Job Description

The Centre for Radiation, Chemical, Climate and Environmental Hazards (RCCE) is part of the UK Health Security Agency and is responsible for promoting improved health and reduced harm from:



Radiation



Hazardous chemicals in the environment



Environmental change



Extreme weather events such as flooding.

RCCE's functions and responsibilities include:

Providing advice on the topics above



The assessment of health risks by means of research and collaborative projects



Providing commercial services for radiological and chemical hazard protection



Covering key roles in the RCCE Emergency Plans, especially plans for major radiation incidents which need to be maintained in a state of readiness



Personal Dosimetry Service



The Personal Dosimetry Service (PDS) is a commercial service that serves over 5,500 employers working with ionising radiations in the industrial, research and medical sectors, by assessing the radiation doses to their employees. This is carried out by means of passive personal dosemeters, which are issued used by the employee then returned to PDS for processing and reporting. The service helps build experience which informs UKHSA's advice to government and users of radiation and makes a significant contribution towards the agency's income.



Working within the Dose Records Office of PDS, the post holder will be responsible for coordinating the main routine functions of the dose records tasks including assisting with the PDS bespoke database. One of our services is as an Approved Dosimetry Service (ADS) for Co-ordination & Record Keeping.



The postholder will be required to work as part of a small team which is responsible for the maintenance of Dose Records for radiation workers, as set out within the scope by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for Requirements for Approved Dosimetry Services under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (RADS).



The post holder's main duties will involve helping to maintain the 8,000+ dose records held on the PDS database, checking and amending dose history data when new data becomes available. They will work closely with the Coordination & Records Manager to ensure the data is maintained promptly and accurately and adheres to both the RADS and the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17). They will also be expected to identify improvements to PDS bespoke software, review record keeping aspects of the office procedures as well as manual and quality assurance procedures. The role requires interpretation of reports, technical documents such as the RADS and IRR17 plus relevant correspondence, answering queries from customers, other ADS's, CIDI and other radiation professionals.



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.



Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers



The job holder will be responsible for the routine technical aspects of the service; assessing & adding special entry applications, updating worker dose histories and liaising directly with the HSE Central Index of Dose Information (CIDI) on the regular transfer of data and updates to classified worker data and dose histories. The post holder will also need some understanding of the other aspects of work within the team such as the setting up and issue of orders of radiation dosemeters to the Laboratories, answering calls and resolving customer queries whilst maintaining an excellent level of customer care.



This will require a suitable level of knowledge and experience, as well as the ability to interpret and deal with complicated customer queries. There will also be close internal contact with other areas within PDS including the PDS manager, UKHSA Radiation Protection Advisor's (RPA), IT and Facilities etc.



Externally, the post holder will need to assist in liaising closely with the PDS software support supplier to ensure flexibility and security of the system and data, as well as helping with enhancements and improvements to the system. PDS replaced the main database and the on-line system, August 2024.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Be responsible for the main routine management of the dose records data; ensuring accuracy at all times



Manage special entry applications plus checking of estimates and manual doses to ensure these adhere to the requirements of the Regulations and approvals of the service.



Enter dose history data onto the PDS bespoke database and issue new/amended/updated reports to customers. This includes entering dose and personal data on, and extracting data from, the database to answer queries. Data entry to Dose Histories is mainly manual and requires a high level of thoroughness and accuracy.



Provide information/advice to both new and existing customers on all aspects of the Dose Record Keeping Service.



Liaise with the CIDI representative and C&R Manager to ensure dose data is transferred promptly and accurately to the CIDI database as required by RADS.



Communicate effectively with customers on the more complicated queries verbally or in writing (email/post), and through our on-line service to ensure their queries are answered.



Communicate well with colleagues from their own and other teams in PDS, as well as internal RPA's to ensure an effective service for the customer



Help deal with queries regarding the Dosimetry On-Line (DOL) system by working closely with the Service Team Leader to propose enhancements to improve the software and general administrative duties.



Ensure QA procedures are followed at all times and monitor accuracy of doses added to records.



Work within the team and to tight deadlines laid out in the RADS and by customer requirements.



Provide recommendations to line managers on potential improvements to office procedures to improve efficiency or effectiveness of the service and to the database used for coordination and record keeping of PDS.



Provide deputy supervision and team leadership to the Dose Records Office on all dose record keeping aspects



Check and issue Quarterly & Annual Reports via email (or post) to customers and authorised RPA's



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.



Selection process details



This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your knowledge and experience, and/or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.



You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 10 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a :



Application form ( ' Employer/ Activity history' section on the application)



1000 word supporting statement



This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.



The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Longlisting :

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:



Meets all essential criteria



Meets some essential criteria



Meets no essential criteria



Piles Meets all essential criteria will be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:



2 A-Levels in Maths and Science + 2 GCSEs in Maths and English or NVQ level 3 Maths and English or significant experience in a technical data analyst role



Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.



Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.



Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2:

Interview (competency based)



You will be invited to a (single) remote interview. In exceptional circumstances we may be able to offer a remote interview.



Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview



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



Location



This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton.



If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.



Eligibility Criteria



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



Security Clearance Level Requirement



Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.