Healthcare Scientist Secretariat

Job summary

This post sits within the TARZET Technical Secretariat, a team responsible for communicating and disseminating cutting edge analysis in support of public health decision making, with a particular focus on outbreak response, horizon scanning, emerging infections and developmental work. Work within the TARZET Technical Secretariat is fast paced, responding quickly to changing public health needs. Functions of the team include horizon scanning for new and emerging threats across multiple modes of transmission; reactive work to support incident response including the production of technical briefings for internal and external use. This requires collaborative working with epidemiology, modelling and academic partners, collaborating widely within UKHSA, other organisations and academia to generate reports and briefings for the Government. The team develops new modes of gathering and reporting scientific and technical information for dissemination to a variety of audiences.

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

The postholder will:

• Participate in the provision and maintenance of all reports and risk assessments on any clinical and emerging infections posing a risk to public health,
• Support the secretariat function for expert technical groups established to investigate emerging infections.
• Support the lead in managing governance of the groups, and other duties and responsibilities as required

This list is not exhaustive.

Analysis, Briefing, and Reporting

• Develop and utilise information and communication systems related to the projects to underpin public health action across the department
• Have responsibility for the development and productivity of technical group reports (including technical briefings, briefing notes, slide decks, and papers for advisory committees) including project management;
• Coordination of horizon scanning activities across clinical and emerging infections topics including meetings and governance of groups. Collate outputs for dissemination to a wide range of audiences both internal and external to UKHSA.
• Management of a shared inbox and SharePoint sites

Specialist Advice and Evaluation

• Communicate research and other specialist information effectively and diplomatically 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 situation and risk reports, as well as peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals

Research and Development

• Undertake literature reviews, evaluate research surveys, audits and other research as required;

Teaching and Training

• Assist in teaching and providing training materials within TARZET, and create information to be presented at conferences

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

The postholder will:

• Be responsible to the Senior Healthcare Scientist Secretariat in the TARZET Technical Secretariat Unit.

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 TARZET Division.
• All UKHSA staff involved in emerging infectious disease incidents or monitoring.

External

• Academic partners working in fields of emerging infectious diseases
• Animal and Plant Health Agency
• Cabinet Office
• Data providers to ensure data quality and timely reporting
• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
• Defra (Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs)
• Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
• Emerging infections leads in devolved administrations
• Food Standards Agency
• Go-Science (Government Office for Science)

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Primary Degree in a suitable science subject e.g. Public health, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Biology
• Scientific research work experience or knowledge particularly in public health
• Data management, analysis and reporting
• Interpreting and evaluating scientific data
• Preparing scientific reports and presentations
• Experience of using computers and database software packages (Microsoft ACCESS and Excel).
• 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
• Able to manage a busy shared inbox
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of managing and organising confidential meetings
• Experience of communicating scientific information to a variety of audiences
• Experience of project management
• Experience of working in public health

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,749, UK Health Security Agency contributes £10,935 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

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 is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 13 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)

• 750 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 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words.

Longlisting:

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

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. 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 may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of :

• Primary Degree in a suitable science subject e.g. Public health, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Biology

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

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Behaviours and Technical skills will be tested at interview.

There will be a Briefing and drafting Assessment based on a public health briefing in the form of a short written test which will take place during the interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

• Managing a Quality Service (Lead Behaviour)
• Communication and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

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 based at our core HQ in London, Canary Wharf. 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)working at our office. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

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

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

This does not need to be included on EOI adverts.
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 UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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

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 : Charlene Gwekwerere
• Email : charlene.gwekwerere@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 the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: 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 for
further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.u

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7962661