UK Health Security Agency

Health Protection Practitioner

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The post holder will be part of the multi-disciplinary team contributing to the day to day provision of the health protection function, including the management of infectious and environmental hazards and contributing to the response to major incidents. They will use specialist knowledge and skills to undertake case management, liaise with, and provide health protection advice and response across a range of partner organisations, professionals and the public. They will actively contribute to the wider provision and development of the health protection function, including the development, training and supervision of others within the team. The post holder will also develop areas of expertise within regional programmes, working with relevant leads to take this work forward.

The post holder will undergo a programme of ongoing development and education to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to provide specialist health protection advice and meet competencies required to undertake the role.

Due to the nature of the role, the successful candidate is expected to work from the office for 100% of their contractual hours while training. On completion of training, the successful candidate can make use of UKHSA's hybrid working arrangement which is a minimum office attendance of 60% of contractual hours per week. Hybrid working is not a contractual obligation and time working away from the office is subject to business need and line manager approval.

Main duties of the job

  • 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 acuteresponse work and non-complex incidents.
  • 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 region's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.
  • Required to participate in a local on call Rota at regional level which will be appropriately renumerated.
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

About us

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

Details

Date posted

03 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£40,661 to £52,809 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-GB-309658-EXT

Job locations

Harlow or Mildenhall

Harlow or Mildenhall

CM17 9TX


Job description

Job responsibilities

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 assessment

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed (8) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

  • Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

  • 1200 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

TheApplication form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Shortlisting:

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

Please do not exceed 1200 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.

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

Interviews will be held week commencing 6th Jan 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

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

Eligibility Criteria - External

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

Location

This role can be based at Harlow or Mildenhall.

Due to the nature of the role, the successful candidate is expected to work from the office for 100% of their contractual hours while training. On completion of training, the successful candidate can make use of UKHSAs hybrid working arrangement which is a minimum office attendance of 60% of contractual hours per week.

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 is Basic Personnel Security Standard

Job description

Job responsibilities

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 assessment

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed (8) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

  • Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

  • 1200 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

TheApplication form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Shortlisting:

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

Please do not exceed 1200 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.

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

Interviews will be held week commencing 6th Jan 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

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

Eligibility Criteria - External

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

Location

This role can be based at Harlow or Mildenhall.

Due to the nature of the role, the successful candidate is expected to work from the office for 100% of their contractual hours while training. On completion of training, the successful candidate can make use of UKHSAs hybrid working arrangement which is a minimum office attendance of 60% of contractual hours per week.

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 is Basic Personnel Security Standard

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC OR Working towards registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
  • First degree (Health Related) or demonstrable equivalent experience

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act ( e.g. safeguarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
  • Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships
  • Experience of risk management and associated reporting

Skills and capabilities

Essential

  • Excellent planning and prioritisation skills and ability to manage competing demands
  • Ability to work collaboratively across teams, disciplines and organisations demonstrating respect and consideration for the role/ skill(s) of others

Other

Essential

  • oAn 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 OR Working towards registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
  • First degree (Health Related) or demonstrable equivalent experience

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act ( e.g. safeguarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
  • Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships
  • Experience of risk management and associated reporting

Skills and capabilities

Essential

  • Excellent planning and prioritisation skills and ability to manage competing demands
  • Ability to work collaboratively across teams, disciplines and organisations demonstrating respect and consideration for the role/ skill(s) of others

Other

Essential

  • oAn 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Harlow or Mildenhall

Harlow or Mildenhall

CM17 9TX


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Harlow or Mildenhall

Harlow or Mildenhall

CM17 9TX


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Resourcing Support

Gurkamal Bhambra

Recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

03 December 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£40,661 to £52,809 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-GB-309658-EXT

Job locations

Harlow or Mildenhall

Harlow or Mildenhall

CM17 9TX


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)