will play a key role in developing joint plans and setting system-wide public health priorities.

Additionally, the AHPP will contribute to the strategic initiatives of the locality-based health protection team, deputising as needed, and leading complex projects, including regional and national work streams. 

Job description

Your main duties will include:

• Use expertise and knowledge to lead the management of complex incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and non-infectious environmental hazards, in collaboration with the Incident Director.
• Assume management and supervision of the day-to-day acute response service and complex incidents to ensure high quality safe and effective delivery, if required.
• Manage and carry out continuing responsibility for a caseload ensuring accurate, up to date records of contacts/action by completion of relevant records and compliance with team handover procedures, in line with UKHSA’s standards for record keeping.
• To utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team and support and participate in the team’s formal case review process.
• To monitor standards, ensuring quality and consistency and to take action where any shortfall occurs.
• Contribute to and where required lead ongoing longer term management of issues relevant to a defined geographical area within their region.
• Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning and Resilience Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the region’s responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.
• Contribute to and support the UKHSA region’s input into Emergency Planning arrangements.
• May be required to participate in a local on call rota at local, regional or national level as required.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• The successful candidate will lead the management of complex incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and environmental hazards, working closely with the Incident Director.  They will oversee the day-to-day acute response service and ensure high-quality, safe, and effective delivery.  This includes maintaining accurate records, using an evidence-based approach for clinical advice, and participating in formal case reviews.  The AHPP will also support the UKHSA's emergency planning and resilience response, including responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.
• In this role, the AHPP will develop and maintain effective systems for the surveillance of communicable diseases and environmental hazards.  They will use surveillance data to inform public health actions and policies at local and national levels, addressing health needs and inequalities. The AHPP will foster partnerships with various stakeholders, using their communication and negotiation skills to collaborate on public health strategies and manage complex issues in diverse settings. 
• The AHPP will contribute to research activities that enhance the health protection evidence base, develop and deliver teaching resources, and support training programs for public health professionals.  They will ensure proper clinical supervision and mentorship within the team, setting and monitoring professional standards.  The AHPP will also manage the operational delivery of the region’s health protection functions, lead audits for quality improvement, and develop policies and protocols for health protection issues.
• For personal and professional development, the AHPP will participate in appraisals, pursue continuous professional development, and support team development through coaching and mentoring.  They will adapt to evolving needs and additional duties as required, maintaining effective communication with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. This includes collaborating with UKHSA regional teams, local authorities, healthcare professionals, and other organisations to ensure comprehensive public health protection and improvement.
• If you are committed to developing your career in health protection and eager to contribute to a dynamic team, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Please refer to the job description for further details and other responsibilities around surveillance, partnership working, research, teaching, training & management and leadership.

Person specification

 Essential criteria

you will be assessed on the below (8 number) essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description Document.

Essential criteria

• Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC and a Master’s in Public health, or higher degree in a related subject, or evidence of CPD in health protection and documented experience at master’s level Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
• Extensive experience in a health protection role at a senior level with specialist knowledge and expertise in Health Protection
• Proven experience of managing others in a managerial or supervisory role including performance management and appraisal and development
• Highly effective verbal, written and presentation communications skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
• Proven ability to build trusted stakeholder relationships networks in a politically sensitive and/or changing environment
• Evidence of ability to handle challenging issues taking a problem-solving approach to ensure proactive and effective resolution
• Ability to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others including managing and motivating a team and reviewing individual standards
• Experience of leadership within a changing environment

Desirable criteria

• Experience of budget management and financial processes
• Evidence of understanding of the principles of workforce profiles, strategic workforce planning and workforce deployment issues
• Recognised teaching qualification or equivalent experience, e.g. ENB 998, PGCE or NVQ Level 4 Certificate in Education
• Professional Public Health qualification and registration e.g. Specialist Community Public Health (SCPHN) part of the NMC Register or UK PH Register for practitioners
• Experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
• Understanding of public health law

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Things you need to know

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 capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.  

Stage 1: Application & Sift  
 

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed (8 number) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of   

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 

• a (1500 number of words) word Statement of Suitability.  

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.  

 The CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment  

Please do not exceed 1500 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number. 

Feedback will not be provided at this stage. 

Stage 2: Interview 

You will be invited to a (single)  face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview 

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview   

As part of the interview you will be required to undertake a presentation, details of this will be provided to you.

Interviews will be held week commencing 26th September, 2024. Please note, these dates are subject to change. 

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. 

Location information 

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow.  This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at  UKHSA's Birmingham Office.  

Eligibility Criteria

This vacancy is open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).  

Reasonable Adjustments 

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. 

To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you. 

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.  

This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.  

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:  

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.  

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/ 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

I understand my application may be rejected or I may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.