APHA Veterinary Investigation Centre Rougham Hill Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 2RX Job Summary Are you considering a change in your veterinary career? Are you looking for a career with variety and flexibility in the work you do? Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal health and welfare, protecting Great Britain from exotic notifiable diseases? Many of the skills and competences already acquired in veterinary positions elsewhere will be applicable and valued in veterinary roles within APHA. Why not explore a change, a new veterinary path, one that can have far reaching impacts? Why not join us and make a difference? Job Description This Vet role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following: Conduct disease investigations in farm animals and wildlife by undertaking post-mortem examinations and diagnostic sampling. Obtaining relevant history from vets and farmers for investigating disease and to provide data for disease surveillance. Using laboratory testing for diagnosis or to rule out diseases. Collating, reporting and discussing findings with veterinary clients, farmers and APHA colleagues. Providing advice on diseases and making recommendations on disease control and prevention. Conducting farm visits to investigate for possible new diseases, zoonoses or potential threats to the food chain. Opportunity to work with other veterinary and industry stakeholders, participate in knowledge exchange and influence standards of animal health and welfare. Conducting surveillance for notifiable disease, through discussion with farmers or vets, sampling and gross diagnostic pathology. This Vet role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following: Conduct disease investigations in farm animals and wildlife by undertaking post-mortem examinations and diagnostic sampling. Obtaining relevant history from vets and farmers for investigating disease and to provide data for disease surveillance. Using laboratory testing for diagnosis or to rule out diseases. Collating, reporting and discussing findings with veterinary clients, farmers and APHA colleagues. Providing advice on diseases and making recommendations on disease control and prevention. Conducting farm visits to investigate for possible new diseases, zoonoses or potential threats to the food chain. Opportunity to work with other veterinary and industry stakeholders, participate in knowledge exchange and influence standards of animal health and welfare. Conducting surveillance for notifiable disease, through discussion with farmers or vets, sampling and gross diagnostic pathology. Person specification We Are Looking For Candidates Who Are aware of the UK farming industry and diseases of farmed animals Have an interest or further experience in diagnostic pathology Can engage with customers and stakeholders confidentially and professionally Can produce reports to communicate veterinary knowledge Can demonstrate an ability to maintain and assure appropriate levels of quality assurance for scientific evidence and advice Are capable of strategic thinking, with diagnostic, analytical and creative problem-solving abilities You can also visit APHA's Veterinary Careers website for further information: Home - Careers as an APHA Vet (aphavets.co.uk) VIO role video: Disease Investigation roles (youtube.com) We are planning to run ‘Drop-in’ sessions via MS Teams. For further details please email: mary.apaaternengeapha.gov.uk Ways of working Flexibility in working hours is required if called upon to finish a particular urgent task or call upon in an event of an outbreak. The post is full-time, or part time, with a minimum of 3 days per week. We may consider a job-share arrangement, if two candidates are interested on this basis. For this role, the requirement is to work primarily on site, although once fully competent and depending on work load there may be opportunity to work from home. This post is eligible for an additional pay supplement of up to £3,000 (pro rata) upon appointment. See below under “salary" for more details. This post will also require Health clearance. Qualifications Degree in Veterinary Medicine that is recognised in the UK Memberships Registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Languages About Must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to enable effective communication about veterinary topics with customers and colleagues and meet one of the following: have undertaken undergraduate veterinary training in English or having a sufficient command of spoken and written English to effectively perform the role being undertaken by a public sector worker in a customer-facing role or have achieved the following scores in the academic international English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application – Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Applicable UK farm animal knowledge and farm animal veterinary experience Veterinary knowledge In Tray exercise Presentation Alongside your salary of £41,220, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £11,941 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support as the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a generous employee contributory pension (28.97%), staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering days per year. Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack. 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. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. Application Process As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV-style template and a 750-word personal statement detailing your suitability as a Veterinary Investigation Officer. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. We are planning to run ‘Drop-in’ sessions via MS Teams. For further details please email: mary.apaaternengeapha.gov.uk Sift Sift will commence the week following the closing date. Interview If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your Experience, Behaviours, Technical Criteria and Strength. We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Farm animal knowledge and farm animal experience ‘In-tray’ exercise (prioritisation task) Presentation Veterinary knowledge On arrival, candidates will be given 30 mins to prepare a short presentation on a given Veterinary Scenario, which will be given to the candidate at the same time as the "in-tray" exercise. Interviews will be held in person at APHA Bury St Edmunds. Confirmation of interview dates will be given once sift results are released. Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed. Location Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in a Defra/APHA group workplace/office. 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. As part of the pre-employment process, 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. For this role the requirement is to work primarily on site, although once fully competent and depending on work load there may be opportunity to work from home (at manager’s discretion/agreement). This role will be based at APHA Bury St Edmunds. 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. 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. This post offers the successful candidate the opportunity to receive an additional pay supplement of £3,000 upon appointment. There is a further pay supplement up to £3,000 which may be offered based on candidate’s annual competency assessment. These allowances do not form part of the Terms of Employment. 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. Criminal Record Check If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out. In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 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.grscabinetoffice.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. 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. 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. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. 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. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Medical Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical. 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. 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. 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. 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 Job Contact Name : Science.DirectorateHRapha.gov.uk Email : Science.DirectorateHRapha.gov.uk Telephone : Science.DirectorateHRapha.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : Defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information 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 Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here