Colindale (London)
Job Summary
As part of the multidisciplinary Incidents, Outbreaks and Infection Advice and Guidance (IOIG) team, the primary function of this post is to support epidemiological investigations of infectious disease incidents and outbreaks, coordinate and develop the collation and epidemiological analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMR & HCAI) surveillance data-sets, and to support the strengthening of AMR & HCAI surveillance systems. Under the supervision of senior scientific staff, the post holder will regularly extract, collate and validate surveillance data-sets and carry out epidemiological analyses to monitor trends, geographic distribution and risk factors. They will contribute to the delivery of surveillance and policy reports and to peer-reviewed publications.
The post-holder will adopt a variety of public health and surveillance portfolios, develop and implement standardised data collection and analysis protocols, will identify data quality issues and will facilitate their resolution. They will ensure that data are collected and processed in accordance with relevant policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) and will undertake regular assessments of data quality and completeness.
Job Description
* Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems related to the projects to underpin public health action across the department and surveillance systems therein;
* Have responsibility for the development and productivity of the information and intelligence system(s) related to the projects, including project management;
* Undertake specialist and complex analyses of quantitative and/or qualitative datasets which will require selection of the best option from a range of possible solutions;
* Analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data and research evidence from a range of sources to inform decision making;
* Receive, interpret, provide and advise on complex epidemiological and statistical information about the health of populations to the NHS, Department of Health and others;
* Communicate effectively and diplomatically research and other specialist information with colleagues from own or other disciplines and present findings at local, national and international meetings and conferences;
* Write and/or contribute to national and local policy setting reports, as well as peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, on the health of the population;
* Undertake literature reviews, evaluative research surveys, audits and other research as required;
* Assist in teaching and training courses run at Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Colindale and outside, by producing presentation materials and assist in AMR & HCAI lectures.
Management arrangements
* Be responsible to the Section Leads in the AMR & HCAI Division through the Principal or Senior Scientist coordinating the projects.
* Manage staff working on work-areas within the AMR & HCAI Division, if required.
Other
The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.
Professional Development
* Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events.
* To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
Key working relationships
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;
Internal
All UKHSA staff involved in the work of the AMR & HCAI Division.
External
* Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
* AMR & HCAI Leads in devolved administrations
* NHS England, NHS Improvement, Care Quality Commission (CQC), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other relevant national bodies
* AMR Programmes of Devolved Administrations
* Royal Colleges
* Professional and learned societies
* Data providers (clinicians, nurses, health advisers etc.) to ensure data quality and timely reporting, and internal and external data users.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
* Primary Degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, or allied discipline or equivalent experience
* Scientific research work experience, particularly in public health
* Data management, analysis and reporting
* Interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data
* Preparing scientific reports and presentations
* Of using computers and database software packages (Microsoft ACCESS and Excel). Including software packages for statistical analysis of data, specifically STATA and/or R
* Able to work as a team member, as well as able to work independently and to deadlines
* Maintain required levels of confidentiality
* Have a clear and organised approach to work with the ability to communicate and document methods clearly and succinctly
* Able to liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including health service and academic professionals
* Able to identify and solve problems
* An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable Criteria:
* Experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention
* Experience of project management
Alongside your salary of £36,187, UK Health Security Agency contributes £10,483 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* 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%
Selection process details
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your knowledge and experience and skills 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 12 Essential Criteria And 2 Desirable Criteria And This Will Be In The Form Of A:
* Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
* 1000 word Statement of Suitability
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 Statement of Suitability 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
In order to be shortlisted you must meet all essential criteria and some essential criteria.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on.
* Primary Degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or another suitable science subject
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
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 technical assessment at interview stage. (Further details will be provided at the interview stage).
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 hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale. 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).
If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of 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.
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 Counter-terrorist Check.
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 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC). 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.
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.
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)
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.
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 here.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard 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
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.
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.
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 : Ashley Popay
* Email : ashley.popay@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : rosie.ogrady@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. #J-18808-Ljbffr