About the job

Job summary

This Blood Safety post is part of the joint NHS Blood and Transplant/ UKHSA Epidemiology Unit that informs the safety of blood, tissues and organs in the UK. The post-holder will work on the blood donation testing and positive blood donor surveillance scheme which has collected and reported on data in collaboration with the UK Blood Services and UKHSA since 1995. This scheme provides operational data on donation testing, data to inform the residual risk of infection from transfusion, monitors the trends in rate of markers of infection tested for by the UK blood services which include hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections and collects epidemiological data on the positive donors towards informing blood safety and policy on donor selection and testing.

The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the scheme, collecting, processing and validating the data. The post-holder will develop and implement standardised data collection and analysis protocols, will identify data quality issues and facilitate their resolution. They will ensure that data are collected and processed in accordance with relevant policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs), and undertake regular assessments of data quality and completeness. The post-holder will undertake regular reporting of the data to deadlines including the monthly donation testing report and unit’s Annual Review. Under the supervision of senior scientific staff, the post holder will regularly extract, collate and validate surveillance data-sets and carry out epidemiological analyses to monitor trends, geographic distribution and risk factors. They will contribute to the delivery of surveillance and policy reports and to peer-reviewed publications. The successful candidate will have a science degree and proven scientific work experience relevant to this position. The post-holder will also have experience of using computers and database software packages, as well as of data management, analysis and reporting. The post will involve presentations and the provision of training. The post-holder must have excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively and accurately both autonomously and within a team at both UKHSA and NHS Blood and Transplant (Colindale).

Job description

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The postholder will:

Surveillance and Epidemiology

• Be responsible for collecting and processing and validating the data. This includes: liaising with data providers to help overcome any problems in reporting, referring to other scientific colleagues as necessary; following-up incomplete, inaccurate or missing surveillance data; ensuring data security is compliant with the required standard; assisting scientific colleagues in processes to reconcile the information collected; Liaising with the UKHSA Bloodborne Virus Unit (BBVU) and blood service confirmatory laboratories in order to reconcile records and ensure completeness of data.
• Liaise with and seek feedback from stakeholders to ensure the scheme reporting reflects current blood service needs to underpin blood safety.
• Update existing databases where required; plan and establish new electronic surveillance schemes where need arises; write or update queries and develop reports.
• Ensure that all processes relating to database management are appropriately documented and up to date within the NHSBT/UKHSA Epidemiology unit, writing new procedures and informing colleagues as need arises.
• Undertake regular reporting of the data to deadlines including the monthly blood donation testing report, the quarterly clinical group report, the unit annual Review and ad hoc specialist and complex analyses of quantitative and/or qualitative datasets which will require selection of the best option from a range of possible solutions.
• Analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data and research evidence from a range of sources to inform decision making.
• Receive, interpret, provide and advise on complex epidemiological and statistical information about the epidemiology of donors to the UK blood services, Department of Health and Social Care and others.

Specialist Advice and Evaluation

• Communicate effectively and diplomatically data, research and other specialist information with colleagues from own or other disciplines making judgements about the suitability of these data and providing an alternative where appropriate (e.g. in response to parliamentary questions). and present findings at local, national and international meetings and conferences.
• Write and/or contribute to the Unit’s Safe Supplies Annual Review, as well as peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, on the epidemiology of and infections in donors.

Research and Development

• Undertake literature reviews, evaluative research surveys, audits and other research as required.

Teaching and Training

• Assist in teaching and training courses run at Colindale and outside, by producing presentation materials and assist in NHSBT/UKHSA Epidemiology Unit lectures and provide advice and support on reporting data to the surveillance schemes.

Other

• Provide general scientific administrative support for the team when required, including monitoring of the Unit email box and coordination of the Unit Annual Review.

 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.  Attending internal / external training events.

Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

 KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;

 Internal

• Scientists and the Consultant in Epidemiology and Health Protection within the NHSBT/UKHSA Epidemiology Unit and with colleagues across the wider BSHSH and the CPH Group.

 External

• Data providers throughout the UK blood services and Republic of Ireland blood services (testing managers, clinical teams, reference laboratories, hospitals etc) to ensure data quality and timely reporting, and internal and external data users. External stakeholders include the Department of Health and Social Care, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), the Welsh Blood Service (WBS, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS), the Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) and academic staff.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Qualifications

• Primary Degree in a suitable science subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area

Knowledge and Experience

• Scientific work experience relevant to the post
• Experience in use of computers and database software packages for data management, handling, analysis and reporting eg MS Access
• Ability to interpret and evaluate data
• Experience of preparing scientific reports and presentations including high quality graphs and tables and written work.
• Experience of using software packages for statistical analysis of data e.g. STATA, R

Skills and Capabilities

• Able to work as a team member or independently and liaise with a wide range of external stakeholders
• Ability to identify and solve day to day issues/problems
• Able to maintain data protection and confidentiality
• Have a clear and organised approach to work to meet deadlines
• Able to communicate and document methods clearly and succinctly

Desirable criteria:

• MSc in Epidemiology or allied discipline and / or equivalent or significant experience related to health information
• Experience designing databases
• Experience of epidemiology or public health
• Working within the NHS, Public Health or Environmental Health
• Knowledge of hepatitis and/or other blood-borne viruses

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,463, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,305 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

Selection Process:  

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  - Competency-based assessments

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of   

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• a (1000 number of words) word Statement of Suitability.  

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

The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: Experience in use of computers and database software packages for data management, handling, analysis and reporting eg MS Access

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview. Please do not exceed 1000 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 face to face interview.

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

Interviews will be held week commencing 10/06/2024. 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. 

Face to Face interviews 

If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview  

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 one UKHSA's Colindale site.

Eligibility Criteria 

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).   

Starting salary  

Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment  

Disability Confident scheme  

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.  

Reserve List clause  

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.   

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.