Consultant in Health Protection

About the job

• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Health Protect Hub at either Ashford, Kent or Horsham , West Sussex. 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) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ’s (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton and Chilton).

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).

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

About the job

Job summary

This is a senior role within the health protection team and provides leadership, management and oversight of the health protection function, including the response to incidents and outbreaks and responsibility for the day to day operational delivery.

The post holder will play a key role in developing, shaping and assuring the health protection function, which may include managing individuals and teams, working closely with partners, and ensuring delivery of high-quality surveillance, response and support systems. The post holder will have responsibility for developing and maintaining close working relationships both internally and with partner organisations. In addition, they will contribute and lead on regional and national priorities, including contribution to wider public health initiatives consistent with the regional delivery model and integrated working.

Job description

RESPONSE

1. 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 team’s 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 region’s 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.

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

Person specification

SURVEILLANCE

1. 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 WORKING

1. 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 Sector

b. Internal leaders and staff to gain input to the development of systems, processes and activities

4. 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 TRAINING

1. 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 LEADERSHIP

1. 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 region’s business continuity plan.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. 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.

OTHER DUTIES

1. The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

2. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of UKHSA Places and regions.

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

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

NHS Pension

This role is offered under Agenda for Change (AfC) Terms and Conditions:

• If you are already on AfC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AfC Pension.
• If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing substantive T&Cs.
• If the role is available under either AfC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

BENEFITS

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
• Things you need to know
• Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

• Selection process details
• External
• Open to all external applicants (anyo