Head of Clinical and Health Protection Quality & Governance

Job summary

The Clinical Governance, Training, Workforce and Revalidation team, together with the team reporting through the Deputy Director for Health Protection Workforce, Infection Prevention and Control, Medicines Governance and Safeguarding (HIMS), ensure the organisation is operating within a robust clinical governance and quality improvement framework and the medical /public health professional workforce is working to appropriate professional standards.

This is a senior leadership role providing expert clinical and public health governance advice and leadership across UKHSA. The post holder will be responsible for the development, coordination, implementation and continuous improvement of UKHSA's Clinical and Public Health Quality Management Framework and associated governance arrangements.

This role is also open to Secondments

Job description

The post holder will provide strategic leadership for quality improvement, clinical governance, organisational learning and patient and public safety across UKHSA, whilst supporting the Clinical Quality Oversight Committee (CQOC) and associated governance structures in providing assurance regarding the quality, effectiveness and safety of Clinical and Public Health services.

Operating within UKHSA's delegated quality management model, the post holder will coordinate cross-organisational quality intelligence, facilitate second-line assurance activities, support organisational preparedness for external inspection and review, and provide expert leadership to strengthen quality management arrangements across the Agency.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• The National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 (legislation.gov.uk) In line with legislation, inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists at the point of application
• 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
• Any public health speciality registrar applicants who are currently on the UK public health training programme and not yet on either the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interview Applicants going through the portfolio registration routes (GMC or UKPHR) are not eligible to be shortlisted for interview until they are included on the register. The six-month rule does not apply to these portfolio route applicants
• 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 equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Master’s in public health or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• 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
• Delivery of successful change management programmes across organizational boundaries
• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills and operational nous
• In depth understanding of the health and care system and the relationships with both local national government
• Strong and demonstrable understanding of interfaces between health, social care and key partners (dealing with wider determinants of health)
• Understanding of the public sector duty and the inequality duty and their application to public health practice

Desirable criteria

• Media experience demonstrating delivery of effective health behaviour or health promotion messages

Skills, capabilities & behaviours

Essential criteria

• Able to influence senior members including directors and CEOs
• Able to both lead teams and to able to contribute effectively in teams led by junior colleagues
• Commitment to work within a political system irrespective of personal political affiliations
• 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
• Able to demonstrate and motivate organisations to contribute to improving the public’s health and wellbeing through mainstream activities and within resources
• Ability to lead and manage the response successfully in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Analytical skills able to utilize both qualitative (including health economics) and quantitative information
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement strategies and policies
• Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
• Resource and staff management skills
• Project Management skills

Desirable criteria

• Training and mentoring skills
• Scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars etc

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, and in relation to management systems

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

AfC Band 8d

£94,356 - £108,814 (plus 20% basic salary to a maximum £8,746) Inner London

£94,356 - £108,814 (plus 15% basic salary to a maximum of £6,137) Outer London

£94,356 - £108,814 National

Consultant

£113,565 - £150,569 (plus £2,162 London Weighting, Inner and Outer London)

£113,565 - £150,569 National

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.

Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or eligibility within six months of interview).

Non‑medical applicants who are not yet fully registered with the UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within six months of gaining specialist registration at the date of interview. All other non‑medical applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the UKPHR Specialist Register (for example, confirmation that a UKPHR specialist portfolio has been submitted).

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

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The post holder will:

• Provide professional leadership and expert advice on Clinical and Public Health quality, governance and improvement.
• Lead development and implementation of the UKHSA Clinical and Public Health Quality Management Framework.
• Coordinate the collection, analysis and interpretation of quality, governance and assurance intelligence across UKHSA.
• Support the Clinical Quality Oversight Committee in discharging its governance, assurance and oversight functions.
• Promote a culture of quality improvement, organisational learning and patient and public safety.
• Lead preparation and support arrangements for external inspections and reviews, including CQC-related activity where appropriate.
• Provide expert governance input into the development of new Clinical and Public Health services.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Act as an ambassador and advocate for Clinical and Public Health Quality and Governance across UKHSA.
• Lead the development of a culture of quality improvement, effectiveness, patient safety and continuous organisational learning.
• Develop, implement and maintain the UKHSA Clinical and Public Health Quality Management Framework.
• Ensure governance, quality management and improvement arrangements remain aligned with national guidance, regulatory requirements and emerging best practice.
• Coordinate cross-organisational quality intelligence from incidents, audits, quality indicators, assurance reviews and other sources to identify emerging risks and themes.
• In collaboration with operational services and the corporate risk management function, analyse quality, risk and assurance information to support organisational oversight and improvement.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of action plans arising from significant incidents, reviews, audits and inspections, particularly where cross-directorate coordination is required.
• Provide leadership for organisational learning and dissemination of lessons across UKHSA.
• Oversee the development of a strategic approach to Clinical and Public Health audit aligned to UKHSA's remit and priorities.
• Oversee development of communication and engagement strategies that promote quality management, governance and improvement.
• Support directorates and service teams through expert advice, challenge and critical friend review of Clinical and Public Health quality management arrangements

For full details, please see the attached Job Description & Person Specification.

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using the Competency Framework

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:
• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 1250 word Statement of Suitability

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your statement of suitability must be no more than 1250

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V – please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible)

We will only take through applications that meet all essential criteria.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• 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

Only candidates who are registered will go forward for consideration.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Assessment stage:

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a staff engagement exercise (SEE). This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

The staff engagement exercise (SEE) will be held remotely. The date is TBC.

Stage 3: Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a face to face interview in London.

In exceptional circumstances a remote interview may be offered.

Interview date TBC.

This vacancy is being assessed using competency based framework. During the interview we will assess against the below:

Knowledge
Experience
Skills and Abilities

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Security Clearance

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

NHS Pension

This role is offered under Agenda for Change (AFC) Terms and Conditions.

If you are already on AFC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AFC Pension.
If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing, substantive T&Cs.
If the role is available under either AFC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're
appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Sue Ibbotson
• Email : Sue.L.Ibbotson@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scs.mdrecruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

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 should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Attachments

919-HM-304941-EXT_Job Description (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 504kB)