Information Officer

Job summary

Overview

This post is within the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI) Division. The mission of the division is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, modelling, research and interventions.

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.

Job description

Main duties of the job & Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The postholder will work as part of the AMR & HCAI Service based in Colindale, London. They will carry out data collation and validation and database management duties associated with the AMR &HCAI Service. The post-holder will be required to ensure the timely collection of data from external data providers; be involved in data cleaning and manipulation; support the timely production of reports and internal and external requests for information; carry out general information and data analysis tasks and administrative tasks such as meeting planning and minute taking.

Data collection and management

• Maintenance and development of databases
• Monitor data submissions to ensure data archive is complete.
• Process data submissions and ensure all data errors are processed in a timely manner.
• Maintain and improve data quality through validation and reconciliation.
• Collation and summary of data using standard software packages

Data Analysis and report production

• Assist with the analysis of scientific data using standard information, statistical software packages and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Assist with the production of regular epidemiological outputs for UKHSA.
• Create, follow and regularly review Standard Operating Procedures
• Respond to information requests and provide ad hoc data reports as and when required.

Data Governance & Quality

• Be aware of, and put into practice, all policies and procedures to maintain confidentiality of patient information. To ensure data confidentiality and security in compliance with UKHSA policies, the Data Protection Act, and other statutory requirements and principles in the handling, secure storage and dissemination of data
• Collaborate with other parts of UKHSA to support system wide audits across a range of public health programmes through data extraction and basic analysis

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.

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

• Deputy Director for AMR &HCAI Service
• Senior Epidemiologists, Scientists, Database Managers and Information staff within the Service
• Operations, programme and project managers within the service
• Epidemiological Scientists, Analysts and information staff
• Analysts and information staff in the Knowledge and intelligence directorate
• Parliamentary and enquiries teams

External

• NHS Trusts microbiology departments
• Infection Prevention & Control teams
• Hospital staff including clinicians, pharmacists, microbiologists, infection control and data managers
• Local Authorities – education, social services, environmental health
• Environment Agency
• Animal Health Veterinary Laboratory Services
• Care Homes
• Universities/Colleges/Schools
• General Practitioners and staff
• Health & Wellbeing Boards
• Clinical Commissioning Groups

Person specification

Role Criteria and Other Requirements

Essential role criteria (including qualifications, licenses and registrations):

• Experience in data management, handling, analysis and reporting
• Using computers and good working knowledge of Microsoft Access, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Understand information governance issues including an awareness of data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Communicate proactively, accurately and succinctly with the ability to negotiate in a friendly and tactful manner with a wide range of health, IT and academic professionals
• Able to prioritise and co-ordinate workload
• Work well on own initiative as well as in teams
• Deal with problems in a calm, efficient and timely manner
• Show sound numeracy skills and a good understanding of data presentation
• Produce accurate and consistent work
• Demonstrate understanding of basic epidemiological terms and methods
• Willingness to occasionally travel to meetings and training across UKHSA sites

Desirable role criteria:

• Knowledge/Understanding of public health with the NHS, UKHSA or in a Local Authority
• Knowledge/Understanding of communicable disease surveillance

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,624, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,451 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 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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 750 Supporting Statement.

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

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

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

The following will be taken through the next stage: Meets all essential criteria

Shortlisting

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

• Experience in data management, handling, analysis and reporting
• Using computers and good working knowledge of Microsoft Access, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Understand information governance issues including an awareness of data protection and confidentiality requirements

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

Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview

During the interview we will assess against the below:

Knowledge

Experience

• Experience in data management, handling, analysis and reporting
• Using computers and good working knowledge of Microsoft Access, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Understand information governance issues including an awareness of data protection and confidentiality requirement

Skills and Abilities

You will be asked to complete a technical assessment aimed to assess your numeracy skills and good understanding of data presentation.

Eligibility Criteria - External

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale (London). 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).

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

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.

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
• Counter-terrorist Check.

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@ukhhsa.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

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7670117