Health Protection Practitioner L1NHS
Job summary
The post holder will be part of the multi-disciplinary team providing the day-to-day health protection function, including the management of infectious and environmental hazards and supporting response to major incidents. The post is an entry level Health Protection development post and as such will develop specialist knowledge and skills to undertake case management, liaise with, and provide health protection advice and response across a range of partner organisations, professionals and the public. The post holder will undergo a programme of on-going development and education to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to provide specialist health protection advice and meet competencies required to undertake the role. When competence has been established they will contribute to the out-of-hours on-call service.
There are two posts available within this recruitment.
Main duties of the job
- Under supervision, contribute to the day to day running of the acute response function to ensure highquality, safe and effective delivery of the health protection service.
- Provide first point of contact for specialist knowledge, support and advice to health professionals on health protection matters.
- Undertake initial assessment and management of routine acute response work and non-complex incidents.
- Escalate and refer challenging or complex incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and non-infectious environmental hazards to senior manager asappropriate.
- Manage and carry out continuing responsibility for a caseload ensuring accurate, up to date records of contacts/action by completion of relevant records andcompliance with team handover procedures, in line with UKHSA's standards for record keeping.
- To utilise an evidence based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team, seeking senior advice as/when appropriate.
- Support and participate in the team's formal case review process.
- Contribute to and where required lead under supervision the ongoing longer term management of issues relevant to a defined geographical area.
- Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning andResilience Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the region's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.
- May be required to participate in a local on call rota at regional level as required.
Job description
We are seeking a Health Protection Practitioner (AfCBand6 nurse or HEO civil servant)
- Candidates holding NMC registration will be appointed on NHS Terms & Conditions at NHSAfCBand 6 : (min £39,959- max 48,117 per annum pro rata)
- Candidates without NMC registration will be appointed on Civil Service Terms and Conditions at HEO grade : (min £33,422- max 40,731 per annum , pro rata)
SURVEILLANCE
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards
- Contribute to the use of surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies
- Support identification and reporting of health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessment
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
- Through activities delegated and supported by line management, contribute to the development of effective relationships with a range of individuals and stakeholders.
- With support and guidance from line management, may sometimes deal with difficult and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day to day work load.
RESEARCH, TEACHING AND TRAINING
- Contribute to research activity to complement the health protection evidence base
- Contribute to the development and delivery of teaching resources and activities across a range of audiences with support from senior manager as appropriate
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
- To act as role model adhering to team professional standards
- Contribute to the development of policies and protocols for a wide range of health protection issues
- Contribute to and undertake audit as part of a wider programme of quality/service improvement activity
- Undertake projects on defined areas of work as agreed with the line manager
- Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed
- Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements within the team
- Proactively contribute to wider organisational development
- Contribute to the strategic work of the locality/patch based health protection team and deputise where appropriate
- Contribute pro-actively to the development and testing of the regions business continuity plan
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 your line manager
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of UKHSA Regions
COMMUNICATION AND KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA
Essentialrolecriteria :
- First degree (Health Related e.g. environmental health, biomedical science, public health) or equivalent experience, e.g. in laboratory [ Civil Service terms and conditions ]
- Registered Nurse with NMC registration[ AfC terms and conditions ]
- Working towards registration withan appropriate healthor science related professional body [ Civil Service terms and conditions ]
- Experience as a practitioner in a Health related field( e.g. Nursing, Environmental Health, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health)
- An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act (e.g.safe guardingvulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
- Proven experience in the establishment and maintenance of good relationships with managers,staffand external contracts
- Effective verbal and written communication skills including report writing and presentations
- Ability to work independently, manage and prioritise own workload and cope with competing demands
- Ability to problem solve whilst working in an unpredictable environment, often under pressure and to tight timescales
- Ability to analyse, interpret and relay information accurately
- Ability to analyse and interpret information in an effective mannerto recommendan appropriate courseof action to address the issue(s)
- An awareness of Quality and Governance frameworks
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office including Word, and Excel
- Evidence of ongoing CPD and committed to self-development
- Anunderstandingof 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
Desirablerolecriteria:
- Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships
- Experience of working in community settings and with health care providers
- Experience of risk management and associated reporting
- Knowledge of the principles of health protection
- Experience of supporting/assistingthe development and delivery of presentations,trainingand/or education
Selection ProcessDetails This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications,knowledgeand experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application &Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listedessential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 1,500 word Supporting Statement
This should outline how you consider your skills, experienceand knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria
HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1,500 your supporting statement should be within this limit. We will not consider any words overthis.
This should outline how you consider your skills, experienceand knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.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 CV. Please beadvisedyou will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible) Please do not email us your CV.
Longlisting:
In the event ofa large number ofapplicationswewilllonglist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
If used, the pile Meets all essential criteria willproceedto shortlisting.
Shortlisting:
In the event ofa large number ofapplications we may conductan initialsift, on the lead criteria of:
- AfC: Registered General Nurse with NMC registration
- CS: First degree (Health Related e.g. environmental health, biomedical science, public health) or equivalent experience e.g. laboratory
- Experience as a practitioner in a Health related field( e.g. Nursing, Environmental Health, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health)
Desirable criteria may be usedin the event ofa large number ofapplications/successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Feedback will not be provided at this stage
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. If face to face interviewsareplanned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview
Knowledge, Experience, Skills & Abilities will be tested at interview
There will be a 5-10 minute Presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of the presentation will be " What are 3 challenges for health protection in the future"
Interviews dates to be confirmed
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Eligibility Criteria - External Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants)
Location - Bristol or Totnes Supporting Hub This role is being offered as hybrid working based at supporting hub in Bristol or Totnes. 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 office.
Security Clearance Level Requirement Successful candidates must pass a enhanceddisclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed isBasic Personnel Security Standard
Salary Information If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary.
Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
- Candidates holding NMC registration will be appointed on NHS Terms & Conditions at NHSAfCBand 6 : (min £39,959- max 48,117 per annum pro rata)
- Candidates without NMC registration will be appointed on Civil Service Terms and Conditions at HEO grade : (min £33,422- max 40,731 per annum , pro rata)
About us
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