Protect Practitioner

Exciting opportunities have arisen within the newly created pan-North Wales Health Protection Service, which will work in partnership to respond to health protection measures and threats.

Health Protection Service Overview
- The Health Protection service will operate on a default Monday to Friday 9/5 basis with the option of flexing to a 7-day working week when service demand requires it. The Health Protection service will evolve over the year under the direction of the Executive Director for Public Health

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
- The agility to respond to sampling and screening requirements will change throughout the year, with some new challenges. This will require the team to work across the region.
- The teams will respond to Covid waves within a Covid Stable environment and deliver on the plan for respiratory viruses for winter, set out in national guidance including testing and tracing.
- Capacity for contact tracing will be built into the Health Protection model to support Public Health Wales (PHW), should they require assistance in an outbreak or surge situation.
- The Communicable Disease Outbreak Control Plan for Wales will guide and support the delivery of outbreaks.
- As part of a transitional plan closed settings and education settings will require training, advice and support, with some targeted work. This will require staff to travel to sites across the Region.
- EHO, PHW and IPC links need to be maintained and built on going forward; a partnership approach is essential to the success of the new service.
- Please find attached the Job Descriptions and Person Specifications for these opportunities. Please see an overview of the new Service below. Work bases will initially be at the existing sites at Parc Menai, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Wrexham Maelor.

If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi
Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest
health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and
elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales. Join our team and
get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and ‘Proud to Lead’ competence
framework.
Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed
to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the “Disability
Confident Employer” scheme.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less

**Job Summary/Job Purpose**:
The post holder will support closed settings and sectors as agreed across North Wales to interpret, implement and evaluate relevant national and local guidance in the surveillance, prevention and management of Infectious Diseases.

The protect Practitioner role will form an effective link between the transitionary Health Protection Service and closed settings and sectors as agreed by utilising their expert knowledge, relevant field experience and effective leadership skills.
1. The post holder will have good working knowledge of all relevant national guidance, legislation (if applicable), local pathways and frameworks to ensure appropriate Infectious Disease advice is given at all times to closed settings and sectors as agreed as appropriate, partner agencies and the BCU Health Board.
2. Provide timely and accurate verbal and written feedback to Public Health Wales, BCU Health Board, Regulators and other relevant partners on Infectious Disease outbreak and management.
3. Update, utilises and maintain Infectious Disease management systems as required, in order to ensure public sector bodies have access to accurate and timely information.
4. Collate, interpret and submit statistics to Welsh Government / BCUB and other official bodies for publication
5. Support the Health Protection Service to deliver on tracing requirements instigated nationally or locally in response to Infectious Disease outbreaks. This will include familiarity with relevant tracing systems and the ability to train and support junior colleagues to implement agreed Standard Operating Systems

Prioritisation of workload and a rapid response plan will be required when there is an incident/outbreak notification or a variant of concern is identified in order to avoid the further spread of infection and comply with the appropriate National and local protocols and guidance

In addition to delivering the acute response service, the post holder will also work with other team members to identify and agree a portfolio of planned proactive work at local and regional level. This involves working in collaboration with other agencies and disciplines (see below) in the provision of a specialist health protection service for the population of North Wales.

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