About the job

Job summary

The Epidemiology and Information Systems Specialist works closely with UKHSA and NHS colleagues to support data capture and data management across a number of topic areas. The central facet of this post is to support the East of England’s hospital laboratories in the secure reporting of infectious disease test data to UKHSA’s Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS).

The post also supports response to incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and works on the analysis, visualisation and communication of data to Health Protection Teams and other partners.

Key systems for this include the SGSS web application, SQL Server and Power BI.

Liaison with hospital laboratories, as well as with other internal and external stakeholders, is an important feature of this role.

Location

UKHSA Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR

The current UKHSA policy is 40% office attendance (2 days out of 5), however this will be increasing to 60% in the New Year (3 days out of 5) in line with the most recent UK Govt. directive on office attendance for Civil Servants.

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

Job description

Your main responsibilities will include:

Surveillance and Data Analysis

• Maintain the flow of good quality surveillance data from hospital laboratories, acting as the team’s primary liaison with laboratories around the region.
• Respond to complex or sensitive data requests as well as routine analyses of data with an eye to both disease surveillance and overall data quality. Display good skill in presenting accurate, easily interpreted analyses and visualisations.
• Be proficient in the use of software such as SQL Server, MS Office & Power BI.

Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations

• Work collaboratively with the team during incident and outbreak investigations, supporting data management aspects such as employing SQL Server databases, visualisation tools and associated ETL.

Audit, Quality and Governance

• Advise on quality and information governance issues associated with laboratory surveillance data, evaluating existing systems to ensure compliance and consistency.

Research and development

• Opportunities to contribute to research and development projects will be available and participation encouraged.
• Present at scientific conferences, lab surveillance and topic-specific meetings in collaboration with health, public health, academic and other partners.

The post holder will be responsible for delivering tasks in the following key workstream areas:

• Outbreak support and epidemiological investigation
• Surveillance
• Research
• Software skills
• Communication
• Teaching
• Quality and Governance
• Workforce/HR
• Project management

Please see the accompanying job description for full details of the post.

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

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 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

• Educated to degree level in public health or information science/systems or equivalent experience
• Higher qualification in in information science / systems or equivalent experience
• Knowledge and experience of data sources
• Knowledge and experience of data capture mechanisms and data linkage
• Understanding of and experience in data validation and quality assurance through audit
• Experience in creating, supporting and maintaining systems and databases
• Proficient in a common database/mapping/web tools such as SQL, GIS, SharePoint etc. including experience of developing solutions
• Experience of contributing to and ensuring the successful delivery of project relating to information systems
• Understand information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Able to maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders and work in a multidisciplinary team
• Good organisational, prioritisation and time management skills and able to work under own initiative
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Desirable

• Experience in the production of Standard Operating Procedures
• Experience in the operational testing, development and implementation of new systems
• Experience of appraising staff and managing performance
• Skills to undertake more complex analytical tasks using common software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation, including programming

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA                    

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

The Field Services Directorate (FSD) was established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological, microbiological, infectious diseases and data sciences capacity and skills delivering surveillance and outbreak investigations consistently of the highest quality. FSD provides an effector arm for UKHSA, supporting the translation of evidence into practice as well as having a role in strengthening surveillance through closer links with the NHS and other partners.

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

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.  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 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.  Candidates may also be asked to participate in a session where they will 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.

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

Strategic cluster – setting direction:	People cluster – engaging people:	Performance cluster – delivering results:
1.    Changing and improving	1.    Leading and communicating   2.    Collaborating and partnering   3.    Building capability for all	1.    Delivering at Pace

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

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 7th 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.

Interviews: 25th/26th January 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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.