Health Protection Practitioner

**_An exciting opportunity has arisen for Health Protection Practitioners (Level 2) to join the UKHSA South West. _**

**_At level 2 it is expected that the postholder will act more autonomously than a level 1 practitioner_**

**_The post holder will be part of the multi-disciplinary team contributing to the provision of the health protection function, including the management of infectious and environmental hazards, and response to major incidents. They will use specialistknowledge and skills to undertake case management and provide health protection advice across a range of partner organisations, professionals, and the public. They will actively contribute to the wider provision and development of the health protection function,including the development, training and supervision of others within the team._**

**_The post holder will undergo a programme of on-going development and education. They will contribute to the out of hours on-call service._**

**_Regular on-site presence will be required at one of the SW offices._**

**Location: Bristol or Totnes**

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.
- *Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available. *_

**Working Pattern -**Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working

**Responsibilities section**:
**As the Health Protection Practitioner, your main responsibilities will include**:

- The postholder will contribute to operational delivery to ensure high quality, safe delivery of the health protection service by providing first point of contact for specialist knowledge/ advice to health professionals
Undertake management of routine acute response work & non-complex incidents escalating and referring complex incidents and outbreaks.
- Support to the development & maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.
- Support the development of effective relationships with a range of individuals and stakeholders, support to research & the development and delivery of teaching resources, role model team standards.
- Support the development of policies for health protection issues & audit as part of quality/service improvement Participate in organisational/professional appraisal, revalidation & CPD as appropriate.
- Participate in a local on call rota at regional level.

**A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found in the job description.**

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

**Essential Criteria**:
**We are looking for an exceptional Health Protection Practitioner.**

It is important in your Statement of Suitability of 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
**Essential**
- First degree (Health Related) or demonstrable equivalent experience
- Working towards registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
- Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
- An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act (e.g. safe guarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
- Ability to analyse and interpret information in an effective manner to recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issue(s)
- Evidence of ongoing CPD and committed to self-development

**Desirable**
- Professional Public Health qualification and registration e.g. Specialist Community Public Health (SCPHN) part of the NMC Register or UK PH Register for practitioners
- Recognised teaching qualification, e.g. ENB 998/PGCE or NVQ Level 4 Certificate in education or equivalent experience
- Knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
- Experience of designing and implementing internal processes and procedures for service improvement e.g. governance standards, audit etc