About this role
Job summary
This post is within the Hepatitis Section of the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division of the Chief Medical Advisor's Group at UKHSA. The postholder will be part of a dynamic team responsible for delivering the coordination, management, and development of surveillance systems of communicable diseases, focusing on hepatitis. The postholder will support the data collection, validation, and production of routine surveillance intelligence in these areas and carry out epidemiological analyses to monitor trends, geographic distribution and risk factors.
The main responsibilities of the postholder will be to maintain and develop hepatitis surveillance systems, working closely with a wide variety of professionals both within and outside UKHSA to ensure high quality data. The postholder will oversee the co-ordination of requests for data associated with hepatitis, the production of regular and ad hoc outputs from these systems for inclusion in routine national and international reports and information requests from external stakeholders. The role requires liaising with stakeholders within the organisation and outside to lead on the mandatory reporting, quality assurance and standard processes. The postholder will have strong data management skills, ideally with experience in surveillance data. The postholder must have excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively both autonomously and within a team.
Main duties of the job
Surveillance and Prevention Monitoring
Develop, maintain and document (standard operational procedures) the surveillance systems. Planning, organising and delivering on a range of data requests requiring analytic input. 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 Social Care and others. Support senior staff in the management and continued development of surveillance databases.
About us
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.
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Job description Job responsibilities
Specialist Advice and Evaluation
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. Research and Development
Undertake literature reviews, evaluative research surveys, audits and other research as required. Teaching and Training
Assist in teaching and training courses run at the Chief Medical Advisors Group, Colindale and outside, by producing presentation materials and assist in Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division lectures. Management Arrangements
The postholders will:
Be responsible to the Consultant Leads in the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division through the Principal or Senior Scientist coordinating the projects Manage staff working on work-areas within the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV 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 your line manager. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and UKHSA. It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes. Professional Development
To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training. 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 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
Work with staff in the BSHSH Division, laboratory and other staff within UKHSA at the local, regional and national level. External
Frequent contact with administrative and clinical colleagues throughout the UK in clinics, laboratories and Drug and Alcohol services. Frequent contact with other data providers such as survey facilitators, public health and health promotion personnel and data users (e.g. UKHSA personnel Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, Regional Epidemiologists, Directors of Public Health). Essential criteria
First degree in a science subject (or equivalent qualification) or equivalent experience in a related scientific field Data management, analysis and reporting as well as significant experience of working with multiple sets of data and information systems in health or related organisations Experience of using computers and database software packages (Microsoft ACCESS and Excel) Experience of using software packages for statistical analysis of data e.g. STATA/R Knowledge of data security and confidentiality issues Work on several separate tasks at the same time, whilst keeping to agreed deadlines; identify and solve day-to-day practical problems Analysing, summarising and interpreting complex epidemiological data, and resolving problems Able to communicate and document methods clearly and succinctly Ability to work independently and take responsibility for own technical work and time and to work as an effective team member Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly to include excellent oral and written communication skills An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships Desirable criteria
Significant experience related to health information Experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention Experience of working in public health or communicable disease surveillance with the NHS, UKHSA or in sexual health/drug and alcohol services Selection Process Details
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications,knowledgeand experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed11 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 750 word supporting statement. This should outline how you consider your skills, experienceand knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please beadvisedyou will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.
HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words.
Longlisting: In the event ofa large number ofapplicationswe will longlist into 3 piles of:
Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria If used, the pile Meets all essential criteria willproceedto shortlisting.
Shortlisting: In the event ofa large number ofapplications we may conductan initialsift, on the lead criteria of:
First degree in a science subject (or equivalent qualification) or equivalent experience Experience of using software packages for statistical analysis of data e.g. STATA/R Desirable criteria may be usedin the event ofa large number ofapplications/largeamountof successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a single face to faceinterview Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ.
If face to face interviewsareplanned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview
There will be a 30 minute Epidemiology and Statistical Software Test before the interview. Details will be sent to candidates invited to interview stage.
Interviews dates to be confirmed.
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, London. 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 our campus.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.
Based at our scientific campus, 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.
Eligibility Criteria
External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).
Salary Information
If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
This vacancy is a being offered as Fixed Term Appointment/Loan/Secondment until 31/03/2027 with potential to extend.
Person Specification
Application form and supporting statement Essential
Application form and supporting statement
Interview - Essential criteria Essential
Questions on Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Interview - Technical Skills Essential
Technical Assessment
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name UK Health Security Agency
Address Scientific Campus
Colindale (London)
NW9 5EQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)