Epidemiology and Information Scientist - #1697503

Bristol Office

Job Summary

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.  

The Field Services Division (FS) was established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological, microbiological, infectious diseases and data sciences capacity and skills delivering surveillance and outbreak investigations consistently of the highest quality.

FS provides an effector arm for UKHSA, supporting the translation of evidence into practice as well as having a role in strengthening surveillance through closer links with the NHS and other partners. It also provides valuable links to academic centres and effective leadership and coordination of the UKHSA applied epidemiology training function.

The Epidemiology and Information Scientist will support senior epidemiologist colleagues in the provision of a range of activities including contributing to outbreak management and response and epidemiological investigation through designing questionnaires and outbreak databases, contributing to the production of outbreak reports and preparing descriptive epidemiology.

The interface with local, regional and national colleagues, as well as with external stakeholders, will be an important feature of this role.

Job Description

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

Outbreak support and epidemiological investigation

• Where appropriate, undertake specific steps of an epidemiological study under direction including to design and develop questionnaires e.g. using Select Survey, design and administer outbreak databases, prepare descriptive epidemiology, contribute to the production of outbreak reports, investigate exceedances and interview cases and controls.
• Undertake complex analytical tasks and use common statistical, database and mapping software and tools to support analysis such as producing tables, graphs, maps etc. and developing advanced queries.
  
  

Surveillance and data analysis

• Maintain and improve databases for surveillance of infectious diseases, test functionality of new surveillance systems, validate the quality of surveillance data including use of automated routines and through audit and produce and update Standard Operating Procedures.
• Have knowledge of, apply and interpret basic statistical tests, conduct statistical analyses of surveillance data, produce reports and outputs using common statistical/database/mapping tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL, etc, respond to routine and more complex data requests and produce routine surveillance reports, including basic descriptive analysis and interpretation of results.
• Contribute to surveillance activities through assuring data quality, undertaking complex data analyses and seeking to improve and enhance databases and systems.
• Produce routine surveillance reports that include basic descriptive analyses and interpretation.
• Undertake more complex analytical tasks using common software packages to support analysis such as advanced querying, data validation and pivot tables.
  
  

Research

• Support research through contribution to scientific papers and projects on public health surveillance, outbreaks and infectious disease control as well as through designing study databases and sharing findings at conferences and meetings.
• Design a study database, and develop queries to analyse data, create automated reports, import/export data from a variety of sources, participate in the interpretation and analysis of research findings and the application of findings to practice and present internally or to local partners, present work/posters at scientific meetings and conferences.
  
  

Management and Leadership

• To act as role model adhering to team professional standards, actively engage in meetings, identify potential problems and seek to resolve and undertake a lead role for a specific topic or function area, on behalf of the service as a whole.
• Support the development of policies and protocols for use within the team/department.
• Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed.
• Support/lead projects and support defined areas of work as agreed with line manager.
• Learn and maintain up-to-date scientific knowledge regarding epidemiology, surveillance and relevant public health interventions and contribute to the supervision and training colleagues and others as requested.
• Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities (including to the development of teaching material and courses) on surveillance, epidemiology information science, data management, information governance and quality and support ongoing training activities within the team and Service.
  
  

Quality and governance

• Ensure that data transfer, extraction and storage of data are appropriate and identify data quality issues through audit and ensure analysis and outputs are clearly presented in an appropriate context.
  
  

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

COMMUNICATION AND KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The Post Holder Will Build And Maintain Effective Working Relationships And Communicate Regularly With a Wide Range Of Individuals, Clinical And Non-clinical, Internal And External To UKHSA. This May Include:

• Field Services staff
• Health Protection Ops Group staff
• Science Group staff including: Radiation, Chemicals, Climate and Environmental Hazards
• ICT and Digital Staff
• UKHSA national response centre
• Laboratory staff i.e. Microbiologists and Laboratory Managers
• Local Authority staff
• NHS England staff
• NHS Trust staff
• Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID)
• Other professional scientific, information and administrative staff in a number of organisations
• Community staff
• Agencies contributing to environmental hazards surveillance
• Public
• Academia
  
  

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

Outbreak support and epidemiological investigation

• Where appropriate, undertake specific steps of an epidemiological study under direction including to design and develop questionnaires e.g. using Select Survey, design and administer outbreak databases, prepare descriptive epidemiology, contribute to the production of outbreak reports, investigate exceedances and interview cases and controls.
• Undertake complex analytical tasks and use common statistical, database and mapping software and tools to support analysis such as producing tables, graphs, maps etc. and developing advanced queries.
  
