Health Protection Practitioner (Level 1)

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit a Health Protection Practitioner (HPP) to work as part of the South East Region health protection team in our Kent, Surrey & Sussex team.

We are looking for Environmental Health Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives or Allied Healthcare Professionals who are seeking to develop their role within the field of health protection.

The post holder will be part of the multi-disciplinary team providing the day-to-day health protection function, including the management of infectious and environmental hazards and supporting response to major incidents.

The post is an entry level Health Protection development post, and the post holder will develop specialist knowledge and skills to undertake case management, liaise with, and provide health protection advice and response across a range of partner organisations, professionals and the public.

Candidates holding NMC registration will be appointed on NHS terms and conditions at NHS AfC Band 6. Candidates without NMC registration will be appointed on Civil Service terms and conditions at HEO grade.

Salary bands:

• AfC Band 6: £39,959 - £48,117 per annum, pro rata
• CS HEO (Outer London): £35,587 - £43,244 per annum, pro rata

Working for your organisation

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

Your main duties will include:

• Under supervision, contribute to day to day running of the acute response function to ensure high quality, safe and effective delivery of the health protection service.
• Provide first point of contact for specialist knowledge, support and advice to health professionals on health protection matters.
• Undertake initial assessment and management of routine acute response work and non-complex incidents.
• Escalate and refer challenging or complex incidents, outbreaks of infectious diseases and non-infectious environmental hazards to senior managers.
• Manage and carry out continuing responsibility for caseload ensuring accurate, up to date records of contacts/action by completion of relevant records and compliance with
  team handover procedures, in line with UKHSAs standards for record keeping.
• Utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within team, seeking senior advice as/when appropriate.
• Support and participate in the team's formal case review process.
• Contribute to and where required lead under supervision the ongoing longer-term management of issues relevant to a defined geographical area.
• Contribute to UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning and Resilience Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the region's responsibilities
  under the Civil Contingencies Act.
• Will be required to participate in a local on call rota at regional level.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Surveillance
  
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.
  • Contribute to the use of surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies.
  • Support identification and reporting of health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessment.
    
    
• Partnership Working
  
  • Through activities delegated/supported by line management, contribute to the development of effective relationships with a range of individuals and stakeholders.
  • With support and guidance from line management, may need to deal with difficult and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day-to-day workload.
  • Contribute to and support the development and implementation of initiatives for public health action and improvement.
    
    
• Research, Teaching & Training
  
  • Contribute to research activity to complement the health protection evidence base.
  • Contribute to the development and delivery of teaching resources and activities across a range of audiences with support from senior manager as appropriate.
  • Support the training programmes for Faculty of Public Health, Foundation Year Doctors and Specialist Trainees in the training scheme as appropriate and to the training of
    public health and health care professionals and practitioners within the locality as requested by line management.
    
    
• Management & Leadership
  
  • Act as role model adhering to team professional standards.
  • Contribute to the development of policies and protocols for a wide range of health protection issues.
  • Contribute to and undertake audit as part of a wider programme of quality/service improvement activity.
  • Undertake projects on defined areas of work as agreed with the line manager.
  • Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed.
  • Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements within the team.
  • Proactively contribute to wider organisational development.
  • Contribute to the strategic work of the locality/patch-based health protection team and deputise where appropriate.
  • Contribute pro-actively to the development and testing of the regions business continuity plan.
    
    
• Personal & Professional Development
  
  • Participate in organisational and professional appraisal and revalidation as appropriate.
  • Pursue a programme of CPD, including statutory and mandatory training, in accordance with the relevant regulatory body and UKHSA requirements.
  • Agree individual clinical / professional supervision or mentorship arrangements with line manager.
  • Undergo a programme of on-going development and education to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to meet competencies required to undertake the role.
    
    
• Communication & Key Working Relationships
  • Develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of this role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required. The job description and person specifications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the
changing needs of the organisation.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• First degree (Health Related) or demonstrable equivalent experience; OR Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC
• Working towards registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
• Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
• An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act (e.g. safe guarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
• Effective verbal and written communication skills including report writing and presentations
• Ability to work independently, manage and prioritise own workload and cope with competing demands
• Ability to problem solve whilst working in an unpredictable environment, often under pressure and to tight timescales

Please note that for roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Benefits

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

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.

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

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

• an application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

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). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• First degree (Health Related) or demonstrable equivalent experience; OR Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC
• Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
• An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act (e.g. safe guarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a face to face interview in either Horsham or Ashford.

Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.

As part of the interview, you will be required to prepare a presentation (maximum of 10 minutes) that will test your technical skills related to the role. The details of this will be sent to you prior to the interview.

Interviews will be held from mid to late November 2026. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working and can be based at either our Horsham, West Sussex or Ashford, Kent site.

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) on-site.

Eligibility criteria

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

If this role is fixed term and you are not currently a Civil Servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment; you may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. Loans are normally agreed for a period of two years. However, this may be extended where required, subject to agreement between UKHSA and your home department. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy. If this role is permanent, it may also be available as a loan (for existing Civil Servants only) or secondment arrangement, subject to business need and agreement from the hiring manager and, where applicable, the employee's home organisation.

Security clearance level requirement

Part 1

Successful candidates must pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed.

Part 2

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard clearance.

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.

Incident response activity

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.

For Fixed term posts

For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.

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.

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: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

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.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Reserve list

If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list. The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. 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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo an enhanced (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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Jon Payne
• Email : jonathan.payne@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@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