Consultant Epidemiologist

Job summary

This vacancy presents an exciting opportunity for a Consultant Epidemiologist ( FTE) to join the UKHSA Field Service Midlands team on a permanent basis, based in either Birmingham or Nottingham.

The Field Services Division (FS) was established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological, microbiological, infectious diseases and data science capacity and expertise to deliver high quality surveillance, outbreak investigations and operational research.

FS provides an effector arm for UKHSA, supporting the translation of evidence into practice as well as having a role in strengthening surveillance through closer links with the NHS and other partners. It also provides valuable links to academic centres and effective leadership and coordination of the UKHSA field epidemiology training function.

The post-holder will contribute to the local and national UKHSA surveillance, epidemiology and outbreak control function, supported by information, administrative, and scientific staff within the both the local FS Midlands team and the wider national Field Services Division. Specific lead areas and work portfolio will be agreed with the Heads of Team and Deputy Director of Field Services.

Main duties of the job

Key Job Specific Responsibilities:

The consultant will take a lead role in the daily reactive on-call service with Scientists, Information Officers, Epidemiology Fellows, Specialist Registrars in Public Health Medicine / Specialist Trainees and administration team The consultant will be expected to lead and complete major incidents or outbreaks across the team locality and national incidents where required To provide epidemiological advice and support to Regional Deputy Directors of Health Protection, Consultants in Health Protection, Directors of Public Health and others involved in the control of communicable disease and infection and the management of regional and national incidents/outbreaks To undertake the surveillance of communicable disease and infection, both in hospitals and the wider community, at local and national level where required, to ensure that timely and accurate information is available to those involved in the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable disease and infection at local, regional and national levels Other duties as agreed by negotiation between the post holder and the Heads of Team or Deputy Director of the Field Service.

About us

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our staff are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Candidates should refer to the Job Description for a full overview of the role and remit of the post.

Other Information

Option 3 External - Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)

If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice

Public Health Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.

Hybrid Working

UKHSA operates 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 usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you shouldcontact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email:C.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission websitehere

Selection process details

STAGE 1 Application & Sift:

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the person specification. You will be required to complete an application form. You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria.

Applicants are strongly advised to use the person specification section as sub-headings in the application to make it clear how you meet each of the selection criteria.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview and assessment

STAGE 2 Interview

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will progress to an interview and will be assessed on the essential criteria as advertised.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact:

John Mair-Jenkins, Joint Head of Team & Consultant Epidemiologist, Field Services Midlands UKHSA, email: , or

Dr Carol Chatt, Joint Head of Team & Consultant Epidemiologist, Field Services Midlands UKHSA, email:

UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

GMC full and specialist register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) or UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible within 6 months If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine/infectious diseases medicine/or medical microbiology practice Public health specialty registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers [see shortlisting notes below for additional guidance] If an applicant is UK trained, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of Faculty of Public Health/ Royal College of Pathologists/Royal College of Physicians or other recognised body MFPH by examination (or exemption or assessment) or equivalent MRCPath or MRCP

Personal Qualities

Essential

Strong commitment to public health principles Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty Adaptable to situations, can handle people of all capabilities and attitudes Commitment to team-working, and respect and consideration for the skills of others Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative High standards of professional probity

Experience

Essential

Significant strategic experience of leadership for public health Staff management and training Practical experience in facilitating change Experience of communicable disease control in a wide variety of settings including out of hours on call Experience and demonstrable competency in dealing with environmental hazards/chemical incidents Experience of working with other agencies Experience of emergency planning Experience in the application of epidemiological methods such as case-control and cohort studies to investigate public health problems

Desirable

Scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars etc

Skills

Essential

Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills Proven excellent oral and written communication skills (including presentation skills and dealing with the media) Proven and effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data Ability to apply epidemiological methods and statistics Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies Resource and staff management skills Project Management skills Budget management skills

Desirable

Ability to undertake prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of public health importance Training and mentoring skills

Knowledge

Essential

High level of understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation. Understanding of NHS and local government cultures, structures and policies Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice Understanding of social and political environment Understanding of interfaces between health and social care An understanding of the public sector duty and the inequality duty and their applications to public health practice Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection Understanding of laboratory microbiology services, clinical infectious diseases services and clinical toxicology services

Desirable

Knowledge of grant development and research methodology

Equality and Diversity

Essential

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

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