Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for two Health Protection Practitioners to join the London Health Protection Team. These posts are permanent roles at CS grade SEO/AfC band 7. Both posts are London based, one with the South London team and one with North London team. There will be a mixture of on-site and remote working, and regular on-site office presence will be required.
Post holders will be part of the multi-disciplinary team contributing to the day-to-day provision of the health protection function, including management of communicable diseases and environmental, chemical, and radiological threats, and contributing to major incidents, including enhanced incident response.
Salary & Grade: SEO, £42,716 - £48,068, Inner London, AfC Band 7 £49,178 - £57,802.
Location:
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working - this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK. The role is available at either of these London locations:
- 61 Colindale Avenue, NW9 5EQ or 10 South Colonnade, E14 4PU.
Main duties of the job
As part of this role, they will participate on the on-call rota, both in- and out-of-hours. Post holders will undergo a programme of on-going development and education to build on existing knowledge and to develop skills to provide specialist health protection advice, and meet competencies required to undertake the roll. They will also actively contribute to the development, training, and supervision of others within the team.
An important part of our mission at UKHSA is to help reduce health inequalities across the UK. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted how certain groups are impacted negatively by health inequality, and we want to ensure we learn from these challenges. To do that effectively we need to continue building a talented workforce that represents the diversity of our population. Our ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. This in turn produces more accountable and trusted public services and better decisions; better because they are more attuned to the needs and interests of all our communities, helping to address inequality.
About us
Benefits:
- 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 average employer contribution of 27%
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Selection process details:
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 1,500 words.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 - INTERVIEW
This stage will involve an in-person interview.
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 27th November 2023 - unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Shortlist: w/c 4th December 2023
Interviews: w/c 11th December 2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the Health Protection Practitioner (Level 2) your main responsibilities will include:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties:
- Contribute to and support the day to day running of the acute response function to ensure high quality, safe and effective delivery of the health protection service.
- Provide first point of contact specialist knowledge, support, and advice to health professionals on health protection matters.
- Undertake initial assessment and management of routine acute response work and non-complex incidents.
- Escalate and support the management of complex incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and non-infectious environmental hazards as appropriate.
- Manage and carry out continuing responsibility for a caseload ensuring accurate, up to date records of contacts/action by completion of relevant records and compliance with team handover procedures, in line with UKHSAs standards for record keeping.
- To utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team, seeking senior advice as/when appropriate.
- Support and participate in the teams formal case review process.
- Contribute to and where required lead under supervision the ongoing longer-term management of issues relevant to a defined geographical area.
- Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning and Resilience Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the regions responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.
- Contribute to and support the UKHSA regional input into Emergency Planning arrangements.
Please review the Job Description for a full list of responsibilities.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the Health Protection Practitioner (Level 2) your main responsibilities will include:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties:
- Contribute to and support the day to day running of the acute response function to ensure high quality, safe and effective delivery of the health protection service.
- Provide first point of contact specialist knowledge, support, and advice to health professionals on health protection matters.
- Undertake initial assessment and management of routine acute response work and non-complex incidents.
- Escalate and support the management of complex incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and non-infectious environmental hazards as appropriate.
- Manage and carry out continuing responsibility for a caseload ensuring accurate, up to date records of contacts/action by completion of relevant records and compliance with team handover procedures, in line with UKHSAs standards for record keeping.
- To utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team, seeking senior advice as/when appropriate.
- Support and participate in the teams formal case review process.
- Contribute to and where required lead under supervision the ongoing longer-term management of issues relevant to a defined geographical area.
- Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning and Resilience Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the regions responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.
- Contribute to and support the UKHSA regional input into Emergency Planning arrangements.
Please review the Job Description for a full list of responsibilities.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC
- Working towards registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
Desirable
- Professional Public Health qualification and registration e.g. Specialist Community Public Health (SCPHN) part of the NMC Register or UK PH Register for practitioners
- Master's in Public health, or higher degree in a related subject, or evidence of relevant CPD in Health Protection with documented experience at master's level practice
- Recognised teaching qualification, e.g. ENB 998/PGCE or NVQ Level 4 Certificate in education or equivalent experience
- Recognised qualification in Infection Prevention and Control or demonstrable equivalent experience
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
- An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act ( e.g. safe guarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
- Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships
- Experience of risk management and associated reporting
Desirable
- Sound knowledge of the principles of health protection
- Proven experience of undertaking and completing projects on time and within complex and challenging environments
- Experience of working in community settings and with health care providers
- Experience of designing and implementing internal processes and procedures for service improvement e.g. governance standards, audit etc
- Experience of managing others in a managerial or supervisory role including performance management and appraisal and development
- Experience of business planning including budget management and financial processes
- Knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Effective verbal, written and presentation communication skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear messages accurately for a range of audiences
- Excellent planning and prioritisation skills and ability to manage competing demands
- Proven ability to problem solve whilst working in an unpredictable environment, often under pressure and to tight timescales
- Ability to demonstrate initiative and work independently with minimum supervision
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams, disciplines and organisations demonstrating respect and consideration for the role/ skill(s) of others
- Ability to analyse and interpret information in an effective manner to recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issue(s)
- Proven ability to work with quality improvement and governance frameworks
- Ability to effectively engage with others to influence and negotiate for positive outcomes
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office including Word, and Excel
- Evidence of ongoing CPD and committed to self-development
Desirable
- Able to develop, interpret, implement and evaluate policies
- Proven capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
Equality and diversity
Essential
- 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
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC
- Working towards registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
Desirable
- Professional Public Health qualification and registration e.g. Specialist Community Public Health (SCPHN) part of the NMC Register or UK PH Register for practitioners
- Master's in Public health, or higher degree in a related subject, or evidence of relevant CPD in Health Protection with documented experience at master's level practice
- Recognised teaching qualification, e.g. ENB 998/PGCE or NVQ Level 4 Certificate in education or equivalent experience
- Recognised qualification in Infection Prevention and Control or demonstrable equivalent experience
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
- An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act ( e.g. safe guarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
- Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships
- Experience of risk management and associated reporting
Desirable
- Sound knowledge of the principles of health protection
- Proven experience of undertaking and completing projects on time and within complex and challenging environments
- Experience of working in community settings and with health care providers
- Experience of designing and implementing internal processes and procedures for service improvement e.g. governance standards, audit etc
- Experience of managing others in a managerial or supervisory role including performance management and appraisal and development
- Experience of business planning including budget management and financial processes
- Knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Effective verbal, written and presentation communication skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear messages accurately for a range of audiences
- Excellent planning and prioritisation skills and ability to manage competing demands
- Proven ability to problem solve whilst working in an unpredictable environment, often under pressure and to tight timescales
- Ability to demonstrate initiative and work independently with minimum supervision
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams, disciplines and organisations demonstrating respect and consideration for the role/ skill(s) of others
- Ability to analyse and interpret information in an effective manner to recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issue(s)
- Proven ability to work with quality improvement and governance frameworks
- Ability to effectively engage with others to influence and negotiate for positive outcomes
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office including Word, and Excel
- Evidence of ongoing CPD and committed to self-development
Desirable
- Able to develop, interpret, implement and evaluate policies
- Proven capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
Equality and diversity
Essential
- 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
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