  

Surveillance and data analysis

• Maintain and improve databases for surveillance of infectious diseases, test functionality of new surveillance systems, validate the quality of surveillance data including use of automated routines and through audit and produce and update Standard Operating Procedures.
• Have knowledge of, apply and interpret basic statistical tests, conduct statistical analyses of surveillance data, produce reports and outputs using common statistical/database/mapping tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL, etc, respond to routine and more complex data requests and produce routine surveillance reports, including basic descriptive analysis and interpretation of results.
• Contribute to surveillance activities through assuring data quality, undertaking complex data analyses and seeking to improve and enhance databases and systems.
• Produce routine surveillance reports that include basic descriptive analyses and interpretation.
• Undertake more complex analytical tasks using common software packages to support analysis such as advanced querying, data validation and pivot tables.
  
  

Research

• Support research through contribution to scientific papers and projects on public health surveillance, outbreaks and infectious disease control as well as through designing study databases and sharing findings at conferences and meetings.
• Design a study database, and develop queries to analyse data, create automated reports, import/export data from a variety of sources, participate in the interpretation and analysis of research findings and the application of findings to practice and present internally or to local partners, present work/posters at scientific meetings and conferences.
  
  

Management and Leadership

• To act as role model adhering to team professional standards, actively engage in meetings, identify potential problems and seek to resolve and undertake a lead role for a specific topic or function area, on behalf of the service as a whole.
• Support the development of policies and protocols for use within the team/department.
• Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed.
• Support/lead projects and support defined areas of work as agreed with line manager.
• Learn and maintain up-to-date scientific knowledge regarding epidemiology, surveillance and relevant public health interventions and contribute to the supervision and training colleagues and others as requested.
• Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities (including to the development of teaching material and courses) on surveillance, epidemiology information science, data management, information governance and quality and support ongoing training activities within the team and Service.
  
  

Quality and governance

• Ensure that data transfer, extraction and storage of data are appropriate and identify data quality issues through audit and ensure analysis and outputs are clearly presented in an appropriate context.
  
  

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.
  
  

The Post Holder Will Build And Maintain Effective Working Relationships And Communicate Regularly With a Wide Range Of Individuals, Clinical And Non-clinical, Internal And External To UKHSA. This May Include:

• Field Services staff
• Health Protection Ops Group staff
• Science Group staff including: Radiation, Chemicals, Climate and Environmental Hazards
• ICT and Digital Staff
• UKHSA national response centre
• Laboratory staff i.e. Microbiologists and Laboratory Managers
• Local Authority staff
• NHS England staff
• NHS Trust staff
• Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID)
• Other professional scientific, information and administrative staff in a number of organisations
• Community staff
• Agencies contributing to environmental hazards surveillance
• Public
• Academia
  
  

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Degree or equivalent in public health or information science or equivalent experience
• Masters qualification in relevant discipline (e.g. public health/information science) or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of epidemiological investigation
• Knowledge or experience of basic statistical tests, performing descriptive epidemiology with strong analytical skills, excellent accuracy and attention to detail
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data(base) management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
• Evidence of using computer and database software packages for epidemiological and statistical analysis
• Understand information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficient in a common statistical/database/mapping tool such as Stata, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
• Able to maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
• Good organisational, prioritisation and time management skills and able to work under own initiative
• 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
  
  

Desirable Criteria

• Training or experience in validating data including automated routines
• Knowledge of health and social care environment, and an awareness of surveillance and epidemiology and information flows in the NHS and allied services
• Line management experience including appraising staff and managing performance
• Proven scientific report writing skills
  
  

Alongside your salary of £31,997, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,269 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  
  

Selection process details

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Competency-based

You Will Be Required To Complete An Application Form. You Will Be Assessed On The Listed 12 Essential Criteria, And This Will Be In The Form Of A:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 750 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 together.

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
  
  

The pile 'meets all essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the lead criteria of:

• Knowledge of epidemiological investigation
• Evidence of using computer and database software packages for epidemiological and statistical analysis
  
  

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

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

Please do not exceed 750 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

There will be a 5-10 minute presentation, details will be confirmed to those invited to interview.

Interviews are planned for 11th and 12th June; 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.

Selection Process

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our office in Bristol. 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 our Bristol office.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

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/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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 (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Lisa Tweedie
• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7186780