Job summary
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI) Division
The mission of this Division is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, research and interventions. One of its strategic priorities is for England to be a world leader in tackling Antimicrobial Resistance.
Main duties of the job
Under the leadership of the AMR Lead Pharmacist, this role will co-lead on key aspects of UKHSA's responsibilities within the Government's National Action Plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance through improving the usage of antimicrobials, antimicrobial stewardship and public health interventions. They will also contribute to Divisional deliverables as part of the Health Protection Research Unit.
o Service deliveryo Patient and population careo Clinical responsibilitieso Evidence, interventions and evaluationo Researcho Staff managemento Professional development
As well as delivering similar longer-term projects, the post-holder will support the delivery of business-as-usual activities or other relevant short projects as agreed with the Lead pharmacist.
Business As Usual (BAU) activities include responding to parliamentary questions, producing briefing notes and reports to national groups e.g. English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR), it may include budget management for projects delivered through the team. It would also include involvement in a major incident if required.
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
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the senior antimicrobial pharmacist, you will:
- Deputise for the ESPAUR Lead/Lead Pharmacist for the Division in providing Antimicrobial Resistance, Stewardship & Interventions advice.
- Represent and co-lead for UKHSA in collaborative Antimicrobial Stewardship activities and contribute to developing, planning and delivery of joint AMR strategies and projects with UKHSA partners, notably ESPAUR and the UKHSA AMR Forum, in delivery of the Governments AMR National Action Plan. Including working with internal UKHSA colleagues at operational level (Centre Directors, Field epidemiology, microbiology etc) to:o address antimicrobial resistance across the acute and non-acute sectorso collaborate with other specialist groups to assess appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions in primary and secondary careo identify if there are any gaps in pharmaceutical/medicines management deliverables across UKHSA
- Lead on UKHSAs deliverables for the antimicrobial stewardship outcome and commitments of the 2024-29 National Action Plan on AMR.
- Lead the clinical pharmacy input to outbreaks and incidents for which medicines or medicinal products are involved.
- Provide high level expert medicines management advice as part of the multidisciplinary team within AMR PROGRESS, Primary Care and Interventions Unit (PCIU) and Incidents, Outbreaks and Infection (advice and) Guidance (IOIG) teams to improve and enhance the quality of patient care.
- Establishing collaborative projects with leading researchers and specialists in academic, health service, public and voluntary sectors, including multi-centre and international projects and projects linking complex datasets across different sectors.
For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Essential criteria
You will be assessed on the below (Eight) essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Competency-based
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
- An Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- A (1200 number of words) 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.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview
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
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Provision of pharmacist cover in primary or secondary care including Multidisciplinary working and/or ward round experience
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & 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) remote interview
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview, and there will be a presentation required.
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
ExternalOpen to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
LocationHybrid any Core HQThis role is being offered as hybrid working. 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 2 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London)
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from 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 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
As the senior antimicrobial pharmacist, you will:
- Deputise for the ESPAUR Lead/Lead Pharmacist for the Division in providing Antimicrobial Resistance, Stewardship & Interventions advice.
- Represent and co-lead for UKHSA in collaborative Antimicrobial Stewardship activities and contribute to developing, planning and delivery of joint AMR strategies and projects with UKHSA partners, notably ESPAUR and the UKHSA AMR Forum, in delivery of the Governments AMR National Action Plan. Including working with internal UKHSA colleagues at operational level (Centre Directors, Field epidemiology, microbiology etc) to:o address antimicrobial resistance across the acute and non-acute sectorso collaborate with other specialist groups to assess appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions in primary and secondary careo identify if there are any gaps in pharmaceutical/medicines management deliverables across UKHSA
- Lead on UKHSAs deliverables for the antimicrobial stewardship outcome and commitments of the 2024-29 National Action Plan on AMR.
- Lead the clinical pharmacy input to outbreaks and incidents for which medicines or medicinal products are involved.
- Provide high level expert medicines management advice as part of the multidisciplinary team within AMR PROGRESS, Primary Care and Interventions Unit (PCIU) and Incidents, Outbreaks and Infection (advice and) Guidance (IOIG) teams to improve and enhance the quality of patient care.
- Establishing collaborative projects with leading researchers and specialists in academic, health service, public and voluntary sectors, including multi-centre and international projects and projects linking complex datasets across different sectors.
For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Essential criteria
You will be assessed on the below (Eight) essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Competency-based
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
- An Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- A (1200 number of words) 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.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview
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
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Provision of pharmacist cover in primary or secondary care including Multidisciplinary working and/or ward round experience
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & 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) remote interview
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview, and there will be a presentation required.
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
ExternalOpen to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
LocationHybrid any Core HQThis role is being offered as hybrid working. 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 2 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London)
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from 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 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
Essential Criteria
Essential
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Specialist professional knowledge of effective medicines optimisation and safe management of medicines in primary, secondary and/or social care services.
- Provision of pharmacist cover in primary or secondary care including Multidisciplinary working and/or ward round experience.
- A thorough understanding of NHS policies, processes, structures, systems and clinical practices.
- Experience of leading the successful design and delivery of evaluation activities across a programme.
- Experience of writing, preparing and presenting scientific reports/project reports/ policies/procedures/ guidelines (clinical and non-clinical).
- Ability to interpret and analyse highly complex information, translate it into actionable insights and present it appropriately for the intended audience.
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Essential
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council
- Specialist professional knowledge of effective medicines optimisation and safe management of medicines in primary, secondary and/or social care services.
- Provision of pharmacist cover in primary or secondary care including Multidisciplinary working and/or ward round experience.
- A thorough understanding of NHS policies, processes, structures, systems and clinical practices.
- Experience of leading the successful design and delivery of evaluation activities across a programme.
- Experience of writing, preparing and presenting scientific reports/project reports/ policies/procedures/ guidelines (clinical and non-clinical).
- Ability to interpret and analyse highly complex information, translate it into actionable insights and present it appropriately for the intended audience.
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
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).
