Advanced Healthcare Scientist (Epidemiology)
This post is a permanent position
About the Organisation:
National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re-invested into essential services.
The Post:
Are you a Healthcare Scientist (Epidemiology) with an interest in improving the health and wellbeing of patients in NHSScotland? Why not consider an opportunity to work within Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland, part of National Services Scotland, working in partnership to deliver ARHAI Scotland priority services which enable and support a safer and healthier Scotland.
ARHAI Scotland’s overall mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of the population by reducing the burden of infection and antimicrobial resistance within Scottish care settings by means of guidance development, surveillance and monitoring of infections and antimicrobial resistance, operational support and training, covering areas such as incident and outbreak management, decontamination, the built environment, research and infection prevention and control/antimicrobial resistance expertise.
We are seeking an Advanced Healthcare Scientist (Epidemiology) to join ARHAI Scotland to contribute to ARHAI Scotland’s six Priority Programmes; ICBED (Infection Control in Built Environment & Decontamination), NPGE (National Policies, Guidance and Evidence), CIPC (Community Infection, Prevention & Control), Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance & Epidemiology (HcAISE), Scottish One Health Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance (SONAAR) and Clinical Assurance (CA).
The Candidate:
As an Advanced Healthcare Scientist, the post holder will be required to support consultants, programme leads or senior nursing and scientific staff in the provision of specialised information, advice and support to stakeholders. This will include the provision of scientific literature reviews, analysis, interpretation and presentation of epidemiological and surveillance data and participation in relevant research activities.
You will be educated to post graduate level or equivalent experience in a health or research field with a proven track record in health protection, epidemiology, or public health. You will have excellent leadership skills, the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and will be able to communicate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders.
Knowledge of the NHS would be advantageous. It is vital that you demonstrate the NSS values of working with respect and care, openness and integrity.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidate who have lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.
Location and Working Pattern:
This is a national post. The contract location of this role will be Glasgow, however, we are currently hybrid working with scope for working from home. Access to other NHS NSS buildings across Scotland can also be made available for working if required.
The work pattern is Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week.
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.
Benefits:
Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. Click here to view the full range of NHS NSS Employee Benefits.
Inclusion:
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of NSS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on NSS.wfrs@nhs.scot
Further information:
For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Elaine Glass, Principal Healthcare Scientist at elaine.glass@nhs.scot to arrange.
Closing date for completed applications is 18 April 2025.
Job Description Notice of Change
Antimicrobial Resistance & Healthcare Associated Infection Scotland (ARHAI) Scotland is part of National Services Scotland. The group was formally part of Health Protection Scotland within National Services Scotland but was under Public Health and Intelligence. As a result of the recent structural changes job description(s) associated with the current vacancies still reflect the Health Protection Scotland brand and structure.
Candidates are advised that all job description(s) shall be updated over the coming months to reflect ARHAI Scotland branding and organisational structure changes.
Further information on NSS is available from: www.nhsnss.org
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).