Senior Data Surveillance Scientist

Job summary

UKHSA North West Region is seeking to appoint a Senior Data Surveillance Scientist (SDSS) to join our multi-disciplinary team made up of consultants, practitioners, data surveillance scientists, emergency planning and business support colleagues. UKHSA’s North West Region has three health protection teams covering Cheshire and Merseyside, Cumbria and Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

The SDSS for Health Protection works as part of a dynamic analytical community and supports the regional health protection team (HPT) by providing the health protection intelligence function to enable delivery of an effective health protection service.

The SDSS will:

• Lead the surveillance systems across specific topic areas
• Lead and support the data collection, validation and production of routine surveillance intelligence in these areas.
• Develop and maintain effective health surveillance databases, developing and delivery of routine and bespoke reports and supporting the use of Case and Incident Management systems e.g. CIMS.
• Analyse and interpret surveillance data and develop automated routines and solutions as well as overseeing and responding to more complex or sensitive data requests. This will be through their application of, and expertise in, analytical, statistical, database, mapping and web tools.
• Provide expert advice on information governance and quality and evaluate surveillance systems. The SDSS also supports outbreak and epidemiological investigations.

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

Surveillance and Data Analysis

• Support the development, operation and improvement of the enhanced surveillance system to ensure a detailed long term understanding of threats to health in region .
• Identify surveillance needs within given lead areas, and support developments.
• Respond to complex or sensitive data requests.
• Conduct complex statistical analyses of surveillance data.
• Assure on the preparation, quality and delivery of routine and ad hoc surveillance reports.
• Develop automated routines and solutions for surveillance data reports.
• Lead and contribute to public health scientific analyses and writing reports on specific projects, regular and ad hoc publications and peer reviewed publications. Present, communicate and disseminate data science products effectively, appropriately and with high impact using the most appropriate medium to visualise data to tell compelling and actionable stories relevant for business goals.

Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations

• Oversee the data collection, management and analysis during outbreaks
• Provide expert advice on information governance aspects of outbreak

Software and Statistical skills

• Apply a range of common statistical tests and algorithms and support exceedance investigations
• Translate statistical processes into automated solutions where appropriate
• Use common statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as PowerBi, R, Stata, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL and SharePoint
• Undertake complex analytical and programming tasks to support data extractions, analysis and validation

Audit, Quality and Governance

• Advise on quality and governance issues including information security, data sharing and ethical approval
• Evaluate surveillance systems and act on results locally
• Contribute to the Regions quality programme such as through audit
• Be responsible for the quality of data collected, stored, and transferred

Research

• Analyse datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions
• Develop a grant proposal, and apply for ethical approval
• Present at scientific conferences, programme area meetings and other fora

Leadership/Management

• Effectively appraise, manage performance and development, and address HR issues for staff line managed
• Manage own workload, including developing objectives and reviewing progress against these
• Deputise for line manager where appropriate

Teaching/training

• Contribute and develop teaching/training activities on surveillance, epidemiology, information management and governance
• Contribute to the work and professional development of other staff in the organisation to improve services and data quality

Collaborative Working

• Support collaborative working with colleagues across UKHSA to promote synergy of operation
• Liaise with colleagues across UKHSA and NHS
• Develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.

Strategic thinking

• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners
• Identify surveillance needs within given lead areas, and support developments

Project Management

• Coordinate and lead projects such as the implementation of new systems and processes

Person specification

Essential criteria

• First degree in data, science or health or demonstrable equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area (in the maintenance, analysis of data)
• Higher qualification in Epidemiology, information science, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education
• Knowledge / experience in data management and epidemiology for outbreak investigations
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis and interpretation including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
• Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology
• Experience in all aspects of the design, development, implementation and maintenance of systems including understanding of information governance issues
• Awareness of relevant infectious disease epidemiology, and information flows in the NHS and allied services
• Experience of overseeing and ensuring the successful delivery of projects relating to information systems and management
• Ability and skills to develop automated routines, reports and solutions as required
• Proficient in the use of some of the following: spreadsheets, databases, GIS, statistical software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS, SPSS) Experience of maintaining code using R or an alternative statistical package.
• Experience in utilising Power BI
• Ability to apply a range of common statistical tests and algorithms including time trend analysis and an understanding of exceedance
• Able to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail with proven report writing & presentation skills
• Good organisational, prioritisation and time management skills
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, and in relation to management systems

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of research activities including statistical analyses & peer reviewed publication
• Knowledge and experience of common statistical tests and modelling, including time trend analysis, survival analysis, regression, logistic regression, and perform multivariable analysis

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,983, UK Health Security Agency contributes £12,162 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

Competency based

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

Competency Based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 16 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.

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

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 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

• Higher qualification in Epidemiology, information science, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education
• Experience of overseeing and ensuring the successful delivery of projects relating to information systems and management will be conducted.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications or 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

Competency Based

You will be invited to a single face to face interview in Liverpool - Cunard. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

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

Candidates will also be expected to undertake a skills test. This will be a 10-15 minute test before the interview, where you will be asked to describe and interpret some data and/or code. Required detail will be provided to shortlisted applicants in advance.

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 at one of the three North West Region sites: Cunard Building, Liverpool, 3 Piccadilly Place Manchester or County Hall, Preston. 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). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

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 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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria

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.

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.

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.uk