Job summary
On 18 August 2020, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced plans to establish the National Institute for Health Protection and consult on the best future options for strengthening health improvement and other public health functions in the wider system. Public Health England and many of its employees will be in scope for transition to new organisations in Spring 2021. Any new or current employees working for Public Health England during this time, will receive appropriate communications and consultation prior to any formal transfer taking place. Employees who compulsorily transfer to successor bodies will remain on their existing contractual terms and conditions and this applies both to current employees and those recruited during the transition. The recruitment, growth & development of our workforce is vital for the continuing success of PHE and the future National Institute for Health Protection.
Main duties of the job
The candidates must be included on the GMC Specialist Register and must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists/Royal College of Physicians or hold equivalent training and experience commensurate with AfC Band 8D Clinical Scientist.
The successful candidates will be appointed to the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d. The 5 PAs for this role will be integrated into the candidates existing job plan following negotiation.
We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice.To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit PHE Website
About us
Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nations health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. We do this through world-leading science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. We are an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, and a distinct delivery organisation with operational autonomy. We provide government, local government, the NHS, Parliament, industry and the public with evidence-based professional, scientific and delivery expertise and support.
The successful candidate appointed to the post being advertised will be responsible for advising on commissioning, oversight of the quality, analysis and interpretation of public health microbiology tests and associated meta-data across the East and West Midlands as well as the joint delivery of public health services in the Field Service and contributing to the national services of the National Infection Service
Job description
Job responsibilities
PHEs Field Service was established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological and microbiological capacity and skills, securing outbreak investigations that are consistently of the highest quality. The Field Service provides an effector arm for PHEs National Infection Service, 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.
The Field Service has reorganised its Public Health Microbiology arm to create a nationally-integrated team of infection specialists including; microbiologists, virologists, clinical scientists and infectious diseases physicians. As a result, the role historically filled by Lead Public Health Microbiologists has changed to meet the evolving functions of the Field Service in response to the new diagnostic and healthcare landscape.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the person specification (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria. Please also see the job description for competencies.
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Job description
Job responsibilities
PHEs Field Service was established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological and microbiological capacity and skills, securing outbreak investigations that are consistently of the highest quality. The Field Service provides an effector arm for PHEs National Infection Service, 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.
The Field Service has reorganised its Public Health Microbiology arm to create a nationally-integrated team of infection specialists including; microbiologists, virologists, clinical scientists and infectious diseases physicians. As a result, the role historically filled by Lead Public Health Microbiologists has changed to meet the evolving functions of the Field Service in response to the new diagnostic and healthcare landscape.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the person specification (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria. Please also see the job description for competencies.
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the GMC (or eligible for registration within 6 months of interview) and/or registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- FRCPath by examination in the specialty, or evidence of equivalent qualification, or evidence of experience and achievement at the similar level
- Applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview.
- Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
- Qualifications and experience commensurate with an Agenda for Change Band 8D Consultant Clinical Scientist of equivalent standing (inclusive of a PhD and / or FRCPath and substantial appropriate post-doctoral experience and state registration with the HPC)
Desirable
- MRCP or evidence of equivalent training and experience (if a microbiologist/virologist)
- Appropriate management qualification
- Postgraduate qualification in Public Health
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Evidence of continuing medical education (existing consultants must be able to demonstrate active participation in a recognised CPD scheme, e.g. RCPath)
- Recent experience of working in an acute hospital environment and delivery of specialist and diagnostic microbiology/ infection and/or virology services
- Experience in the management of microbiology and/or virology services
- Demonstrable success in leadership of teams
- Experience of policy development, planning and management
- Understanding of roles and inter-relationships between Government Agencies and PHE
- Understanding of Workforce Development, including changes and developments within occupational categories and related training and development issues
- Experience in teaching undergraduates, junior staff, postgraduates, nurses and other staff
Desirable
- Experience of Public Health Microbiology/Virology
- Experience of working at a regional and/or national level on guidelines, policies and other matters that influence microbiology/virology practice
- Understanding of European and International contexts
- Research experience and a good record of publications
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills and partnership working skills with health and local authority professionals
- Well-developed networking, strategic influencing and decision-making skills
- Ability to build rapport, working in a multi-disciplinary team and maintain good relations with contacts both within and outside PHE.
- Ability to negotiate and persuade
- Active interest in research and developments in medical microbiology/virology and infection control
- Ability to take responsibility, show leadership, prioritise and make decisions
- Sense of responsibility
- Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines and to be punctual
- Have a high motivation to succeed and to progress
Desirable
- Evidence a track record of partnership working
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the GMC (or eligible for registration within 6 months of interview) and/or registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- FRCPath by examination in the specialty, or evidence of equivalent qualification, or evidence of experience and achievement at the similar level
- Applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview.
- Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
- Qualifications and experience commensurate with an Agenda for Change Band 8D Consultant Clinical Scientist of equivalent standing (inclusive of a PhD and / or FRCPath and substantial appropriate post-doctoral experience and state registration with the HPC)
Desirable
- MRCP or evidence of equivalent training and experience (if a microbiologist/virologist)
- Appropriate management qualification
- Postgraduate qualification in Public Health
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Evidence of continuing medical education (existing consultants must be able to demonstrate active participation in a recognised CPD scheme, e.g. RCPath)
- Recent experience of working in an acute hospital environment and delivery of specialist and diagnostic microbiology/ infection and/or virology services
- Experience in the management of microbiology and/or virology services
- Demonstrable success in leadership of teams
- Experience of policy development, planning and management
- Understanding of roles and inter-relationships between Government Agencies and PHE
- Understanding of Workforce Development, including changes and developments within occupational categories and related training and development issues
- Experience in teaching undergraduates, junior staff, postgraduates, nurses and other staff
Desirable
- Experience of Public Health Microbiology/Virology
- Experience of working at a regional and/or national level on guidelines, policies and other matters that influence microbiology/virology practice
- Understanding of European and International contexts
- Research experience and a good record of publications
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills and partnership working skills with health and local authority professionals
- Well-developed networking, strategic influencing and decision-making skills
- Ability to build rapport, working in a multi-disciplinary team and maintain good relations with contacts both within and outside PHE.
- Ability to negotiate and persuade
- Active interest in research and developments in medical microbiology/virology and infection control
- Ability to take responsibility, show leadership, prioritise and make decisions
- Sense of responsibility
- Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines and to be punctual
- Have a high motivation to succeed and to progress
Desirable
- Evidence a track record of partnership working
Additional information
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
