Consultant in Health Protection

Job responsibilities

The post is subject to the core competencies as set out by the Faculty of Public Health for Consultant appointments and the post holder will be expected to demonstrate expertise in all of them (Appendix A).

RESPONSE1. Will be expected, when required, to assume overall responsibility for the management of incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases, lead the local Health Protection team response to non-infectious environmental hazards and chemical incidents and assume overall responsibility for the day to day running of the acute response function.2. To utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team and support and participate in the teams formal case review process.3. To ensure the monitoring of standards, ensuring quality and consistency and to take action where any shortfall occurs.4. May be responsible for any ongoing longer-term management of issues relevant to a defined geography area within their area.5. May perform Proper Officer duties in relation to Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 and the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2010 as agreed with Local Authorities.6. Will be expected to contribute, and where required, lead the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning Resilience and Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the regions responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.7. Will contribute, support and where necessary lead the UKHSA regional centre input into Emergency Planning arrangements.8. May be required to participate in an on call rota at local, regional or national level as required.

SURVEILLANCE1. Contribute strategically to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.2. Proactively use surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies.3. Lead, plan and design agreed initiatives to address health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessment, with a particular focus on health protection

PARTNERSHIP WORKING1. Take a lead in the proactive development and contribution to key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders and take responsibility for the maintenance of professional networks relevant to role.2. Influence, and where appropriate, lead the development and implementation of system wide priorities and programmes for public health action or improvement.3. Employ highly effective communication, negotiation and influencing skills to enable stakeholder relationships to deliver objectives with:a. External organisations and wider NHS stakeholders to ensure collaboration in the strategy in the Sectorb. Internal leaders and staff to gain input to the development of systems, processes and activities4. Deal with complex and conflicting subject matter problems or in day work load in workshops, meetings, one to one communications and other events, comprising various parts of the organisation.5. Contribute actively to the development and implementation of system wide priorities and programmes for public health action or improvement.

RESEARCH, TEACHING AND TRAINING1. Contribute to research activity to complement the health protection evidence base and where agreed, to lead research projects.2. Deliver appropriate teaching activities across a range of audiences.3. Contribute to training programmes (including supervision) for Foundation Year Doctors and Specialist Trainees in the Faculty of Public Health training scheme as appropriate, and to the training of health and care professionals and practitioners within the locality.4. Ensure appropriate clinical supervision and mentorship systems are in place for staff within scope of responsibility.5. Provide clinical/professional supervision and mentorship as appropriate.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP1. To be a visible, positive leader and role model. Meeting and demonstrating high professional standards.2. Oversee the development and implementation of policies and protocols for a wide range of health protection issues.3. Lead and coordinate defined areas of work as agreed with the Deputy Director for Health Protection e.g. specific communicable disease and non-infectious environmental hazards, quality and training.4. Where agreed, lead the locality/patch based health protection team.5. May undertake line management responsibilities including budgetary responsibilities as agreed with the Deputy Director Health Protection or Regional Director. 6. Actively identify, lead and contribute to quality improvement and governance initiatives in line with strategic direction of the region.7. Actively assist in the development of joint plans and system wide priorities for public health action or improvement.8. Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements at all times.9. Lead and contribute to proactive and responsive media issues.10. Proactively contribute to wider organisational development.11. Contribute to the strategic work of the locality/patch based health protection team and deputise where appropriate, using systems leadership approaches and skills.12. Contribute strategically to the development and the testing of the regions business continuity plan.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT1. Participate in organisational and professional appraisal and revalidation as appropriate.2. Pursue a programme of Continuing Professional Development, including mandatory training, in accordance with the requirements of a recognised Professional body e.g. Faculty of Public Health, Royal College of Pathologists.3. On the occasions when a medical qualification and GMC specialist registration are required, medically qualified members may be asked to undertake specific duties such as in the development of Patient Group Direction or Medical Officer functions in the Regulations of the Public Health Act. Such occasions may be based on legislative or organisational requirements.4. Where appropriate, contribute to and support the development of individuals and the team through appraisal, personal development planning, coaching and mentoring.

For full details, please see attached Job Description & Person Specification.

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using / Competency based framework.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1000 word Statement of Suitability.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your statement of suitability must be no more than 1000.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, referring to the attached Job Description & Person Specification.

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).

Application form & Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 3rd November, please note these dates are subject to change.

This vacancy is being assessed using Competency based framework. During the interview we will assess against the below:

KnowledgeExperienceSkills and Abilities

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview

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

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at in Mildenhall. 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).

Qualifications

Essential

• Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or UK Public Health (Special Inclusion in the GMC full and specialist register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible within 6 months
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register in a specialty other than public health medicine, infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine, infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology practice
• Public health specialist registrar and specialist trainee applicants who are not yet on the GMC Register/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/UKPHR If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
• Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Public Health/Royal College of Pathologists/Royal College of Physicians or other recognised body

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Minimum 6 months experience in Health Protection practice
• Practical experience in leading and facilitating change
• Experience of communicable disease control in a wide variety of settings including out of hours on call
• Experience of working with other agencies
• Experience of emergency planning
• Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection
• Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, audit, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice
• Understanding of social and political environment
• Understanding of laboratory microbiology services
• Understanding of clinical infectious diseases services
• Understanding of clinical toxicology services
• Understanding of the principles of radiological protection

Desirable

• Experience of budget management and financial processes
• Experience and demonstrable competency in dealing with environmental hazards / chemical incidents
• Ability to undertake prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of public health importance
• Peer reviewed scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars, etc.

Skills and capabilities

Essential

• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills, including management of change
• Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty
• Adaptable to situations, can communicate with people of all capabilities and attitudes
• Project management
• Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media)
• Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills
• Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved
• Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
• Computer literate
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies
• Ability to concentrate for long periods (e.g. analyses, media presentations)
• Resource management skills
• Ability to undertake prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of public health importance

Desirable

• People management and training
• Training and mentoring
• Have an awareness of and be working towards the key core competencies set out in Civil Service Competency Framework 2010-2017 and KSF for those on AfC terms and conditions

Behaviours and Attitudes

Essential

• Strong commitment to public health principles
• Commitment to team-working and respect and consideration for the skills of others
• Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative
• High standards of professional probity

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.

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).