Senior Clinical Fellow in Vaccines

Job description

Job responsibilities

The fellow is expected to: Take responsibility for arranging 1:1 sessions with their supervisor(s). Inform their educational supervisor of any special requirements, ideally at the preplacement meeting. Inform their educational supervisor promptly of any difficulties, including concerns about lack of opportunities to gain experience. Attend the workplace as required and on time To line manage scientific and / or administrative staff within the team including in relation to project work. Share their diaries with UKHSA staff they are working with. Follow local procedures to notify the division when unwell. To deliver the objectives set out in the plan the fellow will be expected to work closely with members of the individual teams. Short induction including familiarisation with base, the team, wider colleagues within UKHSA, and organisational arrangements. Dealing with enquiries from the public and health professionals. Issuing advice to clinicians on individual cases or exposed persons. Participating in investigation of clusters/ outbreaks. Play a lead role in developing projects supporting surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases. Attendance at (and presentation where appropriate) key meetings relevant to the division. Attendance at cross UKHSA, meetings relevant to training, and /or projects. Work on projects which contribute to the strategic work of the division and across divisions which are appropriate to the individual fellow. To meet regularly with their project and educational supervisors. To complete an evaluation of the placement. The fellow should pursue a programme of continuing professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, whilst maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.The fellow is encouraged to attend: Unit/departmental education meetings Educational meetings with partner agencies Other local training as appropriateProfessional development: Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events. To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training. Key working relationships:The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.

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.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria as outlined in the attached Job Description.

You will be required to complete an:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1500 word Statement of SuitabilityThis should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

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)

Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1500 words.

If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the following criterion will be conducted : Specialist trainee with current national training number (NTN) in one of the listed specialties at the specified level of training.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a face to face interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing 23/03/2026, please note these dates are subject to change.

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

Knowledge

MSc in Public Health or Epidemiology.

Understanding of the UK research and NHS system.

Knowledge of the clinical presentation and management of Vaccine Preventable Diseases subject to national vaccination programmes.

Experience

Experience in preparation of written reports and published work.

Experience in one of the following specialties at the specified level of training:

o Virology, Infectious diseases or Medical Microbiology (ST4 or higher),

o Public Health (post-Part B),

o Paediatrics (ST5 or higher),

o Genitourinary Medicine (ST4 or higher)

Skills and Abilities Ability to assess individual-level clinical history to inform advice in relation to enquiries.

Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner.

Ability to handle personal information confidentially according to information governance requirements.

Able to convey ideas and opinions clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.

An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview, around the subject of vaccine preventable diseases. The specific topic 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 our Scientific Campus at Colindale. 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).

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSAs Pay policy.

Person Specification

Application Form & Supporting Statement

Essential

• Essential Criteria

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

Colindale

61 Colindale Avenue

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

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