Epidemiology and Information Analyst Birmingham, England
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Health Professionals
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
INTRODUCTION
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.
FIELD SERVICES DIRECTORATE
The Field Services Directorate (FSD) was established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological, microbiological, infectious diseases and data sciences capacity and skills delivering surveillance and outbreak investigations consistently of the highest quality. FSD 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. FSD also provides effective leadership and coordination of the UKHSA applied epidemiology training function.
JOB SUMMARY
The post will involve supporting outbreaks and epidemiological investigations through collecting, extracting and analysing data and managing, maintaining and updating databases.
The post holder will contribute to surveillance activities through adapting and developing routines and undertaking basic descriptive analysis to support the production of routine surveillance reports.
The post holder will also be required to undertake basic statistical tests and use common statistical, database and mapping software and tools to support analysis such as producing tables, graphs, maps etc. and running queries.
Job description
Specific duties of the role may vary depending on the site and teams/functions.
Outbreak support and epidemiological investigation
1. Where appropriate, support the maintenance of outbreak and incident databases, the development of data extraction tools and automated routines and undertake basic descriptive and trend analysis
2. Contribute to the production of outbreak reports
Surveillance
3. Adapt and develop automated routines to support surveillance activities, following and advising on Standard Operating Procedures and contribute to and support the production of routine surveillance reports including basic descriptive analysis
4. Respond to routine data requests
Research
5. Adapt queries and undertake basic analysis of data to support research
Statistical skills
6. Undertake basic statistical tests, under guidance
Software skills
7. Use common statistical/database/mapping tools as part of pre-defined routines
8. Undertake basic analytical skills using common software packages to support analysis such as producing tables, graphs etc. and running queries
Quality and governance
9. Be aware of, and comply with, information governance guidance including for example the secure storage and transfer of PII
10. Support audit through data extraction and basic analysis
Workforce and HR
11. Be responsible for managing own workload, including developing objectives and reviewing progress against these.
Person specification
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent) or relevant experience in the maintenance and analysis of data
- Analytical skills and experience of basic statistical tests including performing basic descriptive and trend analysis
- Experience of report writing
- Experience of maintaining, analysing and interpreting data using common software packages such as Microsoft Office
- Experience and understanding of Standard Operating Procedures
- Knowledge/experience of working in an NHS environment and/or epidemiology / public
- Good oral and written communication (including presentation) skills
- Ability to produce work of high quality and accuracy to deadlines including when under pressure
- Good organisation, prioritisation and time management skills and able to work in a multidisciplinary team, as well as on own initiative
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Desirable
- Higher qualification in IT, biological, information sciences or public health
- Knowledge and experience of common statistical/database/mapping software and tools
- Understand information governance issues including an awareness of data protection and confidentiality requirements
- Ability to adapt queries and undertake basic analysis of data to support research
- An interest in public health, infectious disease epidemiology and control and statistical analysis
Benefits
Working for the UKHSA
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
As part of the application process, you will also be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 750 words outlining why you will be suitable for the role.
Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
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.
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this.
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.
You will be assessed against the civil service core competencies detailed below:
- Changing and improving
- Leading and communicating
- Collaborating and partnering
- Building capability for all
- Delivering at Pace
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs 03/09/2023 – 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: TBC
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&C’s 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: [email protected]. 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
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) (opens in a new window)
- 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
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
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
