Nurse Specialist – Rabies and Immunoglobulins Service

Job summary

The post holder will be a member of the Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service (RIgS) team. In conjunction with the team, the post holder will provide a comprehensive and proactive specialist nurse advisory service for clinicians across England on post exposure treatment of Rabies exposures and other requests for Immunoglobulins.

The post holder will plan and organise their own caseload within the Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service.

The working pattern will be 5 days per week (37.5 hours per week). The successful candidate will be required to work approximately one weekend in six on a rolling rota. This role is conducted remotely.

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

• Arrange effective prophylaxis, treatment and follow up of patients potentially exposed to rabies or other viruses requiring prophylactic treatment with
  immunoglobulins.
• Manage telephone queries for immunoglobulin requests, accurately collecting, collating, and analysing relevant data and information.
• Communicate highly sensitive information and providing guidance to healthcare professionals and their potentially distressed patients.
• Ensure appropriate and relevant communication with senior colleagues in a timely manner
• Assist with the accurate entry and retrieval of data for the surveillance and control of communicable diseases and infections using appropriate software.
• Use databases and create spreadsheets with details of exposures reported and post-exposure prophylactic treatment issued.
• Contribute to the overall work plan of the RIgS team by assisting with the development of team objectives and ensuring completion of own objectives.
• Contribute to the annual report, service business plan, newsletters, on-call pack and any other projects as required.
• Contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of education for relevant stakeholders and clinicians
• Prepare and deliver update sessions on RIgS to partner organisations and other stakeholders.
• Participate in local and national research activities relevant to the function of the service
• Contribute to the clinical governance programme of the service
• Undertake clinical audits of advice given by RIgS
• Participate in the development of RIgS policies and activities
• 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.
• Be responsible for own continuous professional development in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council requirements
• Undertake relevant education courses as determined by training needs
• Pursue development and support through clinical supervision systems
• Take an active role in academic team activities, such as supervision, tutorials, clinical discussions and submission of the Team’s work at relevant conferences
• Attend relevant professional meetings, conferences and training courses
• 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
• Conduct any other duties as directed commensurate with the grade
• Comply at all times with policies and procedures, especially those covering health and safety at work
• Maintain the confidentiality of information about patient, staff and Trust business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, UK General DataProtection Regulation and Caldicott principles

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Registered nurse with current NMC registration
• In-depth post-registration nursing experience equivalent to a master’s level
• Experience in delivering educational programmes and training
• Experience in audit process
• Experience of services involved in provision of post-exposure treatment for rabies
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to prioritise and organize workload effectively and efficiently, to work independently and flexibly
• Ability to function under unpredictable working patterns
• Competence using Microsoft Office software
• Ability to work at the weekend (approximately 1 in 6)
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of working in public health, a health protection or infection control team
• Experience of working in community settings and in working with and across other agencies
• Experience of using statistical analysis tools

Benefits

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

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 (11) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 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.

Longlisting:

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

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

If used, the following will proceed to shortlisting:

1. Meets all essential criteria

Shortlisting:

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

• Ability to prioritise and organize workload effectively and efficiently, to work independently and flexibly
• Experience of services involved in provision of post-exposure treatment for rabies

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

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

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

There will be a Presentation which will assess the following:

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Experience of services involved in provision of post-exposure treatment for rabies
• Experience in delivering educational programmes and training

Full details of the subject/topic will be shared at the interview stage.

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 is a homeworking role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a enhanced 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 – External

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

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.

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

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.

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 : Gurkamal Bhambra
• Email : gurkamal.bhambra@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.uk