Job summary Emergency Planning Officer Department: Operations Band: 8A Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working Milton Keynes University Hospital are looking for a dynamic, high calibre, credible individual to lead on the delivery of Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR). The successful candidate will lead in developing response capabilities as part of the Trust's requirement to maintain approved levels of operational readiness and compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, NHS EPRR Framework and national guidance. Additionally, you will work closely with Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB and other multi-agency partners on system wide resilience through either Local Health Resilience Partnership (LHRP) or Local Resilience Forum. You must be capable of working under pressure, prioritising to deadlines and multi-tasking. Good motivation, persuasion and planning skills are also essential. Your skills will have been ideally developed in an emergency planning role in a Category 1 or 2 responder organisation and will be an asset to our Trust. As the Emergency Planning Officer, you will deliver an effective EPRR system for the Trust, will have responsibility for the strategic and operational development to ensure a safe and effective response to incidents and emergencies. Plans to achieve the strategy will be underpinned by the delivery of short to medium term objectives. Main duties of the job Key aspects of this role will be to: Ensure the EPRR strategy is formulated, understood by all stakeholders and is delivered utilising all available resources efficiently and effectively. Ensure the development and management of preparedness arrangements within the Trust. Ensure appropriate system and processes are in place to enable the implementation of the EPRR strategy across the Trust. Proactively manage the key risks and issues associated with ensuring appropriate actions are taken to mitigate or respond. Monitoring and establishing accountability on the overall progress of the strategy to ensure completions within agreed timescales. Manage the budgetary implications of activity. Have high standard of written and communication skills with the ability to train others and work alongside staff members at all levels within the organisation Promote business continuity management system aligned to ISO22301 to avoid the destabilisation of business as usual. About us "Administrative and Clerical colleagues experience a highly compassionate and inclusive work environment at MKUH, scoring 7.56 out of 10" - NHS Staff Survey, 2023. Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news. Date posted 05 November 2024 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year Per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 430-CORP1474A Job locations Operations Directorate (Dept) Milton Keynes MK6 5LD Job description Job responsibilities On behalf of the Trusts Accountable Emergency Officer,the Emergency Planning Officer (EPO) will:Ensure that the Trust meets its statutory obligations under the CCA (2004) and complies with all relevant Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery (EPRR) guidance for the NHS, including non-statutory guidance that accompanies the CCA (2004) and also for business continuity and resilience preparedness. Apply the principles required by the CCA for information sharing and to advise the organisation of the appropriate arrangements where necessary.Maintain up to date and accessible records and information that may be required by the Trust including that required by Managers and Executives On-Call in the event of a significant incident or emergency. Prepares the Trust as an organisation for all matters relating to Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity. Writing and updating major incident plans, and policies relating to business continuity and ensuring individual departments are aware of their responsibilities monitoring and reporting up to Director of Clinical Services when required. Develop and deliver the Trusts emergency preparedness and resilience function, improve standards of such preparedness across the Trust and provide leadership on specialist emergency preparedness and resilience issues. Ensure that EPRR corporate responsibilities are met and provide assurance to the Trust Board that it complies with relevant legislation and guidance (as summarised by the NHS England Core Standards for EPRR). Develop and contribute to professional relationships within the Trust, with other commissioners and NHS funded organisations and multi-agency partners that facilitate the continual development of EPRR arrangements. Lead the development and implementation of EPRR delivery plans. Ensure appropriate representation at local health resilience partnerships (LHRPs), local resilience fora (LRFs) and their associated sub-groups and work streams. The EPO needs to know and fully understand the roles and responsibilities of ALL responding organisations in the event of a significant incident or emergency. Be aware of relevant incident response plans and arrangements includingpredetermined procedures for involvement of other organisations, and that these plans are coordinated and agreed by individual organisations through local health economy planning. Ensure that the identification of risk and the planning for subsequent mitigation is not conducted in isolation but is undertaken in partnership with other local responders and commissioners. Co-ordinate emergency preparedness and training exercises for the Trust and with resilience partners. Have knowledge of the assets of each of the partner organisations, ideally including the financial arrangements for each organisation, to be able to commit resources from their own organisation that need to be in place for responding to significant incidents and emergencies. Please refer to the job description for further details. Job description Job responsibilities On behalf of the Trusts Accountable Emergency Officer,the Emergency Planning Officer (EPO) will:Ensure that the Trust meets its statutory obligations under the CCA (2004) and complies with all relevant Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery (EPRR) guidance for the NHS, including non-statutory guidance that accompanies the CCA (2004) and also for business continuity and resilience preparedness. Apply the principles required by the CCA for information sharing and to advise the organisation of the appropriate arrangements where necessary.Maintain up to date and accessible records and information that may be required by the Trust including that required by Managers and Executives On-Call in the event of a significant incident or emergency. Prepares the Trust as an organisation for all matters relating to Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity. Writing and updating major incident plans, and policies relating to business continuity and ensuring individual departments are aware of their responsibilities monitoring and reporting up to Director of Clinical Services when required. Develop and deliver the Trusts emergency preparedness and resilience function, improve standards of such preparedness across the Trust and provide leadership on specialist emergency preparedness and resilience issues. Ensure that EPRR corporate responsibilities are met and provide assurance to the Trust Board that it complies with relevant legislation and guidance (as summarised by the NHS England Core Standards for EPRR). Develop and contribute to professional relationships