About the job

Job summary

Dental Consultancy Report Writer

Salary & Grade HEO – (National) £30,473, (Outer) £32,489

(Dependent on Location)

You have the flexibility to work from any of the following UKHSA Locations: Chilton, Glasgow or Leeds

Permanent Contract

4 roles available

We have four exciting opportunities to join the Operational Services Department of UKHSA. The department is a leading provider of radiation protection services in the UK, with an annual income of about £4M.

As a Dental Consultancy Report Writer, your primary responsibility is to compose consultancy reports for dental practices, specifically related to compliance with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR 2017) and the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R 2017). This involves assessing the level of regulatory compliance by reviewing documentation and technical X-ray equipment reports held in the dental practice’s radiation protection file. The consultancy reports concisely state the level of compliance along with advice on how improvements can be achieved.

Please note that prior knowledge or experience in radiation protection is not required, as comprehensive support will be provided through a structured training program. A clean full UK driving licence is required for this position.

Location

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.  
The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.  This role could be considered for home working.

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

Working Pattern – Full Time, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working,

Job description

Responsibilities section:

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

• Undertake the writing of consultancy reports for dental practices in relation to the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations 2017
• Assessing the level of regulatory compliance by reviewing documentation and technical X-ray equipment reports held in the dental practice’s radiation protection file

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

• visit dental practices, veterinary practices, airports, and other commercial clients to carry out technical assessments of X-ray equipment.
• laboratory work and scientific functions. These will involve measurement of radiation fields, radiochemistry, laboratory work, and engineering as appropriate.
• the assessment of measurements and the mathematical calculation of doses to medical and dental patients.
• the writing of technical reports incorporating the results of any measurements, recommendations for safe working etc.
• the scientific analysis of gamma spectrometry measurements, metrology data, and the output of other specialised scientific equipment. The reporting of results, either to other OSD staff or to external clients.
• routine maintenance checks on specialised laboratory facilities, and confirmation of the satisfactory operation of safety and warning systems.
• Training and supervision of more junior staff.

• Providing emergency response support in accordance with the RCE emergency plan

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.

Please see full duties and responsibilities attached

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 to 1000 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

• Science degree or its equivalent in a relevant science discipline, or relevant experience in the scientific support of radiation protection services or projects
• Knowledge of Microsoft office packages, especially Work, Access Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to assess complex situations and interpret detailed documents that may include legislation
• Ability to communicate effectively, formally, informally, orally and in writing to clients, UKHSA staff and representatives from other organisations
• Ability to observe and question to gather information and sift it to disregard the irrelevant and identify key issues
• Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines and to prioritise the workload

Desirable

• Postgraduate or on-the-job experience
• Membership of professional body, eg Society for Radiological Protection
• Good knowledge of radiation protection principles

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,473, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,227 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 details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview by video. 

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.   

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.

As a part of the interview process, there will be a written test which will last 30 minutes.

The competency based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

• Experience
• Knowledge
• Technical Skills

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 10th January 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: 17th January 2024

Interviews: w/c 29th January 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

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. 

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.