About the job

Job summary

The EPRR Senior Quality, Standards and Improvement Manager will have recent knowledge and EPRR functions in the multi-agency environment, with a particular focus on standards, learning and continuous improvement. The role requires the development and management of the UKHSA’s EPRR continuous improvement processes and plans, including assurance of preparedness activities across the Agency. 

They will represent UKHSA EPRR at a broad range of specialist professional events including training & exercise development conferences, workshops etc and make regular contribution to a broad range of EPPR preparedness activities both within the UKHSA and with multi-agency external partners from across the national and international health and social care system.  This will require frequent travel throughout the UK to attend meetings and to assess exercise and training events.  Occasionally, the role will require international travel for emergency preparedness exercise and training events, which will require a flexible approach to working hours.

Location

This role can be based at any one of UKHSA's core or scientific locations; Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Porton Down, Colindale or Chilton.

UKHSA offers hybrid working for its employees – this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our UKHSA core or scientific locations, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. 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. Currently this requires working from an allocated UKHSA base location for 40% of your contracted time as a minimum, increasing to 60% from January 2024.

Some business travel will be required.

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. 

*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, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working.

Job description

Responsibilities section:

As Senior Quality Standards and Improvement Manager, your main responsibilities will include: (for full details of all main duties, please refer to the attached job description)

• Implement and manage the programme of assessment activities to provide assurance that the UKHSA’s EPRR preparedness and response activities are compliant with legal requirements and national (and where appropriate international) standards, with a particular focus on EPRR learning and continuous improvement across the Agency’s Groups, Divisions and Directorates.
• Manage the coordination and the maintenance of the EPRR Preparedness (Standards & Improvement) list of deliverables/outputs and monitor delivery, to ensure that the Directorate delivers to meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Assess the effectiveness of the UKHSA’s EPRR preparedness and response activities starting at ‘needs analysis’ through to the development, delivery and evaluation of training and exercise programmes / projects and post incident debriefs. This assessment is to be base-lined against appropriate guidance on standards and include recognised good practise from a range of appropriate national and international expert organisations.
• Implement and manage the end-to-end arrangements for the UKHSA’s EPRR continuous improvement process, including: capturing lessons; the process of assessment and action planning; action tracking; and confirmation that the ‘lesson identified’ has become a ‘lesson learnt’.
• Provide regular reports on progress against UKHSA’s key performance indicators, business objectives and contribution to strategic goals.
• Maintain effective networks and collaborative working with key partners both within the UKHSA and with a range of external partners, including DHSC, NHS England and awarding bodies for appropriate standards

 

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 1500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria. These include, but are not limited to:

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• Recent experience in the design, delivery, evaluation, assessment and management of emergency response simulation exercises
• Experience of influencing and working with senior stakeholders both within the organisation and with key external partners
• Recent experience of emergency preparedness, resilience, and response (EPRR) in general, or a good working knowledge of multi-agency preparedness and response activities
• Excellent communicator with superior writing and presentation skills (face to face and virtual environments)
• Building and maintaining effective networks and nurturing trusted relationships with key and senior stakeholders

 

For full details of all essential and desirable criteria, please refer to the attached job description.

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. 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 post 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 will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5/10-minute 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 17th December 2023 – 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: Please note that that will be a slight delay in shortlisting your application due to the Christmas and new year period. Shortlisting for this post will take place w/c 1st January 2024.

Interviews: January 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.