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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

Find out more

Jobs Website

Open

Ref: 919-LT-308214-EXT Vacancy ID: 7231349

Senior Infection Prevention and Control Clinical Specialist

Accepting applications until: 10-Jun-2025 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 10-Jun-2025 23:59

Location

Site: Core HQ
Town: Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf)
Postcode: E14 4PU
Major / Minor Region: London

Contract type & working pattern

Contract

Fixed term: 24 months (FTA for 2 years from start date)

Hours

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Salary

Salary: £53,755 - £60,504 per annum pro rata (+ Inner London HCAS if based at Canary Wharf)
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (NHS AfC: Band 8a)

Specialty

Main area: Health Protection

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

RESPONSE

Management and supervision of the day-to-day acute response service to ensure high quality safe and effective delivery.
Use expertise and knowledge to support and where required to support the management of routine and complex incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases
Manage and carry out continuing responsibility for specific workstreams ensuring accurate, up to date records of contacts/action by completion of relevant records and compliance with team handover procedures, in line with UKHSA standards for record keeping.
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.
To monitor standards, ensuring quality and consistency and to escalate to senior manager and/or take action where any shortfall occurs as appropriate to role.
Contribute to and support the development of policies and guidance
Contribute to planning for incident response and resilience.
Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents as defined by line manager
May be required to travel away from usual base or to participate in a local on call rota at local, regional or national level as required.

SURVEILLANCE

Contribute proactively to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.
Proactively use surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies.
Contribute to health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessments.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

Support the development of key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders and take responsibility as delegated line manager for the maintenance of professional networks relevant to role.
Employ effective communication and influencing skills to support stakeholder relationships to deliver objectives with:
• External organisations and wider NHS stakeholders to ensure collaboration in the strategy in the Sector
• Internal leaders and staff to gain input to the development of systems, processes and activities
Deal with at times, highly challenging and/or conflicting subject matter problems or in day workload in workshops, meetings, one to one communications and other events, comprising various parts of the business, referring/escalating to senior manager(s) as appropriate.
Contribute actively to the development and implementation of system wide priorities and programmes for IPC or improvement.

RESEARCH, TEACHING AND TRAINING

Contribute to research activity to complement the IPC evidence base
Develop and deliver appropriate teaching resources and activities across a range of audiences with support from senior manager(s) as appropriate.
Ensure appropriate clinical supervision and mentorship systems are in place.
Provide clinical/professional supervision and mentorship as appropriate.

Please see attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

Essential role criteria:

Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration (e.g. NMC, HCPC) (lead criteria)
Educated to a minimum level of Masters degree in IPC or Public Health (lead criteria)
Substantial experience in an IPC or public health role at a senior level with specialist knowledge and expertise in IPC including antimicrobial resistance, environmental IPC e.g. the microbiological safety of water; ventilation and infection transmission dynamics; environmental cleaning and disinfection; the decontamination of reusable medical devices, and application of these principles to health as well as non-healthcare settings (lead criteria)
Extensive experience and expertise in leading and contributing to multidisciplinary incident and outbreak investigation and management, in a diverse range of settings, applying principles of epidemiology and understanding the wider public health agenda. Ability to interpret and analyses complex and sensitive information in a concise yet insightful way, pre-empting and evaluating issues and recommending appropriate course of action. Ability to undertake on call responsibility for public health
Proven experience and ability to prioritise own work effectively, with capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly, including being able to direct activities of and to others.
Evidence of ability to handle challenging issues taking a problem-solving approach to ensure proactive and effective resolution
Ability to identify areas for policy development and experience of delivering these for service improvement utilising a variety of literature and resources
Development, delivery, and evaluation of education and training programmes and events, research, and quality improvement projects ensuring alignment with national and strategic objectives
An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act (e.g. safeguarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance) and experience of leading and maintaining quality and governance frameworks including robust audit and quality improvement initiatives
Effective verbal, written and presentation communication skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office including Teams, Word, Powerpoint, and Excel
An understanding of 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 and the ability to take actions which support and promote this agenda
Ability to travel away from base (including occasional overnight stays) when necessary to meet UKHSA and stakeholder business objectives.

Selection Process:

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge, experience, skills and ability as outlined in the essential criteria.

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)
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 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

Piles meets all essential criteria and meets some essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.

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

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

Competency based

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

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

You will be given an IPC scenario where you will have 10 minutes to present on the scenario.

Interviews will be held week commencing 30th June. 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.

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 any of our Core HQ’s. 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).

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 for this role must pass an enhanced disclosure 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 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

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 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.

The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. 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.

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.

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.

Security Vetting

Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Essential criteria

Application form and statement of suitability

Essential Criteria

Essential criteria

Questions on knowledge, experience, skills and ability

Documents

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Jude Robinson
Job title: Senior IPC Nurse Specialist
Email address: [email protected]
Additional information: For enquiries relating to the recruitment process, please contact Lisa Tweedie, Resourcing Support Officer, [email protected]