About the job

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the National Response Centre at UKHSA for the role of an administrative apprentice.  

The National Response Centre is responsible for coherence and coordination of situational awareness and preparedness to effectively respond to incidents, response to incidents and recovery from incidents.

The successful post holder will receive training in the areas of administration, organisational skills, minute taking and diary management along with undertaking the Level 3 qualification in Business Administration.

It is essential for candidates to be educated to GCSE level in English and Maths at grade C (4) or above or other equivalent qualification. Some experience in an administrative role is desirable but not essential.

Job description

The Apprentice Emergency Preparedness Administrator will work within the National Response Centre (NRC) to provide administrative support towards the management and co-ordination of UKHSA’s national response to public health incidents and in the lessons identified process following these incidents.

They will work together with all members of the National Response Centre team and the wider EPRR Directorate to provide an accurate and effective administrative support service. They will be expected to work flexibly as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a wide range of specific administrative duties.

The post holder will work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely. 

Your key responsibilities will include:

• To provide administrative support to the National Response Centre Team and other emergency response functions/staff as required, including diary management, dealing with emails, travel arrangements, booking accommodation, arranging and taking minutes of meetings
• To be responsible for the development and maintenance of information databases of emergency plans, contacts and other relevant information
• To utilise modern office technology for the efficient delivery of administrative and clerical duties associated with exercise and/or training events
• In the event of an incident where an incident is stood up – assist in its setting up, and thereafter, fulfil an operational role within it
• Undertake project work as required

Location

This role will be based in London or Porton Down.

UKHSA offers hybrid working for its employees – Any opportunities for informal hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post. This will be determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policies for flexible working.

Some occasional business travel will be required to London, (if this is not already the postholder's base location).

Currently this requires working from an allocated UKHSA base location for 60% of your contracted time as a minimum.

The specifics of which day/s of the week you will work from your allocated UKHSA base location, will be agreed with the line manager.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Educated to GCSE level in English and Maths at grade C (4) or above or other equivalent qualification
• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Take time to consider the best communication channel to use for the audience, making the best of digital resources available
• Understand that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable
• Talk to relevant people to get advice and information when unsure how to proceed
• Ability to follow guidance, policies and processes, including handling sensitive and confidential data
• Ability to handle telephone enquiries and receive visitors
• Able to work well as part of a team

 

Desirable criteria

• Experience handling sensitive and/or confidential data
• Experience of arranging meetings and supporting events and taking minutes Experience of working in an office environment
• IT skills and Microsoft Office experience, including Word, Outlook, Excel
• Ability to prioritise work and work with minimal supervision, producing work that is accurate in a timely fashion, whilst multi-tasking and working in a busy environment
• Commitment to a development programme and work towards achieving the Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship qualification

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £22,194, UK Health Security Agency contributes £5,992 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a detailed Statement of Suitability. This should outline how you consider your skills, knowledge and experience meet the essential criteria; providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined.

Your statement of suitability must be no more than 500 words.

Please note: The system will allow you to write up to 1500 words but please do not exceed 500 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number.

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will progress to a single video interview and will be assessed on the essential criteria as advertised.

Reserve List

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here.

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.