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The Epidemiology and Information Scientist will support senior epidemiologist colleagues in the provision of a range of activities including contributing to outbreak management and response and epidemiological investigation through designing questionnaires and outbreak databases, contributing to the production of outbreak reports and preparing descriptive epidemiology. Exceedances will also be investigated.

Data Surveillance Scientist

The Data Surveillance Scientist for Health Protection (DSS) 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. This includes developing and maintaining effective health surveillance databases, developing and delivery of routine and bespoke reports and supporting the use of the UKHSA Case and Incident Management Systems

For both posts, the interface with local, regional and national colleagues, as well as with external stakeholders, will be an important feature of this role.

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

Specific duties of the role may vary depending on the site and teams/functions.

Outbreak support and epidemiological investigation

Where appropriate, undertake specific steps of an epidemiological study under direction, including designing questionnaires (e.g. Snap Survey), outbreak databases, descriptive epidemiology, outbreak reports, investigating exceedances and interviewing cases and controls
Undertake complex analytical tasks using statistical, database and mapping software to support analysis, including producing tables, graphs, maps and advanced queries

Surveillance and data analysis

Maintain and improve infectious disease surveillance databases, test new systems, validate data quality through automated routines and audit, and update Standard Operating Procedures
Apply and interpret basic statistical tests, analyse surveillance data, produce reports using tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis and SQL, respond to data requests and support surveillance through data quality assurance and database improvements
Undertake complex analytical tasks including advanced querying, data validation and pivot tables.

Research

Support research through contributions to scientific papers, projects and study databases, analysing and interpreting findings, creating automated reports, importing and exporting data, presenting work internally and externally, and sharing findings at meetings and conferences.

Management and Leadership

Act as a role model, participate in meetings, resolve issues, lead specific topic areas, support policy and protocol development, contribute to quality improvement and governance initiatives, and support or lead projects as agreed with the line manager
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of epidemiology, surveillance and public health interventions, contribute to supervision and training, support teaching programmes and ensure data transfer, extraction, storage and reporting meet governance and quality standards

Personal & Professional Development

Identify and address development needs through appraisal and training plans, attend internal and external training events, and complete all mandatory training, including safeguarding, fire safety and information governance

Main Duties

Role responsibilities include:

Supporting outbreak investigations and epidemiological studies through questionnaire and database design, case interviews, descriptive and advanced statistical analyses, and contributions to outbreak reports.
Performing complex analytical tasks using statistical, database and mapping tools to generate insights, including tables, graphs, queries and visualisations.
Maintaining and improving infectious disease surveillance systems, validating and auditing data quality, and producing standard operating procedures and routine surveillance reports with analysis and interpretation.
Applying statistical methods to surveillance data, responding to data requests, developing enhanced datasets and analytical solutions, automating reports, and disseminating findings through presentations, publications and other communication channels to ensure high-quality outputs.

Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential role criteria:

Educated to an undergraduate degree in health, biological or scientific discipline, or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills gained through relevant work experience in epidemiology, public health intelligence, health protection, surveillance, or health data analysis.
Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, health informatics, or an allied discipline, or equivalent experience demonstrating application of epidemiological and analytical methods.
Knowledge of epidemiological investigation
Knowledge or experience of basic statistical tests, performing descriptive epidemiology with strong analytical skills, excellent accuracy and attention to detail
Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data(base) management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
Experience of using computer and database software packages for epidemiological and statistical analysis
Understand information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Proficient in a common statistical/database/mapping tool such as Stata, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
Able to maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
Good organisational, prioritisation and time management skills and able to work under own initiative
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

Desirable role criteria:

Training or experience in validating data including automated routines
Knowledge of the health and social care environment, and an understanding of epidemiological surveillance systems, health intelligence processes, and information flows across public health, healthcare and partner agencies.
Line management experience including appraising staff and managing performance
Proven scientific report writing skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,422, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,682 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%

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

Competency Based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 12 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
1250 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. Please indicate within your personal statement your preferred job role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must 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 1250 words. We will not consider any words over 1250 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

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:

Knowledge of epidemiological investigation
Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data(base) management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
Proficient in a common statistical/database/mapping tool such as Stata, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.

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

Competency Based

You will be invited to a single face to face interview at our site in Liverpool. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

There will be a 10 to 15-minute technical assessment during the interview where you'll be asked to describe and interpret epidemiological data, assess data quality and/or review code.

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.

Additional Information

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.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our core HQ in Liverpool or one of our Supporting Hubs in Preston or Manchester. Please indicate within your personal statement your preferred location. 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 core HQ offices 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 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 Baseline Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria

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: 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.

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 : Tom Geldeard
Email : tom.geldeard@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

Salary range

£33,422 - £40,731 per year