Senior Clinical Fellow in Vaccines

Job summary

The post is based in the Public Health Programmes Directorate of UKHSA, working in the Immunisation & Vaccine Preventable Diseases (IVPD) Division. The IVPD Division (in the Public Health Programmes Directorate of the Clinical and Public Health Group) is responsible for the national surveillance of most vaccine preventable infections and in providing technical support and clinical expertise to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and to the NHS in planning and delivering the national immunisation programmes. These programmes provide millions of vaccines per year, across the whole life course, and are delivered in a range of NHS settings. The directorate also provides secretariat to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation who recommend any changes to the national immunisation programme and publish “Immunisation Against Infectious Disease” – the single authoritative source of immunisation advice for health professionals. The division evaluates the national programme by generating high quality data on disease incidence, vaccine coverage, age-specific immunity, vaccine efficacy and safety and analysis of vaccine policy options (with the statistics and modelling divisions).

Job description

During the placement the fellow will be expected to:

Gain understanding and experience of:
• The delivery of the national role of UKHSA in vaccination programmes, including scientific advice and evaluation programmes.
• The commissioning and financing of different aspects of the delivery of the programme and their contribution to programme performance.
• The role of the various health system agencies in delivering, managing and monitoring programme.
• Guidance and policy development for vaccine preventable diseases.
• Service and quality improvement in relation to infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control.

Develop skills in:
• Liaising with other stakeholders to optimise the delivery of public health programme.
• Cross divisional working within UKHSA.
• Providing clinical input into design and delivery of the national surveillance programme.
• Provision of clinical advice in relation to vaccine enquiries.
• Decision making and time management.
• Working on ad hoc analyses of each area of responsibility as directed by consultants and scientists.
• Identifying, investigating and responding to cases, clusters and outbreaks of communicable disease.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.

Person specification

The fellow is expected to:

• Take responsibility for arranging 1:1 sessions with their supervisor(s).
• Inform their educational supervisor of any special requirements, ideally at the preplacement meeting.
• Inform their educational supervisor promptly of any difficulties, including concerns about lack of opportunities to gain experience.
• Attend the workplace as required and on time
• To line manage scientific and / or administrative staff within the team including in relation to project work.
• Share their diaries with UKHSA staff they are working with.
• Follow local procedures to notify the division when unwell.
• To deliver the objectives set out in the plan the fellow will be expected to work closely with members of the individual teams.
• Short induction including familiarisation with base, the team, wider colleagues within UKHSA, and organisational arrangements.
• Dealing with enquiries from the public and health professionals.
• Issuing advice to clinicians on individual cases or exposed persons.
• Participating in investigation of clusters/ outbreaks.
• Play a lead role in developing projects supporting surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases.
• Attendance at (and presentation where appropriate) key meetings relevant to the division.
• Attendance at cross UKHSA, meetings relevant to training, and /or projects.
• Work on projects which contribute to the strategic work of the division and across divisions which are appropriate to the individual fellow.
• To meet regularly with their project and educational supervisors.
• To complete an evaluation of the placement.
• The fellow should pursue a programme of continuing professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, whilst maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.

The fellow is encouraged to attend:

• Unit/departmental education meetings
• Educational meetings with partner agencies
• Other local training as appropriate

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.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.

Benefits

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

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.

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/

BENEFITS

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

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

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria below, as outlined in the attached Job Description:

Essential role criteria (including qualifications, licenses and registrations):
• Medical degree MBBS or equivalent experience of working in a clinical field, including Public Health Trainees on accredited training programmes.
• Medical degree MBBS or equivalent with GMC registration with full licence to practice without restrictions or Public Health Trainee from a background other than medicine, currently on accredited UK Public Health specialty training programme.
• Specialist trainee with current national training number (NTN) in one of the following specialties at the specified level of training:
o Virology, Infectious diseases or Medical Microbiology (ST4 or higher),
o Public Health (post-Part B),
o Paediatrics (ST5 or higher),
o Genitourinary Medicine (ST4 or higher)
with documented evidence of outcome 1 or 8 in most recent ARCP.
• MSc in Public Health or Epidemiology.
• Written approval of Training Programme Director for application for this Clinical Fellow role as OOPE.
• Understanding of the UK research and NHS system.
• Knowledge of the clinical presentation and management of Vaccine Preventable Diseases subject to national vaccination programmes.
• Experience in preparation of written reports and published work.
• Ability to assess individual-level clinical history to inform advice in relation to enquiries.
• Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner.
• Ability to handle personal information confidentially according to information governance requirements.
• Able to convey ideas and opinions clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
  • 1500 word Statement of Suitability
  
  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)

Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1500 words.

If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the following criterion will be conducted : “Specialist trainee with current national training number (NTN) in one of the listed specialties at the specified level of training”.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a face to face interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing 23/03/2026, please note these dates are subject to change.

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

Knowledge

• MSc in Public Health or Epidemiology.
• Understanding of the UK research and NHS system.
• Knowledge of the clinical presentation and management of Vaccine Preventable Diseases subject to national vaccination programmes.

Experience

• Experience in preparation of written reports and published work.
• Experience in one of the following specialties at the specified level of training:

o Virology, Infectious diseases or Medical Microbiology (ST4 or higher),

o Public Health (post-Part B),

o Paediatrics (ST5 or higher),

o Genitourinary Medicine (ST4 or higher)

Skills and Abilities
• Ability to assess individual-level clinical history to inform advice in relation to enquiries.

• Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner.
• Ability to handle personal information confidentially according to information governance requirements.
• Able to convey ideas and opinions clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview, around the subject of vaccine preventable diseases. The specific topic will be sent to you prior to interview.

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

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security 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.

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.

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.

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

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.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 : Gavin Dabrera, Consultant Epidemiologist
• Email : gavin.dabrera@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

260205-Senior_Clinical_Fellow_in_Vaccines_JD Opens in new window (pdf, 181kB)