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Job summary

Main area
Epidemiology and Information Systems Specialist
Grade
Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
919-VD-306088-EXT
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Birmingham, Nottingham
Town
Birmingham, Nottingham
Salary
£30,473 - £37,215 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
09/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Epidemiology and Information Systems Specialist

Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

  • Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
  • Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
  • Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
  • Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
  • Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Job overview

The Epidemiology and Information Systems Specialist works closely with UKHSA and NHS colleagues to support data capture, data quality and data management. Working within the Field Service Midlands team, the postholder will act as the team’s primary liaison with laboratories across the Midlands to secure the reporting of timely and high quality infectious disease test data to UKHSA’s Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS).

Through the application of specialist skills, the post holder will undertake complex tasks with regards to database development and management, using modern tools and methodologies. 
The role will involve supporting outbreaks and epidemiological investigations through the creation and administration of outbreak databases and through providing advice and expertise on data sources and capture. 
The post holder will contribute to UKHSA’s surveillance work by supporting the implementation of new, and the improvement of existing, surveillance systems.  
The post holder will support users through providing ongoing support and training and will also be required to contribute to a robust quality assurance programme.

Main duties of the job

The post also supports response to incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and works on the analysis, visualisation and communication of data.

Key systems for this include the SGSS web application, SQL Server and Power BI.

Liaison with laboratories, as well as with other internal and external stakeholders, is an important feature of this role.

The main duties and responsibilities for the role are displayed below 

Working for our organisation

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.  

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Specific duties of the role may vary depending on the site and teams/functions.

Outbreak support and epidemiological investigation
1.    Advise on data availability and capture during outbreaks and create and administer outbreak databases

Surveillance 
2.    Support the development and operational testing of, and implement, new surveillance systems and provide ongoing support and training as required
3.    Maintain and improve existing surveillance databases, validating the quality of surveillance data including the development and use of automated routines and through audit
4.    Produce and update Standard Operating Procedures

Research
5.    Develop and maintain study databases including advising on data linkage, storage and design

Software skills
6.    Develop solutions and apply specialist skills using common database/mapping/web tools such as ArcGIS, SQL, SharePoint etc. 
7.    Undertake more complex analytical tasks using common software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation, including programming and using web-based technologies

Communication
8.    Present internally or to local partners on lead area / specialty

Teaching
9.    Teach colleagues on surveillance systems and database management

Quality and Governance
10.    Ensure that data transfer, extraction and storage of data are appropriate and secure
11.    Identify data quality issues and implement data validation and correction solutions based on guidance from senior staff and policy
12.    Ensure business continuity and disaster recovery procedures are in place for databases and systems

Workforce/HR
13.    Be responsible for managing own workload, including developing objectives and reviewing progress against these, leading and motivating team members and effectively appraising and managing performance for staff line managed

Project management
14.    Contribute to and ensure the delivery of project outcomes such as the implementation of new systems and processes

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•    The post holder will identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with their line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
•    To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. safeguarding, fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training. 

OTHER DUTIES
•    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 the Division.
•    The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation

For more information on the Job description and main duties please see the attached JD

Essential criteria - Please be aware that we will assess on the essential criteria stated on the advert rather than the full list on the job description document. 

Selection process

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification below. This assessment will be in the form of 

  • CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
  • 750 words Statement of Suitability.   

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

Please do not exceed 750 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number. 

The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered

Stage 2: Interview 

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

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

 As part of the interview you will be required to undertake a presentation, details of this will be provided to you.

 Interviews will be held week commencing 22nd July. 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.

Location information   

UKHSA operates 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 your core location - Birmingham or Nottingham. 

Eligibility Criteria

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

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.

Working for the Civil Service: 

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.  

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.   
   
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.   

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.   

It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:   

  • life sentences  
  • arson  
  • sexual offences  
  • hate and terror offences   

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.   

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available  

Starting salary  

Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment .

Person specification

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

Essential criteria
  • Educated to degree level in public health or information science/systems or equivalent experience
  • Higher qualification in in information science / systems or equivalent experience

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of and experience in data validation and quality assurance through audit, creating, supporting and maintaining systems and databases
  • Knowledge and experience of data sources, data capture mechanisms and data linkage
  • Proficient in a common database/mapping/web tools such as SQL, GIS, SharePoint etc. including experience of developing solutions
  • Experience of contributing to and ensuring the successful delivery of project relating to information systems
  • Understand information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in the production of Standard Operating Procedures
  • Experience in the operational testing, development and implementation of new systems
  • Experience of appraising staff and managing performance

SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES

Essential criteria
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Able to maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders and work in a multidisciplinary team
Desirable criteria
  • Skills to undertake more complex analytical tasks using common software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation, including programming

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

Essential criteria
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Purple SpaceApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Carer Confident -AccomplishedHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Vivian Dieli
Job title
Resourcing
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

For enquires about your application please contact the recruitment team [email protected] , for enquiries about the role please contact vacancy holder [email protected]

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