About the job

Job summary

The post holder will be part of a dynamic national team responsible for delivering the development, management and coordination of enhanced surveillance systems of vaccine preventable diseases. You will take a lead role in the continued development and implementation of the hospital based acute respiratory infection sentinel surveillance (HARISS) system which monitors RSV and other ARI disease admissions in older adults. Other aspects of the role will include cross cover of other surveillance systems in the immunisation department such as sero-surveillance. You will work closely with other members of the respiratory virus team, and work under the support and management of a senior epidemiologist and the consultant epidemiologist.

The hospital based acute respiratory infection sentinel surveillance (HARISS) system was developed in 2023/4 within UKHSA with NHS and University partners, with plans to expand the surveillance system network in 2024/5. The surveillance system monitors RSV and other ARI disease admissions in older adults. It aims to strengthen understanding of the burden of RSV, influenza and COVID-19 associated illness requiring hospital admission in older adults and is a platform for estimating he effectiveness of vaccines in preventing hospital admissions and severe outcomes. It also provides a source of sample material from hospitalised patients for virological characterisation of influenza, COVID-19 and RSV.

HARISS is closely linked to the UKHSA Respiratory DataMart System (RDMS), a sentinel network of NHS and public health laboratories which provides case-level virological surveillance. The post holder will work closely with, and cross cover as required, the RDMS scientist.

Location:

UKHSA Colindale - 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ.

The UK Health Security Agency (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 UKHSA Colindale office. Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.

*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

Your main responsibilities will include:

Contribute to the development of enhanced surveillance systems and research studies of respiratory diseases, including coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. This post requires an individual with an understanding of respiratory disease epidemiology and surveillance, preferably in a UK context.

Specific responsibilities:

• Take a lead role in the continued development and implementation of the hospital based acute respiratory infection sentinel surveillance (HARISS) system.
• Liaise with clinicians, surveillance/research nurses and laboratory teams within NHS Trusts in the HARISS surveillance network.
• Work closely with informatics teams at UKHSA and at HARISS contributing laboratories.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners.
• Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues.
• Planning, managing and delivering on a range of projects requiring potentially complex analytic input, including negotiating and agreeing the most appropriate data output, initiating and planning workloads and setting delivery timescales.
• Identify potential problems and seek to resolve.
• Support the national surveillance of respiratory viral infections, including RSV. The post holder will be expected to support and cross cover other disease specific areas, depending on need.
• Analyse and interpret complex data and undertake statistical analyses.
• Use common statistical/database tools such as R, SQL, Access and Stata in routine reports, surveillance activities and the development of solutions.
• Undertake complex analytical and programming tasks using common and specialist software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation.
• Contribute to regular routine reports and peer reviewed publications on the surveillance and epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases.
• Supporting the analytical work of other members of the Immunisation Division.
• Use and develop database queries and spreadsheets to undertake complex analysis.
• Check for data anomalies prior to and during analyses, considering corrective action or bringing to the attention of principle analysts as required.
• Carry out quality assurance of data prepared by others. Take a lead in developing and promoting quality assurance procedures.
• Liaising where necessary with colleagues concerning issues of data quality and effect on analysis.
• Communicate analytical/statistical matters to non-analytical/statistical professionals.
• Have expertise in presenting findings of your own analyses to internal and external colleagues.
• Attending local and national meetings with key stakeholders including health intelligence analysts, health improvement and protection colleagues, and partner organisations for UKHSA.
• Actively supporting and participating in networks for public health intelligence specialists.
• Ensuring personal (and promoting team) compliance with corporate policies in relation to security, confidentiality and release of information.

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 750 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

• First degree in a science subject or equivalent experience in the subject matter
• MSc or PhD in epidemiology, public health or allied discipline
• Postgraduate experience in epidemiology, public health or allied discipline, including a sound knowledge of the principles and practices of disease surveillance
• Relevant experience of information and data management including complex and/or sensitive health data analyses with understanding of information governance and data security issues in relation to data collection, storage, sharing and research, and proficiency in relevant software or languages.
• Knowledge / experience in performing analytical epidemiology and descriptive epidemiology, including proficiency in statistical and graphical packages (e.g. R)
• Experience of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data and identifying needs or gaps in knowledge
• Experience of collaborating with other organisations and working with multiple stakeholders
• Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with people in partner organisations
• Able to convey surveillance and scientific information clearly and concisely in writing and orally
• Experience of successfully managing projects
• Able to prioritise competing demands
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable

• Experience of preparing written reports and scientific publishing

Benefits

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 will also be asked to participate in a short test which will assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role.  Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

You will be assessed using a competency framework during the interview stage.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 23rd July 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: w/c 5th August 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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/

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.