Head of Acute Respiratory Infections – Consultant Epidemiologist

This is a permanent post as the Head of the Acute Respiratory Infections Section within the Tuberculosis; Acute Respiratory, Zoonoses and Emerging Infections; and Travel Health (TARZET) Division. TARZET sits within the UKHSA Clinical and Emerging directorate of the Clinical and Public Health group.

The work of the section covers a range of activities including horizon scanning for emerging respiratory infection threats and assessing any potential emerging infectious threats identified; undertaking surveillance and national public health activities related to endemic respiratory infections (excluding those with a routine vaccine programme); providing advice and guidance on airborne high consequence infectious diseases; working closely with animal health colleagues on the assessment, management and control of emerging influenza viruses,  and providing evidence to relevant advisory committees including the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Assessment Group (NERVTAG) and the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens.

This position is flexible and can be worked from any of UKHSA core locations – Canary Wharf, London, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham or any of 3 Scientific Campus – Porton, Chilton, Colindale. Applications for part-time, job-share or flexible working will be considered. 

Working for your organisation

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 employees 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.

HEAD OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS SECTION

1. Ensuring the smooth running of the Section including management of finances, business continuity, risk management, business planning etc
2. Ensuring appropriate clinical governance and quality procedures are implemented within the unit
3. Advising on the priorities, scientific direction and major developments in the Section
4. Acting as a member of the TARZET Senior Management Group

CO-ORDINATION OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS ACTIVITIES

1. Ensuring the maintenance and development of horizon scanning activities for emerging respiratory infections, working across UKHSA, devolved administrations and international partners
2. Ensuring robust alert and communication systems for potential emerging disease threats
3. Lead the risk assessment work for emerging respiratory infections and airborne high consequence infectious diseases, working closely with the Emerging Infectious and Zoonoses unit. This will include ensuring the scientific validity of the risk assessments and that the findings are communicated to the relevant stakeholders.
4. Develop high quality advice and guidance on respiratory pathogens and syndromes, and ensure this is available to all those who need it including in UKHSA and stakeholders
5. Providing clinical and public health advice and assistance in respiratory infection incidents or outbreaks and advising on clinical and epidemiological aspects of their prevention and control
6. Public and professional advice is an important part of the role and the post holder is responsible for the continued development of UKHSA’s acute respiratory infection web pages and ensuring that the advice and information is accurate and up-to-date.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Provide support to deliver public health training, including responsibility for providing project supervision for Speciality Registrars, trainees on the Field Epidemiology Trainee Programme and other trainees whilst on attachment at Colindale
2. Contribute to the teaching commitments both within and outside UKHSA, particularly in his/her fields of special expertise.
3. Contribute to competency development and assessment in the workforce
4. It is also expected that the postholder will develop close links with relevant NHS and other scientists. UKHSA is committed to a programme of international collaboration with other professionals involved in the control of communicable diseases. The postholder is expected to support and assist the development of this programme which may require a preparedness to undertake international travel.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Contribute to the relevant Health Protection Research Units (HPRU)
2. Work with others to develop the research evidence base required to support the control of communicable disease and the health protection function, both initiating and collaborating with research as appropriate and linking with relevant academic institutions.
3. Undertake and commission literature reviews, evaluative research surveys, audits and other research as required to inform equitable service and reducing health inequalities.

OTHER DUTIES

1. Contribute to the provision of TARZET daytime duty rotas and an appropriate out of hours rota (which may include International Health Regulations, High Consequence Infectious Diseases or Colindale duty doctor rota)  depending on service needs and specialist experience.
2. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties as required, to expand the remit of the unit into other respiratory diseases as required by the organisation and public health needs, and deputise and cover as necessary for colleagues during annual leave, study leave and other absences. This includes providing support to other TARZET units when need arises.
3. The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.

PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS

The Consultant will be expected to:

1. Participate in the organisation’s appraisal scheme including the professional appraisal scheme and ensure appraisal and development of any staff for which s/he is responsible.
2. Contribute actively to the training programme for Foundation Year Doctors/Specialty Registrars in Public Health as appropriate, and to the training of practitioners and primary care professionals within the locality
3. Pursue a programme of CPD, in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements, or other recognised body, and undertake revalidation, audit or other measures required to remain on the GMC/GDC Specialist Register or the UK Public Health (Specialist) Register or other specialist register as appropriate

These professional obligations will be reflected in the job plan. The post-holder may also have external professional responsibilities, e.g. in respect of training or work for the Faculty of Public Health. Time allocation for these additional responsibilities will need to be agreed with the relevant UKHSA Director.

The postholder will practise in accordance with all relevant sections of the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice and Faculty of Public Health’s Good Public Health Practice

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) or Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, 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/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
• If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, 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 (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body
• MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment; or alternatively MRCPath or MRCP

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Understanding of epidemiology, statistics and public health practice
• Understanding of laboratory microbiology services and clinical infectious disease services
• Experience of providing information and advice to those at a senior level, e.g. for parliamentary questions, or to NHS or UKHSA senior teams
• Extensive experience of communicable disease control including outbreak management in a wide variety of settings
• Staff management and training

Desirable criteria

• Scientific publications or presentation of papers at international conferences
• Experience of emergency planning

Skills and Capabilities

Essential criteria

• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including dealing with the public
• Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills
• Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies

Desirable criteria

• Resource management skills

Equality and Diversity

Essential criteria

• 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 system

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

• Name : Meera Chand
• Email : Tarzetoffice@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : SCS.MDrecruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk