About the job

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for one Information Officer to join the London Health Protection Team on a fixed term basis for 12 months. The post is London based and at the current time we are working a mixture of on-site and remote working.

UKHSA’s local Health Protection teams provide a central part of how UKHSA works with partners to deliver its first function to protect the public’s health. They deliver this through a range of core functions including surveillance and monitoring, operational support and advice, education, training and research.

The Data Surveillance Information Officer (DSIO) supports the HPT to deliver an effective function by providing information and administrative support for the HP intelligence function. The postholder supports the team in developing the efficient flow, storage and retrieval of all data within the regional HP team, ensuring data integrity, analysis and reporting of the data and are instrumental in the enhancement of information systems used within the region, liaising with external bodies if necessary.

The DSIO liaise with Consultants in Health Protection, microbiologists and other professional and administrative staff in a number of organisations.  They ensure that routine and ad-hoc reports are disseminated and have a key role in supporting the data needs of the HP functions of the region, e.g. outbreaks and other investigations. 

Candidates must have experience in data management, handling, analysis and reporting, and advanced Excel skills, Candidates should also show sound numeracy skills and a good understanding of data presentation.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact the London HPOps Recruitment Team LondonHPOps.recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the person specification (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

 UKHSA promotes diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunities employer.

Location

Regular travel to 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5EA

The current UKHSA policy is 60% office attendance in the New Year (3 days out of 5) in line with the most recent UK Govt. directive on office attendance for Civil Servants.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.* 

Job description

Responsibilities section:

Your main responsibilities will include:

1. Support Consultants and Practitioners in managing individual cases of infectious diseases and in outbreak management through follow-up and co-ordination of results and relevant data analysis to provide accurate and timely information to the HP team.
2. Ensure robust data flow and reporting mechanisms for laboratory and clinical notification are in place to protect individuals and the local population and facilitate the continued improvement in the regional health protection function.
3. Ensure records relating to communicable disease notifications are processed and maintained to agreed protocols and standard operating procedures.
4. To enter on HPZone all notifiable diseases received from laboratories and to produce legally required statutory weekly returns to the Centre of Infections.
5. Assist the SIO with ensuring timely reporting is delivered to the Health Protection team and partner organisations as detailed on the team’s Surveillance reporting calendar.
6. Be responsible for developing, managing, maintaining and updating the team’s surveillance systems and databases for communicable diseases and environmental hazards for example enhanced surveillance of meningococcal disease and Tuberculosis. Ensure that data from a variety of sources, including files collected electronically or in written format are valid and accurately entered onto these systems.
7. Develop close liaison working with key partners in surveillance for health protection for example Local Authorities, Microbiologists or TB nurses, Regional and National units.
8. Ensure consistency and accuracy of database surveillance systems, resolving data inaccuracies to ensure robust data flows are maintained.
9. To conduct regular audit of data and information systems to ensure the integrity and reliability of surveillance data and other data sources and contribute to initiatives to improve the quality of surveillance in the unit.
10. To undertake periodic reviews and evaluation to ensure routine and ad-hoc surveillance reports are delivered in a timely and accurate manner.

Please refer to the job description for further 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

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 1500 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

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• Using computers and database software packages
• Experience in data management, handling, analysis and reporting
• Communicate proactively, accurately and succinctly
• Negotiate in a friendly and tactful manner with a wide range of health, IT and academic professionals
• Prioritise and co-ordinate workload
• Work well on own initiative as well as in teams
• Deal with problems in a calm, efficient and timely manner
• Work to tight deadlines
• Show sound numeracy skills and a good understanding of data presentation
• Produce accurate and consistent work
• Maintain required levels of confidentiality
• Demonstrate understanding of basic epidemiological terms and methods
• Willingness to undertake training and participate in continuous professional development
• Willingness to travel to meetings and training across the region and occasionally beyond
• Flexible and adaptable to changing environments and priorities
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Desirable

• Use of some of the following: spreadsheets, databases, GIS, statistical software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS, SPSS)
• Experience of maintaining code using R or an alternative statistical package.
• Working in public health with the NHS, UKHSA or in a Local Authority
• Working in communicable disease surveillance
• Use of Refman or equivalent and Microsoft Powerpoint
• Applying for research governance approval

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards.  We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• 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 stage will involve an interview in person on site. 

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 test during the interview involving data sets.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 16th January 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: TBC 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

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/

 

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website. 

 

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

Security

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.