Job Description

Details

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Reference number

407101
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Salary

40,661 - 54,710
(Civil service 40,661 - 50,472) (Afc - 47,810 - 54710) per annum pro rata.


(Individuals who are not NMC registered at the time of appointment will be appointed as Civil Service SEO grade Health Protection Practitioner)
GBP
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Job grade

Senior Executive Officer
NHS AfC: Band 7###

Contract type

Permanent###

Type of role

Health Professionals###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf)

About the job

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Job summary

The Field Services Division (FS) was established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological, microbiological, infectious diseases and data sciences capacity and skills delivering surveillance and outbreak investigations consistently of the highest quality.


FS provides an effector arm for UKHSA, supporting the translation of evidence into practice as well as having a role in strengthening surveillance through closer links with the NHS and other partners. It also provides valuable links to academic centres and effective leadership and coordination of the UKHSA applied epidemiology training function.


The Rapid Investigation Team is a dynamic and multi-disciplinary team based in Field Services UKHSA. It specialises in rapid data collection and management as well as epidemiological analysis and interpretation during public health incidents such as outbreaks of infectious disease.


The Health Protection Practitioner (HPP) will be a key member of the Rapid Investigation Team, part of Field Services, and supported by information, administrative, and scientific staff within the Team and throughout the national Field Services.


The key objectives of Rapid Investigation Team:

DEPLOYMENTS:

Provide initial rapid response, investigation, and sampling: Support with and undertake on-site outbreak and incident investigation, including the collection of qualitative and quantitative data Support with and undertake biological sampling Support environmental sampling

SUPPORT AND SURGE:

Support outbreak and incident investigations and response: Support investigations of geographically dispersed clusters, outbreaks, or incidents Provide surge capacity (ie. epidemiological and/or operational support) where local management capacity may be overwhelmed

RESEARCH:

Undertake operational research and data collection to aid outbreak preparedness and response Contribute to academic research collaborations to help generate an evidence base for best practice in outbreak and incident investigations

TRAINING:

Contribute to training and teaching and share lessons learnt to strengthen health protection function Support the FETP training and provide other training opportunities
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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.

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Job description

RESPONSE

1. Contribute to the day to day RIT functions and deployments to ensure high quality safe and effective delivery.

2. Use expertise and knowledge to support management of routine and complex incidents and outbreaks of infectious disease and non-infectious environmental hazards.

3. Manage caseload ensuring accurate, up to date records of contacts/action by completion of relevant records and compliance with team handover procedures, in line with UKHSA's standards for record keeping.

4. Utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team and support and participate in the team's formal case/incident review process.

5. Monitor standards, ensuring quality and consistency and escalate to senior manager and/or take action where any shortfall occurs as appropriate to role.

6. Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSA's Emergency Planning and Resilience Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the UKHSA's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.

7. Where required, contribute to and support UKHSA input into Emergency Planning arrangements.

SURVEILLANCE

1. Support the development of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.

2. Support the use of surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies.

3. Contribute to health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessments.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

1. Support the development of key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders and take responsibility for the maintenance of professional networks relevant to role.

2. Employ effective communication and influencing skills to support stakeholder relationships to deliver objectives with:

o NHS and other external stakeholders to ensure collaboration as required to achieve the objectives for RIT

o Internal leaders and other staff to gain input to the development of systems, processes and activities

3. Deal with at times, highly challenging and/or conflicting subject matter problems or in day workload in workshops, meetings, one to one communications and other events, comprising various parts of the business, referring/escalating to senior manager(s) as appropriate.

4. Contribute actively to the development and implementation of system wide priorities and programmes for public health action or improvement.

RESEARCH, TEACHING AND TRAINING

1. Contribute to research activity to complement the health protection evidence base.

2. Contribute to teaching resources and activities for a wide range of audiences with support from senior manager(s) as appropriate.

3. Provide clinical/professional supervision and mentorship as appropriate.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

1. To be a visible, positive and competent role model and motivator monitoring team professional standards.

2. Support senior managers to ensure day-to-day operational delivery of the RIT function.

3. Contribute to the development of policies and protocols for a wide range of health protection issues in conjunction with team members.

4. Contribute to and undertake audit as part of a wider programme of quality/service improvement activity within RIT and wider Field Services directorate.

5. Support defined areas of work as agreed with line manager e.g. on specific communicable diseases, non-infectious environmental hazards, quality and training issues.

6. Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements within the Team.

7. Proactively contribute to wider organisational development.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

o Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attend internal / external training events.

o Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

o Participate in organisational and professional appraisal and revalidation as appropriate.

o Pursue a programme of CPD, including statutory and mandatory training, in accordance with the relevant regulatory body and UKHSA requirements.

o Actively manage and support the development of individuals and the team through appraisal, personal development planning and mentoring.

o Agree individual clinical / professional supervision or mentorship arrangements with line manager.

o Undergo a programme of on-going development and education to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to meet competencies required to undertake the role, for example developing and maintaining clinical competencies for biological sampling.

o To be aware of CS and KSF competencies and to be working to them as appropriate.

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Person specification

Essential criteria

First degree (Health related) or demonstrable experience in health protection procedures and practices Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act ( e.g. safe guarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance) Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships Experience of risk management and associated reporting Sound knowledge of the principles of health protection Effective verbal, written and presentation communication skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear messages accurately for a range of audiences Excellent planning and prioritisation skills and ability to manage competing demands Ability to demonstrate initiative and work independently with minimum supervision Ability to work collaboratively across teams, disciplines and organisations demonstrating respect and consideration for the role/ skill(s) of others Ability to analyse and interpret information in an effective manner to recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issue(s) Proven ability to work with quality improvement and governance frameworks Ability to effectively engage with others to influence and negotiate for positive outcomes Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office including Word, and Excel Evidence of ongoing CPD and committed to self-development

Benefits

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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 employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (16) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) 1250 word supporting statement

This should outline how 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

The following will be taken through to the next stage:

Meets all essential criteria

Shortlisting:

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

Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC Sound knowledge of the principles of health protection Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships Effective verbal, written and presentation communication skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear messages accurately for a range of audiences

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.


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.


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.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a (single) remote Interview.


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


There will be a Presentation, further details will be confirmed at this stage.


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

Eligibility Criteria - External

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ's. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using 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 core HQ's (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).


Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

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.

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 consider 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/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.


Link below:


Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

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



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) 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
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Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Gurkamal Bhambra Email : gurkamal.bhambra@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk ###

Further information

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: Complaints@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk