2 Jobs in Horsham

Job summary

The Senior Emergency Preparedness Manager (SEPM) provides a source of emergency planning expertise and delivery of strategic leadership in all aspects of public health Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) within a designated Region geography.

The SEPM will ensure, in line with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA) principles of Integrated Emergency Management, that responsibilities for emergency planning, resilience and business continuity are discharged effectively within the area of responsibility. The postholder works with a high degree of autonomy and will ensure there are robust arrangements in place to enable UKHSA to make an effective and timely response to any incident and in conjunction with our partner agencies and stake holders.

The policy for the operation of emergency planning will be set by the EPPR Oversight Group. Heads of EPRR, SEPMs, EPMs will work together as a network to ensure cross cover and resilience and will be members of relevant regional and national emergency planning networks.

The successful candidate should have a driving licence and access to vehicle for use.

Job description

Main duties of the job

• Lead and provide expert advice on Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response and Business Continuity across the designated area.
• Develop, implement and maintain emergency preparedness strategies, policies, plans and guidance in line with UKHSA requirements and Civil Contingencies Act obligations.
• Coordinate regional resilience and emergency planning activities, ensuring consistency and effective response arrangements across teams and locations.
• Work closely with emergency services, NHS England, local authorities, government departments, military and partner organisations to develop contingency plans and strengthen multi-agency preparedness.
• Develop, maintain and test emergency response facilities, secure communications systems, risk-specific plans and business continuity arrangements.
• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of exercises, simulations and audits to ensure organisational readiness and compliance.
• Coordinate and lead responses to major incidents, emergencies and business continuity disruptions, providing strategic and operational support as required.
• Support senior leaders by representing UKHSA at key regional and multi-agency forums, risk assessment meetings and incident response activities.
• Lead training programmes to develop staff capability in emergency preparedness.
• Drive continuous improvement through incident debriefs, lessons identified processes.
• Manage and develop EPRR staff where applicable.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Strategically develop, manage and deliver a high-quality specialist Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity (EPBC) advisory function for the designated business area
• Lead local development of UKHSA emergency preparedness and response strategies, ensuring compliance with Category 1 responder duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) and alignment with national EPRR policies (e.g. CONOPS, IRP)
• Work with planning managers to ensure regional resilience through direction, development, coordination and delivery of preparedness and planning arrangements
• Lead formulation of policies, strategies, contingency plans and guidance (including national contributions where relevant) through liaison with emergency services, military, OGDs, local authorities and partner agencies (utilities, voluntary sector, industry, commercial organisations)
• Work with regional teams to ensure plans are developed, maintained and aligned within a consistent, coordinated response system
• Develop local risk-specific plans and contribute to UKHSA-wide planning as required
• Ensure robust response facilities and resilient, secure communications in line with UKHSA policy
• Ensure plans and systems are exercised, contributing to and designing exercises as appropriate (in line with UKHSA policy/guidance), assessing strategic importance and stakeholder involvement
• Ensure all preparedness activities are audited in line with UKHSA’s Category 1 responder responsibilities under the CCA
• Coordinate and lead internal responses during major incidents and business continuity disruptions
• Support the Regional Deputy Director (RDD) as an EPRR subject matter expert in engagements with UKHSA, NHS England and DLUHC, including deputising where delegated, progressing workstreams, participating in sub-groups and contributing to risk discussions
• Maintain upward briefing and coordination systems for enhanced responses and provide strategic and operational support during UKHSA/NIERP responses
• Collaborate with operational leads to maintain national preparedness, including provision of mutual aid
• Ensure business continuity plans are in place, maintained and regularly updated
• Lead, coordinate and contribute to the design and delivery of relevant training in EPRR and business continuity training aligned to national policy; as necessary
• Provide support to senior colleagues attending multi-agency incident meetings when required
• Lead lessons identified processes from incidents and exercises, including debrief design, coordination and dissemination of recommendations and best practice
• Facilitate research and development opportunities within EPRR
• Lead development of EPRR components within local programmes of work Leadership / Management / Workforce / HR
• May manage EPRR staff, overseeing day-to-day work, supporting development, motivation and professional practice, including oversight of local Emergency Planning Managers where appropriate.
• Responsible for recruitment, appraisal, development and employee relations management within the team.
• Contribute to EPRR teaching and training programmes.

Other
This outline reflects key responsibilities; additional duties may be required. The role profile may evolve to meet organisational needs. Participation in on-call rotas is expected.

• Professional Development
  Identify and act on development needs via appraisal/IDP, attending internal and external training.
• Complete all mandatory training (e.g. fire safety, information governance).

Key Working Relationships

• Maintain regular communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Internal: Deputy Regional Director, Head of EPRR, Senior Business Operations Manager, regional Emergency Planning Managers, UKHSA Directorates, national EPRR teams.

External: NHS England and Integrated Care Boards, DLUHC Resilience and Emergencies Division, and all CCA Category 1 and 2 responders at regional and supra-regional level

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Higher degree (Msc) or equivalent experience in Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response / Crisis and Disaster Management
• Proven senior management experience in a complex organisation.
• High level of expertise in both management practice and practical emergency preparedness and response.
• Proven, extensive experience in developing and delivering emergency preparedness and
  response arrangements.
• Extensive experience in working with multi-agency and professional groups
• Knowledge and experience of chemical, biological and radiological hazards in relation to health protection.
• Knowledge and experience of command and control and multi-agency working.
• Excellent Interpersonal, relationship, Leadership, Influencing and Motivational skills.
• Excellent effective verbal and written communication skills for use in a variety of contexts and levels.
• Highly motivated with proven track record of achieving results within a set timeframe and the ability to work and make decisions under pressure.
• Critical and Strategic thinker with good level of expertise in both management practice and practical emergency preparedness and resilience and proven effective organizational skills.
• Project management skills with a proven ability to develop and improve services.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
• Able to work irregular hours as required. Willing to undergo SC Level security clearance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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%

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.

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 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

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 14 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 will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• 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 will conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• High level of expertise in both management practice and practical emergency preparedness and response.
• Proven, extensive experience in developing and delivering emergency preparedness and response arrangements.
• Critical and Strategic thinker with good level of expertise in both management practice and practical emergency preparedness and resilience and proven effective organizational skills.

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

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

Stage 2: Interview

Competency Based

You will be invited to a single remote interview .

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

You will be required to give a five minute Presentation at the beginning of the interview on “What do you see as your key priorities in the role of Senior Emergency Preparedness Manager in the first 6 months and how would you measure your success?”

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Health Protection Operation Centres in Horsham, Ashford and Fareham. As well as our Scientific Campus at Chilton, Didcot. 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)working at our office. Our Health Protection Operation Centres are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a standard 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 Security Check.

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 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) 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.

Eligibility

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

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

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: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

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: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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.

Civil Service: Grade 7

£56,185 - £66,581 (National)

£58,340 - £68,574 (Outer London).

Salary is dependant upon location.

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 security 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

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 : Lisa Tweedie
• Email : Lisa.Tweedie@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/

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/8133144