About the job

Job summary

The post is suitable for both Medical Consultants and Non-Medical Consultants Agenda for Change band 8d.

This is a full time role. The importance and nature of the role makes this a demanding and sometimes time critical work delivery agenda. However, there may be possibility to work part time hours (Minimum 30 hours per week or 4 days) 

The Consultant in Health Protection is a senior role within the Health Protection Team to provide leadership, management, and oversight of the Health Protection function, including the response to incidents and outbreaks and responsibility for the day-to-day operational delivery.

The post holder will have responsibility for developing and maintaining close working relationships both internally and with key partner organisations.

As well as agreed individual objectives, a job-plan will be developed which will outline the agreed programmed activities (PAs) that are necessary to fulfil the duties and responsibilities described in the Job Description.

The post holder will undergo a programme of on-going development to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to provide specialist Health Protection advice and meet competencies required to undertake the role.

The post holder will play a key role in developing, shaping and assuring the health protection function, which may include managing individuals and teams, working closely with partners, and ensuring delivery of high-quality surveillance, response and support systems.

 

Job description

We are seeking a dedicated professional to support the West Midlands Health Protection Team, North Patch under the guidance of the Lead Consultant.  In this role, you will be instrumental in fostering key stakeholder relationships with Local Authorities, Integrated Care Boards (ICB’s) and other partners, and you will have the opportunity to lead or support key programme areas.  Priorities during this period include embedding new ways of working on the introduction of our new case management system.  Your responsibilities will encompass day-to-day leadership in acute and ongoing case and incident outbreak management. 

We offer ongoing training and development at both regional and national levels.  The postholder will also be part of the West Midlands Regional OOH on-call rota. 

As a role model, you will adhere to professional standards and contribute to policy development, quality improvement, and governance initiatives. 

If you are committed to advancing your career in health protection and eager to join a dynamic team, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

This is a senior role within the Health Protection Team team and provides leadership, management and oversight of the health protection function, including the response to incidents and outbreaks and responsibility for the day-to-day operational delivery and support to the out of hours rota.

Working for your organisation

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.  

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• The National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 www.legislation.gov.uk In accordance with legislation; GMC full and specialist register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible within 6 months of interview
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine/infectious diseases medicine/or medical microbiology practice
• Public health speciality registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC register, GDC Specialist list in dental public health or UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interview. All other applicants not yet granted specialist registration must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence from the register concerns that they have submitted satisfactory evidence and therefore registration within six months is assured.
• Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Public Health/Royal College of Pathologists/Royal College of Physicians or other recognised body
• MFPH by examination or evidence of equivalent qualification FRC Path or evidence of equivalent qualification MRCP or evidence of equivalent qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Minimum 6 months experience in Health Protection practice
• Practical experience in leading and facilitating change
• Experience of communicable disease control in a wide variety of settings including out of hours on call
• Experience of working with other agencies
• Experience of emergency planning
• Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection
• Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, audit, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice
• Understanding of social and political environment
• Understanding of laboratory microbiology services
• Understanding of clinical infectious diseases services
• Understanding of clinical toxicology services
• Understanding of the principles of radiological protection
• Experience and demonstrable competency in dealing with environmental hazards / chemical incidents

Desirable criteria

• Experience of budget management and financial processes
• Ability to undertake prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of public health importance
• Peer reviewed scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars, etc

Skills and Capabilities

Essential criteria

• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills, including management of change
• Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty
• Adaptable to situations, can communicate with people of all capabilities and attitudes
• Project management
• Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media)
• Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills
• Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved
• Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
• Computer literate
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies
• Ability to concentrate for long periods (e.g. analyses, media presentations)
• Resource management skills
• Strong commitment to public health principles
• Commitment to team-working and respect and consideration for the skills of others
• Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative
• High standards of professional probity

Desirable criteria

• People management and training
• Training and mentoring

Equality and Diversity

Essential criteria

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, and in relation to management systems

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Candidates should refer to the Job Description for a full overview of the role and remit of the post prior to completing their application.

Location

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 (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).  Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site.

Other Information

• Option 1 - External  -  Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).   

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.

To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.

This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

AI

I understand my application may be rejected or I may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)

If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice

Public Health Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.

Selection process details

STAGE 1 – Application & Sift:

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the person specification.  You will be required to complete an application form. You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria.

Applicants are strongly advised to use the person specification section as sub-headings in the application to make it clear how you meet each of the selection criteria.

At sift stage you will be assessed on the essential criteria listed in the job advert and statement of suitability.

Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1250 wordcount.

Please note: The system will allow you to write upto 1500 words but please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview and assessment, a presentation will form part of this assessment. 

STAGE 2 – Interview

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will progress to an interview and will be assessed on the essential criteria as advertised.  

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.

Interviews will be held virtually over Teams.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact:

William Proto, Consultant in Health Protection - william.proto@ukhsa.gov.uk

UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.

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.