About the job

Job summary

This post is within the Healthcare Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Utilisation & Sepsis Division (Clinical & Public Health group) of UKHSA. The mission of the division is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, modelling, research and interventions.

The postholder will be a member of the scientific staff of the Department of Healthcare-associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance (HCAI & AMR) working in a multidisciplinary team.

Specifically, the postholder’s responsibilities include contributing to the UKHSA SIREN study team. The SIREN study (SARS-CoV-2 Immunity & Reinfection Evaluation) is a large-scale investigation focused on health care workers. Its primary objectives are to enhance our understanding of COVID-19 immunity, assess protection against future SARS-CoV-2 infection, and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, the SIREN study has expanded its scope to include other respiratory infections such as influenza and RSV. This study is high-profile and involves multiple deliverables and collaborations.

Location:

UKHSA Canary Wharf, 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, E14 5EA.

The UK Health Security Agency (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 Canary Wharf. Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.

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

Job description

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• The primary responsibility will be to contribute to SIREN through: Protocols and algorithms for data checking, Automated routine enhanced surveillance reports
• Assist in the delivery of the research programme by: Undertaking analysis based on the mandatory surveillance data using statistical software (SAS/Stata/SPSS), Automate analysis of data undertaken routinely, Implement and maintain database design and implementation, Logical / physical database modelling
• Assist in the generation, evaluation and comparison of denominators for use with hospital patient-based analyses.
• Undertake joint working projects with statisticians and mathematical modellers in the statistics/modelling group, to include trend analyses, Intervention analyses, and Outcome analyses
• Perform de novo data extractions and assist scientific staff with analysis.
• Write SQL queries on request
• Maintain and create stored procedures within SQL servers
• Troubleshoot SQL problems
• Write and troubleshoot STATA scripts
• Liaise with external organisations such as NHS Trusts, the DH, Healthcare Commission (HCC) and other stakeholders, and, in relation to mandated conditions, to provide surveillance data to support their work as appropriate. This will entail developing and maintaining links with other agencies and professional groups.
• Liaise with the Information Centre to ensure surveillance activities (e.g. data definitions) comply with Review of Central Returns (ROCR) criteria.
• Responsible for producing up-to-date content for the relevant sections of the UKHSA website.
• Provide information for Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and general information requests under supervision.
• Assist in outbreak and incident investigations as necessary.
• Contribute to the writing of reports for the Department and for publication, and present results of work at local, national or international meetings.
• Contribute to teaching and training as required.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

• Degree in relevant subject
• Substantial postgraduate experience in a relevant subject or higher degree in related discipline (i.e., Statistics or Epidemiology)
• Strong analytic skills
• Statistical analysis and programming; using statistical/graphics software packages (SAS/Stata/SPSS)
• Knowledge of MS Access and Excel
• Knowledge of SQL
• Experience with NHS datasets (i.e., HES).

Desirable

• Knowledge of Visual Basic Application (VBA)
• Communicable diseases epidemiology and surveillance
• Preparing research proposals
• Scientific report writing.

Please review the Job Description for the full criteria. 

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and Statement of Suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This stage will involve an interview via MS Teams. 

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to an interview that will involve an in-depth discussion of their previous experience and professional competence. This stage will also include candidates to complete a test on SQL, with full details provided prior to the interview.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 25th of July 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: w/c 29th of July 2024

Interviews: w/c 5th of August 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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.