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UK Health Security Agency

About

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.

We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.

UKHSA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Contact

Address: 10 South Colonnade; London; E14 4PU

Find out more

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Open

Ref: 919-TM-306938-EXB Vacancy ID: 8101484

Health Protection Practitioner

Accepting applications until: 09-Jul-2026 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 09-Jul-2026 23:59

Location

Site: Core HQ
Town: London
Postcode: E14 4PU

Contract type & working pattern

Contract

Permanent: 1 x perm & 1 x FTA/Secondment/Loan for 18 months

Hours

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Salary

Salary: £46,310 - £56,515 CS: £46,310-52,113; AfC: £49,387-£56,515 + Inner HCAS PA, PR
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (Civil Service: Senior Executive Officer (SEO))

Specialty

Main area: Health Protection

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.

We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.

UKHSA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Support day-to-day delivery of the acute response function to ensure a safe, effective and high-quality health protection service. Act as a first point of contact, providing specialist advice to health professionals. Undertake initial assessment and management of routine cases and non-complex incidents, escalating and contributing to the management of complex incidents and outbreaks as required.
Manage a defined caseload, maintaining accurate and timely records in line with UKHSA standards and handover procedures. Use evidence-based approaches to inform decision-making, seeking senior advice when appropriate. Participate in case reviews and contribute to the ongoing management of issues within a defined geographical area.
Support UKHSA incident response in line with Emergency Planning and Resilience Response (EPRR) arrangements and contribute to regional emergency planning, including participation in an on-call rota where required.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of surveillance systems for communicable diseases and environmental hazards, using outputs to inform public health action, policy and strategy, and to identify health needs, inequalities and impacts.
Support effective partnership working with a wide range of stakeholders through routine communication and meetings, managing challenging issues and escalating where necessary. Contribute to public health initiatives, research, teaching and training, including support for medical and public health trainees through supervision or mentorship.
Maintain continuous professional development through appraisal, revalidation and supervision in line with regulatory and UKHSA requirements.
Undertake additional duties as required, with the role subject to review in line with service needs.

This list is not exhaustive.

Essential Criteria

Registered General Nurse or Allied Health Professional in relevant clinical discipline with current professional registration e.g. NMC - For AfC T&Cs
First degree (Health Related) or demonstrable equivalent experience in a health related field - For CS T&Cs
Working towards registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act ( e.g. safe guarding vulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships
Experience of risk management and associated reporting
Effective verbal, written and presentation communication skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear messages accurately for a range of audiences
Excellent planning and prioritisation skills and ability to manage competing demands
Proven ability to problem solve whilst working in an unpredictable environment, often under pressure and to tight timescales
Ability to demonstrate initiative and work independently with minimum supervision
Ability to work collaboratively across teams, disciplines and organisations demonstrating respect and consideration for the role/ skill(s) of others
Ability to analyse and interpret information in an effective manner to recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issue(s)
Proven ability to work with quality improvement and governance frameworks
Ability to effectively engage with others to influence and negotiate for positive outcomes
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office including Word, and Excel
Evidence of ongoing CPD and committed to self-development
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

Desirable Criteria

Professional Public Health registration e.g. Specialist Community Public Health (SCPHN) part of the NMC Register or UK PH Register for practitioners
Evidence of relevant CPD in Health Protection with documented experience at master’s level practice
Recognised teaching experience
Demonstrable experience in Infection Prevention and Control
Sound knowledge of the principles of health protection
Proven experience of undertaking and completing projects on time and within complex and challenging environments
Experience of working in community settings and with health care providers
Experience of designing and implementing internal processes and procedures for service improvement e.g. governance standards, audit etc
Experience of managing others in a managerial or supervisory role including performance management and appraisal and development
Experience of business planning including budget management and financial processes
Knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
Able to develop, interpret, implement and evaluate policies
Proven capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 17 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
1500 word supporting statement.

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.

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 C.V –please be advised you 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 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

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

Post registration experience as a practitioner in a related field
Proven ability to problem solve whilst working in an unpredictable environment, often under pressure and to tight timescales

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.

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 interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Ability and Experience will be tested at interview.

There will be a Presentation. The presentation topic will link to the behaviour "Changing and improving". Further details will be provided at interview stage.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Making Effective Decisions (Lead Behaviour)
Changing and Improving
Working Together
Leadership
Delivering at pace

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.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our core HQ in London, 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)working at our office. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and 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 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 Baseline Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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.

AFC Band 7 salary range: £49,387-£56,515 + Inner London HCAS (20% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £5,794 and a maximum payment of £8,746) per annum, pro rata

Senior Executive Officer salary range: £46,310 - 52,113 per annum, pro rata

NHS Pension

This role is offered under Agenda for Change (AFC) Terms and Conditions.

If you are already on AFC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AFC Pension.
If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing, substantive T&Cs.
If the role is available under either AFC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

If you experience technical difficulties when using Trac, please contact Support via https://apps.trac.jobs/support and provide screenshots/details of the issue encountered. If Trac cannot resolve your issue, you should notify the UKHSA Recruitment Team at [email protected] as soon as possible.

Please note that where no technical issue has been recorded by Trac, and no supporting evidence has been provided before the closing deadline, we will be unable to accept late applications. We therefore recommend submitting applications well in advance of the closing date and taking screenshots of any issues encountered.

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Civil Service Commission | Regulating recruitment into the Civil Service and helping uphold the Civil Service core values of Impartiality, Objectivity, Integrity and Honesty

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Link below:

Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers

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

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

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

Application form and supporting statement

Essential criteria

Application form and supporting statement

Interview - Behaviours

Essential criteria

Changing and improving
Making effective decisions
Working together
Managing a quality service

Interview - Presentation

Essential criteria

Presentation

Documents

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Timor Miakhel
Job title: Resourcing Support
Email address: [email protected]
Additional information: For further information relating to the role please contact [email protected]