Vaccine Tracking Information Officer

Job summary

Vaccines have been identified as a key strategic priority for UKHSA. The Immunisation Programmes division is responsible for 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 division also provides secretariat to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation who recommend any changes to the national immunisation programme and publishes “Immunisation Against Infectious Disease” – the single authoritative source of immunisation advice for health professionals.

We are now looking for 2 x Vaccine Tracking Information Officers to join the team.

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 Immunisation Programmes division and the Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Disease division evaluate the national programmes 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). Surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases and vaccine coverage data are vital components of the evaluation of vaccination programmes in the UK. These data inform the understanding of the epidemiology of different infections and the public health impact of vaccination programmes and help develop and improve control strategies.

The Immunisation Programmes division is looking for a Vaccine Tracking Officers to join a team working on vaccine coverage collections. The key responsibilities of the posts are to manage the development and collection of vaccine coverage data from child health systems and general practice (GP) using the two existing data sources from Child Health Information Systems (CHIS) and from primary care (ImmForm). It involves links with a number of other health professional groups both within UKHSA and other organisations such as NHS England.

These posts are responsible for providing national vaccine coverage data and flu and COVID-19 uptake data. The main duties of the posts are related to managing data collection surveys for monitoring the national immunisation programmes. The person appointed will be based 100% at UKHSA (Colindale site at least 3 days a week, with the option of hybrid working 2 days a week).

1. Take day-to-day responsibility for managing the ImmForm/COVER data collections, regular monitoring of data submitted, routine validation, management and analysis of the data.
2. Support the data collection, management, validation, analysis of ImmForm / CHIS data, including data for the routine immunisation programme (including influenza) and the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
3. Conduct routine data manipulation and analysis of the collections.
4. Contribute to the drafting of reports for publication on the UKHSA website.
5. Contribute to ad-hoc analyses for research purposes.
6. Liaise with UKHSA staff, NHS England Immunisation staff, Child Health Information Systems (CHIS), GP IT suppliers, PRIMIS and other stakeholders on issues relating to the collection of vaccine coverage data via the web-based platform ImmForm, and/or with CHIS data providers for the COVER programme.
7. Understand the policy requirements for the national immunisation programme and map out the vaccine coverage data collection and reporting needs. Scope data collection requirements and project manage the development of new collections and update existing collections on an annual basis.
8. Understand how their work area links to other work areas including seeking and exchanging information; and clarifying points of detail.
9. Act as the point of contact for the ImmForm and COVER collections. Answer queries from for example DHSC, UKSHA staff, NHSE Immunisation Teams staff, CHIS and GP practice staff and signpost queries to colleagues as appropriate.
10. Ensure regular communication and engagement with NHSE Immunisation Teams staff and other stakeholders on changes to existing collections, upcoming new collections and routine publications through emails, bulletins and presentations at national and local meetings.
11. Prepare User Guides and other associated documentation for the data collections.

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

• Within the Immunisation Programmes division; the Vaccine COVER team and the Immunisation Planning and Implementation (IPAI) team
• Within the Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Disease division; the Influenza and COVID-19 Surveillance teams
• Within the Commercial, Vaccines and Countermeasures Delivery directorate; the Vaccine Supply team and ImmForm team

External

• Liaison with a wide range of senior health service staff, including: staff in NHS England local teams, Field Epidemiology Services, Child Health departments, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), GP practices and acute hospital Trusts and with other divisions of UKHSA and other professional colleagues outside UKHSA. Liaison with UKHSA contractors such as PRIMIS and GP IT suppliers

Please note this is not an exhaustive list.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Education to degree level in a STEM subject, or demonstrable equivalent experience in a similar data based role
• Knowledge and experience of health data management and interpretation
• Knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Excel and Access
• Knowledge and experience of data analysis and preparation of tables
• Sound numeracy skills and an understanding of data presentation
• An aptitude and willingness to use and apply information systems
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines
• To be well organised and produce methodical accurate work
• Ability to maintain required levels of confidentiality
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

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

Selection Process

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:

• an application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 800 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 800 words. We will not consider any words over 800 words.

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

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

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

• Education to degree level in a STEM subject, or demonstrable equivalent experience in a similar data based role
• Knowledge and experience of health data management and interpretation
• Knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Excel and Access

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

Please do not exceed 800 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a face to face interview.

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

There will be a technical test as part of the interview. This will assess your MS Excel skills, including basic formulas, pivot tables and data checking and interpretation.

Interviews dates are 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 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) onsite in Colindale.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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 Counter Terrorism Check clearance.

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. 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.

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.

Salary guides

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.

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

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

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 : Jon Payne
• Email : jonathan.payne@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 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