About the job

Job summary

National: £30,473 - £37,215

Outer: £32,469 - £39,532

Inner: £34,463 - £41,478 

We are looking for an Epidemiology and Information Scientist within the Laboratory Surveillance team which forms part of Field Services in Health Protection Operations. The Laboratory Surveillance team have responsibility for managing and supporting infectious disease reporting from both the NHS and Private sector. The team is responsible for ensuring all results which form part of the Health Protection notification regulations are being reported and meet the minimum standard required for epidemiology surveillance. The team is responsible for ensuring any new and emerging threats in infectious disease are configured for reporting by laboratories.

The Epidemiology and Information Scientist will support senior colleagues in the provision of a range of activities including contributing to data management and response and epidemiological investigation. You will undertake analyses, interpretation, and presentation of infectious disease data to provide health intelligence to meet the needs of local and national stakeholders. You will support the delivery of analytical work on a wide range of public health priority topics driven by the needs of internal UKHSA colleagues and external stakeholders. Support an agreed quality assurance programme nationally for all laboratories is being met and regular auditing of data is being implemented. Support senior colleagues within the team in responding to incident in relation to laboratory surveillance and agreed objectives are delivered.

INTRODUCTION

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards.  We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

Job description

Location

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 one of UKHSA's locations (mainly Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).  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.

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business need and in line with departmental policy.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working as part of the Laboratory Surveillance Team supporting the data flow of infectious disease reports into UKHSA national laboratory surveillance system (SGSS). The postholder will be working as part of a central team supporting regional Field Service Teams in laboratory surveillance. The role will be reporting to a Senior Scientist and supporting them in achieving successful delivery of programme work. The role will support nationally agreed objectives and initiatives for laboratory surveillance and contribute to the successful delivery of these outcomes. The role is data driven with data management and support being the key focus alongside data analysis.

At times they will lead on certain areas of work and ensure key objectives are being met and completed. This role offers the opportunity to support in solving some of the most complex operational challenges laboratory surveillance is facing, both today and in the future. As such, our ideal candidate thrives in a challenging environment, is motivated by making an impact and delivering results, and is comfortable with at times, working under pressure as well as working to strict timelines. A keen eye for detail and problem solving is required. The postholder will be using data management and analytical tools daily, such as SQL Server.

The role is ideal for candidates who want to expand their experience in a data driven environment and further their career in a Public Health environment.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting NHS and Private sector laboratories in ensuring they are reporting all mandatory infectious disease results to UKHSA.
• Managing and supporting quality assurance of results being fed into UKHSA national laboratory surveillance system (SGSS).
• Contribute to surveillance activities through assuring data quality, undertaking complex data analyses and seeking to improve and enhance databases and systems.
• Building collaborative relationships with operational stakeholders, such as NHS and Private laboratories.
• Support the wider team in ensuring regular audits are being complete on laboratory data as part of a wider quality assurance framework.
• Support Field Service in extracting and analysing data from SGSS to help support them in epidemiological and surveillance activities.
• Maintain and improve databases for surveillance of infectious diseases, test functionality of new surveillance systems, validate the quality of surveillance data including use of automated routines and through audit and produce and update Standard Operating Procedures.
• Design and develop queries to analyse data, create automated reports, import/export data from a variety of sources.
• Provider professional leadership when needed to junior members of the team. Supervise and manage certain areas of work.
• Undertake more complex analytical tasks using common software packages to support analysis such as advanced querying, data validation and pivot tables.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 1,250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level in public health or information science or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of epidemiological investigation.
• Knowledge or experience of basic statistical tests, performing descriptive epidemiology with strong analytical skills, excellent accuracy and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data(base) management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting.
• Experience of using computer and database software packages for epidemiological and statistical software packages.
• Understand information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements.
• Proficient in a common statistical/database/mapping tool such as Stata, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
• Able to maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders.
• Good organisational, prioritisation and time management skills and able to work under own initiative.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Desirable criteria

• Training or experience in validating data including automated routines.
• Knowledge of health and social care environment, and an awareness of surveillance and epidemiology and information flows in the NHS and allied services.
• Experience of appraising staff and managing performance.
• Proven scientific report writing skills.
• Line management experience including appraising staff and managing performance.

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

As part of the application process, you will also be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1,250 words outlining why you will be suitable for the role.

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.

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

To apply for this role, you will be asked to complete an application and a personal statement (maximum 1,250 words)

Please use your personal statement (maximum 1,250 words) to demonstrate how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for this role, in reference to the essential criteria detailed in the person specification section.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview via Teams

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on the criteria for the role outlined in the person specification.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess your Behaviours/Strengths/Ability/ Experience/Technical skills, the below behaviours will be tested:

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others

Candidates might also be required to prepare and deliver a presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

Expected Timeline:  

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 28/02/2024 – 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.

Interviews date: TBC

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)

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 meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance. If the candidate does not hold this level of clearance it can be applied for on appointment.

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&Cs 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/

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.