within the Trust, with other commissioners and NHS funded organisations and multi-agency partners that facilitate the continual development of EPRR arrangements. Lead the development and implementation of EPRR delivery plans. Ensure appropriate representation at local health resilience partnerships (LHRPs), local resilience fora (LRFs) and their associated sub-groups and work streams. The EPO needs to know and fully understand the roles and responsibilities of ALL responding organisations in the event of a significant incident or emergency. Be aware of relevant incident response plans and arrangements includingpredetermined procedures for involvement of other organisations, and that these plans are coordinated and agreed by individual organisations through local health economy planning. Ensure that the identification of risk and the planning for subsequent mitigation is not conducted in isolation but is undertaken in partnership with other local responders and commissioners. Co-ordinate emergency preparedness and training exercises for the Trust and with resilience partners. Have knowledge of the assets of each of the partner organisations, ideally including the financial arrangements for each organisation, to be able to commit resources from their own organisation that need to be in place for responding to significant incidents and emergencies. Please refer to the job description for further details. Person Specification Qualifications and knowledge Essential Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Planning or equivalent specialist qualification / experience Qualification in Business Continuity Planning or equivalent or evidence of continuing professional development Excellent understanding of Emergency Planning & Business Continuity legislation and Organisations policies and procedures office systems and practice Understanding of the importance of staff engagement and good people management practice Desirable Knowledge of MS Office suite of applications Knowledge of the multi-agency response to and during a major incident Experience Essential Significant experience in Emergency Planning and / or Business Continuity and who is seeking to further their career in Emergency Planning and Business Continuity within the NHS. Having a track record of: Working with multidisciplinary teams and whole system partners Delivery of multidisciplinary training Working knowledge of EPRR requirements Desirable Direct management or provision of tactical advice for a declared major incident in a Category 1 or 2 responder organisation Skills Essential Ability to communicate advice and train others Able to write, amend, teach and communicate Emergency Planning policy to trust wide staff at all levels Works independently on all matters relating to EP and Business Continuity Keyboard skills, including intermediate to advanced Microsoft Word and Excel skills Ability to prioritise and organise a large volume of work with frequently changing priorities and work systematically towards deadlines Excellent verbal and written communication skills Ability to analyse and interpret written information Understanding of, and ability to maintain, confidentiality at all times Takes responsibility and demonstrates ownership of tasks Highly effective verbal and written communication to facilitate effective working with multidisciplinary teams, where the issues may be highly sensitive, contentious or there may be barriers to understanding Desirable A high level of IT literacy Ability to converse with, and win the confidence of, a diverse group of professional staff, managers and the public An effective and supportive trainer Flexible with an ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment Able to work on own initiative with awareness of boundaries Easily develops good working relationships with clinical groups Ability to produce high quality policies and plans relevant to EPRR in line with national guidance and best practice Effective leadership skills, including the ability to set direction and strategy in conjunction with others, and to lead and motivate staff Specific requirements Essential Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations Willing to travel to key meetings and between Trust sites in a timely manner. Ability to participate in regional and national exercises and meetings as required. Person Specification Qualifications and knowledge Essential Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Planning or equivalent specialist qualification / experience Qualification in Business Continuity Planning or equivalent or evidence of continuing professional development Excellent understanding of Emergency Planning & Business Continuity legislation and Organisations policies and procedures office systems and practice Understanding of the importance of staff engagement and good people management practice Desirable Knowledge of MS Office suite of applications Knowledge of the multi-agency response to and during a major incident Experience Essential Significant experience in Emergency Planning and / or Business Continuity and who is seeking to further their career in Emergency Planning and Business Continuity within the NHS. Having a track record of: Working with multidisciplinary teams and whole system partners Delivery of multidisciplinary training Working knowledge of EPRR requirements Desirable Direct management or provision of tactical advice for a declared major incident in a Category 1 or 2 responder organisation Skills Essential Ability to communicate advice and train others Able to write, amend, teach and communicate Emergency Planning policy to trust wide staff at all levels Works independently on all matters relating to EP and Business Continuity Keyboard skills, including intermediate to advanced Microsoft Word and Excel skills Ability to prioritise and organise a large volume of work with frequently changing priorities and work systematically towards deadlines Excellent verbal and written communication skills Ability to analyse and interpret written information Understanding of, and ability to maintain, confidentiality at all times Takes responsibility and demonstrates ownership of tasks Highly effective verbal and written communication to facilitate effective working with multidisciplinary teams, where the issues may be highly sensitive, contentious or there may be barriers to understanding Desirable A high level of IT literacy Ability to converse with, and win the confidence of, a diverse group of professional staff, managers and the public An effective and supportive trainer Flexible with an ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment Able to work on own initiative with awareness of boundaries Easily develops good working relationships with clinical groups Ability to produce high quality policies and plans relevant to EPRR in line with national guidance and best practice Effective leadership skills, including the ability to set direction and strategy in conjunction with others, and to lead and motivate staff Specific requirements Essential Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations Willing to travel to key meetings and between Trust sites in a timely manner. Ability to participate in regional and national exercises and meetings as required. Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer details Employer name Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Address Operations Directorate (Dept) Milton Keynes MK6 5LD Employer's website https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh (Opens in a new tab)