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UK Health Security Agency
About
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats, and providing intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage. UKHSA will ensure the nation can respond quickly and at greater scale to deal with pandemics and future threats.
Contact
- Address
- 10 South Colonnade
- London
- E14 4PU
Assistant Engineer- London and South East Apprenticeship
Accepting applications until: 06-Jan-2025 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 06-Jan-2025 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- Canary Wharf
- Address
- 10 S Colonnade
- Town
- London
- Postcode
- E14 4PU
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Fixed term: 18 months (18 months from start date)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
Salary
- Salary
- £31,224 - £36,176 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (Civil Service: Executive Officer (EO))
Specialty
- Main area
- Engineering
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
IT Service Management Team
The IT Service management team provides business-critical support for systems and services, to UKHSA business users at all locations at which UKHSA staff work.
Engineers will have a specific geographical base. They will provide both technical and non-technical expertise in the development and operation of ICT support to end users within the UKHSA systems environment. The role holder will be part of a national 2nd Line Support team and will be a key contact for site specific incidents and requests. They will provide UKHSA staff with the support, guidance, and advice to allow them to work on the UKHSA network without disruption.
They will also support the Lead and Senior Engineers in any system implementations or incidents as directed.
They will work to gain an Azure Fundamentals Qualification and a Microsoft 365 fundamentals qualification. (If you already hold these qualifications you will not be eligible for the role).
Communication and key working relationships
Internal
- Other local engineers at all levels
- Colleagues in the ICT Department
- Customers within UKHSA at all levels.
External
- Relevant suppliers of hardware, software and services
- Maintenance organisations
- External customers as appropriate and as directed by line manager.
This role will be based at Canary Wharf with travel between multiple locations.
Advert
- Assist the Senior Engineers in providing a high quality of customer service and support that will ensure that all UKHSA staff are able to access UKHSA ICT services as required, using properly configured and reliable devices.
- Ensure that all UKHSA users receive a consistent level of support within agreed service levels across geographical locations and directorates.
- Provide technical support and troubleshooting including administration of user accounts, permissions, file shares, and support of Windows OS and MS communication and collaboration tools.
- Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance for software installation, licensing, backup, and assurance.
- Work closely with teams across ICT to reduce manual intervention for repetitive tasks and to ensure that processes are both clear and adopted.
- Working with ITIL processes including Request, Incident, Change, and Problem Management.
- Ensuring compliance with UKHSA ICT Security Policies.
- Conduct other work as directed by line management in accordance with departmental standards and policies.
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. Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Important: Eligibility requirements- please read before applying
To be eligible for this apprenticeship role, you must have lived continuously in the UK for the last 3 years and have a valid visa to work in the UK.
To be eligible to apply you must NOT already have a qualification higher than GCSE (or equivalent) in a related field such as IT or multiple experience in the same or a related field.
You will be assessed on the below 9 essential criteria. For a full list of essential and desirable criteria, please see the attached job description.
Essential criteria
- Experience/knowledge Microsoft operating systems and associated infrastructure
- Experience/knowledge Microsoft application software, including Office 365
- Experience in troubleshooting and supporting specialist systems
- Clear communicator, able to use a range of methods, whilst ensuring communication has a clear purpose taking into accounts peoples individual needs.
- Evidence of excellent customer service skills and a commitment to improving services and performance for end users.
- Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining personal networks
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, remain alert to emerging issues, and recommend appropriate course of action.
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
Selection Process Details
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 9 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 1250 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 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
Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a single face to face interview.
Behaviours, skills and experience will be assessed at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Making effective decisions
- Managing a quality service
- Delivering at Pace
Interview 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 by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our office in Canary Wharf. 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). 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).
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.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
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.
This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.
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
For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.
For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.
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 UKHSA’s Pay policy.
Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.
Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.
Working for the Civil Service
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 equality of opportunity. 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 here.
Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.
Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.
If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Benefits of working at UKHSA include:
- Generous annual leave:
-26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
-28 days after 5 years of continuous service
-32 days after 10 years of continuous service
-Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday - Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
- We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
- We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.
Hybrid Working
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 usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.
Disability Confident Scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview. If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.
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 take into account 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 could be time accrued over that period.
Person specification
Application Form
Essential criteria
- Application Form
Statement of Suitability
Essential criteria
- Statement of Suitability
Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Making effective decisions
- Managing a quality service
- Delivering at pace
Documents
- Job description (PDF, 368.4KB)
- Civil Service Recruitment Principles (PDF, 2.6MB)
- Civil Service Nationality Rules (PDF, 195.3KB)
- Application Form Guidance Notes (PDF, 77.3KB)
- Information Sheet - Starting salaries and benefits (PDF, 129.4KB)
- Information Sheet - Selection Process (PDF, 110.1KB)
- Working at UKHSA and your benefits (PDF, 219.2KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lisa Tweedie
- Job title
- Resourcing Support Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For additional information about the role please contact Hannah Boulton, [email protected], London and South East Area ICT Manager
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