About the job

Job summary

As part of the SE Health Protection team the post holder will contribute to the provision of specialist advice and provide support locally to local authorities, hospitals and primary care.  They will contribute to the investigating and management of a full range of health protection incidents and support the local implementation of regional and key national priorities in collaboration with other members of the team, other UKHSA departments and external stakeholders.  They will also be expected to contribute to the daytime and out of hours on call service

Job description

• Contribute to the day to day running of acute response function, providing first point of contact for specialist knowledge, support and advice to health professionals on health protection matters
• Contribute to/lead under supervision the ongoing longer term management of issues relevant to a defined geographical area
• Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents in line with EPRR arrangements
• Contribute to the development/maintenance of effective surveillance systems and stakeholder relationships
• Contribute to the development of local policies and procedures
• Contribute and undertake audit as part of wider quality programme
• Support/lead projects and defined areas of work
• Participate in on call service

See attached job description and person specification for full details.

The core working hours are 0900 to 1700 Monday to Friday, however during enhanced incidents it may be necessary to extend hours including weekends and bank holidays; the exact details are subject to change and will be discussed further at the time of each incident.  There is also a 24 hour on-call rota which includes evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working.

The post will be based in either Ashford or Horsham offices within the South East Region and applicants will be expected to be able to travel and work at either sister site for a minimum of 60% of their working week.  Applicants will also be expected to travel within the area/Region as necessary. 

All IT equipment needed to undertake the work will be provided, but it is essential that applicants have access to reliable broadband facilities. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

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

Relocation expenses are not available. 

SURVEILLANCE

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.
• Contribute to the use of surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies.
• Support identification and reporting of health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessment.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

• Through activities delegated and supported by line management, contribute to the development of effective relationships with a range of individuals and stakeholders.
• With support and guidance from line management, may sometimes deal with difficult and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day to day work load.
• Contribute to and support the development and implementation of initiatives for public health action and improvement.

RESEARCH, TEACHING AND TRAINING

• Contribute to research activity to complement the health protection evidence base.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of teaching resources and activities across a range of audiences with support from senior manager as appropriate.
• Support the training programmes for Faculty of Public Health, Foundation Year Doctors and Specialist Trainees in the training scheme as appropriate and to the training of public health and health care professionals and practitioners within the locality as requested by line management.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

• To act as role model adhering to team professional standards.
• Contribute to the development of policies and protocols for a wide range of health protection issues.
• Contribute to and undertake audit as part of a wider programme of quality/service improvement activity.
• Undertake projects on defined areas of work as agreed with the line manager.
• Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed.
• Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements within the team.
• Proactively contribute to wider organisational development.
• Contribute to the strategic work of the locality/patch based health protection team and deputise where appropriate.
• Contribute pro-actively to the development and testing of the region’s business continuity plan

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Participate in organisational and professional appraisal and revalidation as appropriate.
• Pursue a programme of CPD, including statutory and mandatory training, in accordance with the relevant regulatory body and UKHSA requirements.
• Agree individual clinical / professional supervision or mentorship arrangements with line manager.
• Undergo a programme of on-going development and education to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to meet competencies required to undertake the role.

OTHER DUTIES

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.  You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of UKHSA Regions.

COMMUNICATION AND KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.This will include:

Internal

• UKHSA Regional teams
• Other UKHSA divisions/directorates

External

• Local Authorities                                             
• Healthcare Professionals
• Care Homes                                                      
• Community and Voluntary Sector
• Local Prisons                                                    
• Other Government Agencies
• Local NHS, including commissioners and providers
• Local Resilience Fora and Local Health Resilience Partnerships

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC ( for NHS AfC Band 6 ) OR First degree (Health Related) or demonstrable equivalent experience ( for Civil Service HEO grade ) 
• Working towards registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
• Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
• An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act (e.g. safe guarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
• Proven experience in the establishment and maintenance of good relationships with managers, staff and external contracts

Please see Job Description and Person Spec for full list of essential and desirable criteria.

Desirable Criteria:

• Professional Public Health qualification and registration e.g. Specialist Community Public Health (SCPHN) part of the NMC Register or UK PH Register for practitioners
• Recognised teaching qualification, e.g.  ENB 998/PGCE or NVQ Level 4 Certificate in education or equivalent experience
• Recognised qualification in Infection Prevention and Control or demonstrable equivalent experience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,469, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,767 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

Application stage 

Competency -based assessments

 At sift stage you will be assessed on the  above listed essential criteria listed in the job advert and this will be in the form of : 

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• a 1500 words Statement of Suitability. 

The CV/Application form  and Statement Of Suitability will be marked together.  

Please do not exceed 1500 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number. 

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview stage

You will be invited to a  remote interview . 

Behaviours, technical, experience, abilities and strengths will be tested at interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing 15 July.  Please note, these dates are subject to change. 

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location information  

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 Horsham or Ashford  .  Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site.  

Eligibility Criteria

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

Disability Confident scheme  

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.  

Reserve List clause  

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.   

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.  

Starting salary  

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment  

 

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.