Scientist Epidemiology London, England
Job description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Length of employment
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
Job title – Scientist (Epidemiology)
Profession- Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI), Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) & Sepsis Division, Clinical & Emerging Infections
Directorate – Clinical and Public Health
Full Time equivalent - 37.5 hours
No of Roles – 1
Contract Type – FTC till 30/03/2024
Location – Colindale, London
UKHSA offers hybrid working or home working for its employees – this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our UKHSA offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business need and in line with departmental policy. Some business travel will be required to other UKHSA offices. Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available
Working Pattern – Full Time/ Hybrid Working
Grade & Salary – Grade HEO Inner London £32,978 - £39,691 per annum.
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
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/.
Closing Date – 27/04/2023 23:55pm. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered
Interview Date – W/C 15/05/2023 Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Job Overview
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.
HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTION, FUNGAL, ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE, ANTIMICROBIAL AND SEPSIS (HCAI & AMR) DIVISION
The mission of the HCAI & AMR Division within the Clinical and Emerging Infections service is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, research and interventions.
The HCAI & AMR Division is the national centre for surveillance of HCAI & AMR in England. The Division is multidisciplinary including epidemiologists/public health specialists, analysts, microbiologists, data managers, statisticians, IT specialists and administrative staff. The Division is responsible for a range of national surveillance programmes that collect epidemiological data on a number of HCAIs and invasive bacterial infections, as well as monitoring antimicrobial usage and resistance.
Job description
JOB SUMMARY
The post is within the surveillance section of the HCAI & AMR Division. The primary function of this post is to support the Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) on healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in hospitals in England. Under the supervision of senior scientific staff, the post holder will regularly extract, collate and validate surveillance datasets and carry out epidemiological analyses to monitor trends, geographic distribution and risk factors. They will contribute to the delivery of surveillance and policy reports and to peer-reviewed publications.
The post-holder will adopt a variety of public health and surveillance portfolios, develop and implement standardised data collection and analysis protocols, will identify data quality issues and will facilitate their resolution. They will ensure that data are collected and processed in accordance with relevant policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) and will undertake regular assessments of data quality and completeness.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The postholder will:
Surveillance and Epidemiology
- Support the national PPS on levels of HCAI and AMU in hospitals and its data capture platform, support conduct of the PPS including training for NHS staff and subsequent data analysis, reporting and publication of findings.
- Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems related to the projects to underpin public health action across the department and surveillance systems therein;
- Have responsibility for the development and productivity of the information and intelligence system(s) related to the projects, including project management;
- Undertake specialist and complex analyses of quantitative and/or qualitative datasets which will require selection of the best option from a range of possible solutions;
- Analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data and research evidence from a range of sources to inform decision making;
- Receive, interpret, provide and advise on complex epidemiological and statistical information about the health of populations to the NHS, Department of Health and others;
Specialist Advice and Evaluation
- Communicate effectively and diplomatically research and other specialist information with colleagues from own or other disciplines and present findings at local, national and international meetings and conferences;
- Write and/or contribute to national and local policy setting reports, as well as peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, on the health of the population;
Research and Development
- Undertake literature reviews, evaluative research surveys, audits and other research as required;
Teaching and Training
- Assist in teaching and training courses run at Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Colindale and outside, by producing presentation materials and assist in HCAI & AMR lectures. To assist in designing training material and help organise and support training sessions to NHS staff in support of a national PPS on levels of HCAI and AMU in acute-care hospitals
Management arrangements
The postholder will:
Be responsible to the Section Leads in the HCAI & AMR Division through the Principal or Senior Scientist coordinating the projects.- Manage staff working on work-areas within the HCAI & AMR Division, if required.
Other
The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
- You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;
Internal
All UKHSA staff involved in the work of the HCAI & AMR Division.
External
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)- HCAI & AMR Leads in devolved administrations
- NHS England, NHS Improvement, CQC, NICE and other relevant national bodies
- AMR Programmes of Devolved Administrations
- Royal Colleges
- Professional and learned societies
- Data providers (clinicians, nurses, health advisers etc.) to ensure data quality and timely reporting, and internal and external data users.
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
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.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Primary Degree in a suitable science subject
- Scientific research work experience, particularly in public health
- Data management, analysis and reporting
- Interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data
- Preparing scientific reports and presentations
- Experience of using computer and database software packages (Microsoft Excel and ACCESS), including software packages for statistical analysis of data (specifically STATA and/or R)
- Able to work as a team member, as well as able to work independently and to deadlines
- Maintain required levels of confidentiality
- Have a clear and organised approach to work with the ability to communicate and document methods clearly and succinctly
- Able to liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including health service and academic professionals
- Able to identify and solve problems
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable Criteria:
- MSc in Epidemiology or allied discipline or equivalent work experience
- Experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention
- Experience of project management
- Experience of working in the NHS or Health Protection Agency
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%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Civil Service Competency Framework 2012-2017
As a civil servant your performance and appraisal will be assessed against the civil service core competencies or success profile elements detailed below:
Strategic cluster – setting direction:
People cluster – engaging people:
Performance cluster – delivering results:
1. Changing and improving
2. Making effective decisions
1. Collaborating and partnering
2. Building capability for all
1. Managing a quality service
2. Delivering at pace
Stage 1: Application & Sift
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1000 words detailing how you meet the eligibility and job description criteria set out in the advert
We suggest using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to demonstrate real-life examples for the specified essential criteria. Please note, only information provided within the stated word count will be considered.
This part of the selection process should outline how you consider your skills, experience and achievements, and provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined.
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. This will be used in sifting process and will be scored.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview
Stage 2: Panel Interview
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours / experience / strengths / technical / ability – through the Civil Service Competency Framework
When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well.
During the interview you will do a 10-minute presentation on a topic that will be given to you prior the interview.
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.
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.
This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. 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.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Government baseline personnel security standard
It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role
Contact Details – [email protected]
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 :
