About this role
Job summary
The Data Surveillance Information Officer (DSIO) provides essential data, information and administrative support to the Health Protection Team (HPT), enabling the effective delivery of regional health protection functions. The role is central to the development, management and quality assurance of surveillance systems for communicable diseases and environmental hazards, ensuring accurate data flow, storage, analysis and reporting. Working closely with Consultants in Health Protection, Health Protection Practitioners, Business Support teams, microbiologists, local authorities and regional and national partners, the DSIO supports the investigation and management of infectious disease cases and outbreaks by coordinating data, producing timely reports, analyses and visualisations, and maintaining robust surveillance databases such as Case Information Management System (CIMS). The postholder ensures compliance with agreed protocols, statutory reporting requirements and information governance standards, while actively resolving data quality issues and contributing to audits and service improvements.
The DSIO also plays a key role in system development, staff training, preparation of standard operating procedures, and participation in outbreak response,epidemiological investigations and professional meetings, supporting continuous improvement of regional health protection surveillance and intelligencefunctions.
Main duties of the job
Support Consultants and Practitioners in managing individual cases of infectious diseases and in outbreak management through follow-up and co-ordinationof results and relevant data analysis to provide accurate and timely information to the HPU team. Ensure robust data flow and reporting mechanisms for laboratory and clinical notification are in place to protect individuals and the local population andfacilitate the continued improvement in the regional health protection function. Ensure records relating to communicable disease notifications are processed and maintained to agreed protocols and standard operating procedures. To enter on Case Information Management System (CIMS). all notifiable diseases received from laboratories and to produce legally required statutory weekly returns to the Centre of Infections. Assist the SIO with ensuring timely reporting is delivered to the Health Protection team and partner organisations as detailed on the team's Surveillance reporting calendar. Be responsible for developing, managing, maintaining and updating the team's surveillance systems and databases for communicable diseases andenvironmental hazards for example enhanced surveillance of meningococcal disease and Tuberculosis. Ensure that data from a variety of sources, includingfiles collected electronically or in written format are valid and accurately entered onto these systems.
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
Develop close liaison working with key partners in surveillance for health protection for example Local Authorities, Microbiologists or TB nurses, Regional andNational units. Ensure consistency and accuracy of database surveillance systems, resolving data inaccuracies to ensure robust data flows are maintained. To conduct regular audit of data and information systems to ensure the integrity and reliability of surveillance data and other data sources and contribute to initiatives to improve the quality of surveillance in the unit. To undertake periodic reviews and evaluation to ensure routine and ad-hoc surveillance reports are delivered in a timely and accurate manner. Provide support to the Health Protection clinical team during outbreak investigations and epidemiological research through provision of reports, graphs, and outbreak curves in a timely manner for the outbreak control team. To participate in the investigation of outbreaks of food poisoning to include questionnaire design, data entry and analysis. This may involve extended/out of hours requirement for which lieu time will be given. Provide training to regional clinical and administrative staff in the use of CIMS as necessary Attend meetings and working groups as representative for the Surveillance function, processing associated workload this entails. Prepare standard operating procedures based on national guidelines in liaison with health protection clinical staff. Act as a regional CIMS Information Champion. To work with the Regional IM&T team to maintain public health surveillance systems within the unit. (To include provision of reciprocal office cover to theRegional Information Team during periods of staff sickness/holidays/training/meeting requirements). Maintain confidentiality and security of information at all times in compliance with UKHSA policies, the Data protection Act and other statutory requirements(Caldicott). Attend professional meetings, conferences and training courses as designated by Surveillance Lead/Deputy Director for Health Protection. Proficient in the use of Office 360. This list is not exhaustive.
Essential Criteria:
Educated to degree level in numerate, analytical or science-based subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area. Communicate proactively, accurately and succinctly. Negotiate in a friendly and tactful manner with a wide range of health, IT and academic professionals. Prioritise and co-ordinate workload. Work well on own initiative as well as in teams. Deal with problems in a calm, efficient and timely manner. Work to tight deadlines. Show sound numeracy skills and a good understanding of data presentation. Produce accurate and consistent work. Maintain required levels of confidentiality. Demonstrate understanding of basic epidemiological terms and methods. Willingness to undertake training and participate in continuous professional development. Willingness to travel to meetings and training across the region and occasionally beyond. Flexible and adaptable to changing environments and priorities. An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems Desirable criteria:
Using computers and database software packages. Experience in data management, handling, analysis and reporting. Use of some of the following: spreadsheets, databases, GIS, statistical software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS, SPSS). Experience of maintaining code using R or an alternative statistical package. Working in public health. Working in communicable disease surveillance. Use of Refman or equivalent and Microsoft PowerPoint. Applying for research governance approval. Stage 1: Application & Sift
Competency-based
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 15 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 your skills, experience, and 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.
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 750words. We will not consider any words over 750words.
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 If longlisting is used, the pile meetingallessential criteria will be proceed to shortlisting.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following essential criteria:
Educated to degree level in numerate, analytical or science-based subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area. Show sound numeracy skills and a good understanding of data presentation. Maintain required levels of confidentiality. Stage 2: Interview
Competency Based
You will be invited to a singleface to face interviewat Canary Wharf.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
Interviewsdatesareto 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.
For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our core HQ in London (Canary Wharf). 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 office. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a basicdisclosure 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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.
Eligibility Criteria
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.
Civil Service: Executive Officer (EO)
£32624 - £37737 (Inner London).
Person Specification
Application form & Supporting statement Essential
Application form & Supporting statement
Essential Criteria Essential
Questions on knowledge/experience/skills & abilities
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 Core HQ
London (Canary Wharf)
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)