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Job summary
HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTION, FUNGAL, AMR, AMU & SEPSIS DIVISION
This post is within the Healthcare Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Utilisation (AMU) & Sepsis Division (Clinical & Public Health group) of UKHSA. The mission of the division is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, modelling, research and interventions.
JOB SUMMARY
The postholder will be a senior member of the scientific staff within the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division. The postholder will work within a multi-disciplinary team including epidemiologists, microbiologists, public health specialists, bioinformaticians, behavioural scientists, data managers, statisticians, IT specialists, and operational and administrative staff.
The Division is responsible for a range of national surveillance programmes that collect epidemiological data on a number of healthcare associated infections (HCAI) and invasive bacterial infections; monitoring resistance to and usage of antimicrobials; providing specialist epidemiology; coordinating the investigation and cause of national outbreaks; advice to government. In addition to epidemiological focused work the division also includes national reference laboratory for HCAI and AMR related pathogens.
The post holder, based within the AMR and Prescribing Team (AMRP) at the UKHSA Colindale site, will take a senior role responsible for a number of high-profile outputs supporting delivery of the Governments National Action Plan (NAP) to tackle AMR, providing and developing national surveillance of HCAIs and AMR, and leading research studies. There are a number of areas of focus within the Surveillance and Epidemiology Sections of the Division, including but not limited to:
- Surgical Site Infection Surveillance (SSI)
- Streptococcal Infections
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Prescribing (AMRP)
- Mandatory Surveillance of Bloodstream Infections including Gram negative infections and Clostridiodies difficile
- Infections in Critical Care Units (ICCU)
The role will involve working in a small team to provide scientific support to the analysis, operation, and development of surveillance systems including development of methodology and directing changes to data capture systems in liaison with system architects and software developers. The role may involve day-to-day management of scientific, technical and information staff within their Section.
Job description
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Surveillance, Epidemiology & Public Health
- Lead and manage the design, development, introduction, audit and continuous improvement of HCAI & AMRP surveillance systems as required. Responsibility for specific systems will be assigned upon appointment and reflected within associated job advertisements noting that these may evolve in response to emerging public health priorities.
- Conduct complex statistical and epidemiological analyses of data on HCAI and AMRP drawn from a variety of surveillance sources. Providing expert technical advice and assistance to public health and clinical practitioners on the design, maintenance, analysis and interpretation of HCAI & AMRP databases.
- Provide expert advice in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies, public health practitioners, academics, media, commercial organisations and members of the public.
- Ensure emerging threats are recognized in a timely manner by the analysis and interpretation of often complex data from a variety of sources to understand the public health significance of the potential risk. Provide epidemiological support to incidents or outbreaks both within UKHSA and externally to NHS and Independent Sector health providers. Ensure the scientific validity and evidence-base of risk assessments, and that findings are communicated to the relevant stakeholders nationally and internationally through situation reports and briefing notes.
- Provide specialist advice on the epidemiological aspects of the prevention and control of HCAI & AMR by contributing to the development of guidance, designing data collection systems, interpreting epidemiological data, conducting statistical analyses, and scientific publications.
- Manage scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance, development, statistical analysis, quality outputs and reporting from HCAI & AMRP datasets. Undertake periodic evaluation of surveillance systems including stakeholder engagement exercises.
Research
- Design analytical strategies and supervise complex statistical analyses of research datasets for the production of project reports, papers for peer reviewed journals and conference presentations.
- Initiate collaborative projects within UKHSA and external collaborators to address public health research questions. This may also include taking a lead on research proposals for externally funded projects and provision of expert advice to academic units and other agencies involved in collaborative epidemiological and microbiological studies.
Management and Planning
- To work alongside other members of the HCAI & AMRP Division on:
- the business planning process and the development of surveillance/research, communication, training strategies etc;
- Compare, analyse and interpret highly complex options for running projects identified as key public health priorities, and communicate this information across organisations and key stakeholders;
- Budget responsibility for Section led grants
- Selection and recruitment of staff, including, shortlisting applicants and interviewing candidates selected for interview;
- Staff management responsibilities to be agreed with line manager.
- Responsible for developing quality control processes, participating in audits and ensuring resilience through maintaining Standard Operating Procedures and business continuity planning.
- Be responsible for ensuring their teams work complies to UKHSA standards and governance requirements including maintaining confidentiality and security of surveillance information.
- Development of business cases to support system developments, this may include undertaking relevant procurement requirements and management of supplier relationships.
- To deputise for the Section Lead/Lead Epidemiologist as required.
Publications and presentations
- To plan and oversee the development of HCAI & AMRP epidemiological outputs including outward facing publications including annual reports, web pages, writing of scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and to manage junior scientific and administrative colleagues in the development of manuscripts.
- To represent the Division on expert committees, national and local incident control teams, national/international meetings and conferences.
Teaching and Training
- To develop public health capacity by contributing to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level and by supervising those training and working in public health and epidemiology.
- To contribute to the training for new members of staff on the epidemiology and surveillance of communicable disease.
- To participate in wider scientific activities to maintain professional standards including peer review of manuscripts.
Location
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working this means that whilst the role will be based in our Colindale Office, there will be opportunities to work from home. The number of days in the office will be agreed on an individual basis by your line manager.
You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available
Person specification
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1,000 words (max) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential Criteria:
- Educated to degree level in a relevant scientific subject or significant experience of working at a similar level in this field
- Higher degree in epidemiology/ public health/ microbiology or related discipline
- PhD or equivalent research experience
- Substantial post-graduate experience
- Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health
- Knowledge and work experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention including healthcare associated infection and/or antimicrobial resistance and/or antimicrobial prescribing
- Broad understanding of and experience of health care systems, public health and the communicable disease function in the UK
- Creating, validating and managing large databases and datasets
- Advanced statistical analysis of large and complex datasets, including knowledge and experience with STATA and/or R
- Writing research protocols, grant applications and scientific reports
- Presenting scientific papers at national and international meetings and conferences and proven peer review publication record
- Able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and motivate and encourage team members
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues including problem solving, working to tight and often changing timescales.
- Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly
- 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:
- Preparing and reviewing standard operating procedures
- Developing training material and/or delivering training for healthcare or academic sector staff
- Experience of working within the NHS or other health-related sectors
- Managing and leading scientific and technical staff including working under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including health service and academic professionals
- Maintain required levels of confidentiality
Benefits
For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Benefits
- 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%
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK
Things you need to know
Selection process details
STAGE 1 – APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 1,000 words.
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. The sift selection panel will only consider relevant career history information from the last 5 years.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 INTERVIEW:
This competition will involve an interview via Teams.
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
This vacancy will assess your Qualifications; Knowledge and Experience; Skills/Capabilities/Behaviours and Equality and Diversity as outlined in the person specification found below and consists of shortlisting against the essential and desirable criteria.
Candidates will also required to prepare and deliver a 5min presentation. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidates experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.
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Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 20/08/2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Interviews: w/c 04/09/2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Nationality requirements
Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Security clearance level requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Please Note
This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.
Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
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 should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. 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 website.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Daisy Zhang
- Email : UKHSA.recruitment@reed.com
Recruitment team
- Email : UKHSA.recruitment@reed.com
