About the job

Job summary

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions. 

Are you a self-starter with experience of analysing complex data, identifying trends and irregularities to compile reports?

Do you have a passion for reviewing processes and identifying possible improvements?

Can you build strong, influential relationships with a broad range of stakeholders?

If so, we would love to hear from you! 

We have an exciting opportunity for 2 Quality Co-ordinators to join the Animal and Plant Health Agency. 

Job description

The purpose of these roles is to drive forward the implementation of a robust quality management framework to support the delivery of vital services. This will also include the extension and maintenance of ISO 17020 accreditation to relevant areas of the Service Delivery Directorate (SDD) Animal Health field delivery. 

You will work with APHA Field Management to embed a robust and efficient QA system. Leading regular process reviews, you will use data and customer insight to get buy-in from managers and stakeholders to effect change. 

Overseeing a cycle of reporting and feedback, you will ensure that non-conformances are recorded and addressed. Assessing data, you will search for possible trends, escalating any issues as necessary.

These are relatively new roles and the QA landscape in APHA is changing.

With excellent written and analysis skills, you will ensure the timely provision of QA data on competence and performance by field staff to quality managers (e.g. Veterinary Leads/Advisers and Resilience and Technical Advisors) and other field managers. This will be used to support the delivery of field work and provide assurance to policy customers of the quality of APHA’s field and admin processes and work. 

You will work with field management to produce a consistent approach to QA across all workstreams. 

Duties will include, but not be limited to the following: 

Reporting: 

• Compiling data on field retrospective desk checks - essentially QA checks on field visit paperwork Desk based checks- DBC checks, Observed field visits,(OFVs) where an inspector is accompanied on a field visit by a field manager or suitably qualified colleague and Internal Audits. To include completion rates against profile and compliance rates.
• Providing information to senior leaders through specific committees/meetings.
• Attendance at Knowledge Forums.
• Identifying trends, adding commentary/narrative to reports and information.

Working with Field Management (including quality managers) and Quality Services: 

• Working with Quality Services to develop general QA training to cover OFVs, DBCs checks, giving feedback both positive and negative.
• Delivering QA training to field management/field staff.
• Training staff to input QA checks and to use OFV tool.
• Addressing findings from Internal Audits conducted by Quality Services.
• Auditing the effectiveness of DBC checks and OFVs in collaboration with Quality Services.
• Chairing regular meetings with field management to discuss outputs from DBC checks and OFVs to ensure that all issues are recorded and non-conformances acted upon.

Engaging with management on QA best practice: 

• Meeting with internal field managers to discuss QA best practice, what is working well or needs improvement.
• Engage with other Departments/Agencies who conduct field work to discuss QA best practice and new ideas.

QA profiling: 

• Chairing national QA profiling meetings (DBC checks and OFVs) with field managers.
• Assessing performance against the profile throughout the delivery year, escalating issues where necessary.
• Making recommendations to senior leaders on where QA resource should be focused.

System changes: 

• Maintenance of quality tools (i.e. reporting tools, OFV tool, QA checks, corrective actions log). Working with colleagues in the Operational Management Information Team on system changes.

Successful candidates will be expected to become a competent auditor in order to conduct internal audits.  

• To quality assure outputs from FReD checks and OFVs. 
• To assist Quality Services with the organisation and delivery of internal audits of staff in the field. 

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who: 

• Are self-starters and comfortable working independently.
• Are confident and comfortable working with and challenging senior colleagues.
• Can analyse complex data, identify trends and irregularities and compile regular standard reports.
• Can organise, chair and lead regular meetings.
• Enjoy reviewing processes and identifying possible improvements.
• Have experience of building relationships and getting buy in from a cross section of professions and grades.

Learning and Development 

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role. 

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,136, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £8,676 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application Process 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, a 500 word personal statement and a behaviour statement.  

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.  

Sift 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. 

Interview 

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your experience and three behaviours :

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

For the purposes of the selection process, the Lead Behaviour will be Managing a Quality Service.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Reserve List 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. 

Salary 

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

Location 

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

For most candidates your hours of work will be a blend of working from an  APHA workplace (specific to the team location) with working at home.  

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Reasonable Adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

Accessibility 

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. 

Criminal Record Check 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/ Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

Internal Fraud Database Check 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. 

NSV

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Higher Security Clearance

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to Weybridge may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. 

Loan and Fixed Term Appointments 

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. 

This roles are for Fixed-term Appointment as a Quality Coordinator on the England Field Delivery Operations because the post is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed-term will end when the funding or the project expires. 

Your responsibilities will include those shown on the Responsibilities section of the advert. This post will therefore begin from the agreed start date and end on 03/11/25.    

Childcare Vouchers 

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.