Job summary
The postholder will be a member of the scientific staff of the Department of Healthcare-associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance (HCAI & AMR) working in a multidisciplinary team on a range of activities and projects undertaken by the Department. There are five sections within the Department and this post sits within the section focussing on bacteraemia and alert organisms.
Responsibilities of the post will also include assisting with the surveillance of Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance nationally, assistance in incident or outbreak investigations, research and training, and may involve liaison with other groups, both within the PHE and in outside organisations
Main duties of the job
The principal responsibility of the post will be to help deliver the PHEs surveillance systems, in particular, the ongoing development and running of the HCAI Data Capture System (DCS) by contributing to the review and development of technical documentation for the new system. This system supports PHE deliverables for enhanced analyses of Methicillin-resistant (MRSA), Methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacteraemia and Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).
About us
Public Health England (PHE) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care providing; strategic leadership, research, advice and support for Government, local authorities and the NHS in protecting and improving the nations health. We offer a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance, including generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working hours and membership of the excellent civil service pension scheme. We are absolutely committed to the development of our staff and offer wide-ranging opportunities for training and professional development
Option 3 External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
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Job description
Job responsibilities
- The primary responsibility will be to lead the Sections input into the development of the mandatory surveillance system through:
- Participation in the HCAI DCS working groups this includes (but is not limited to):
-
- Review and feedback of technical specification documents within the agreed Project timescales.
- System testing
- Training new users
- Over sight of transition from legacy system
- Liaising with external partners to troubleshoot issues arising
- Protocols and algorithms for data checking
- Automated routine enhanced surveillance reports
- Develop and manage the enhanced surveillance and analyses of HCAI and to assist in the delivery of the research and development programme by:
- Continual development of the enhanced surveillance and risk factor data collection for the DCS.
- Undertaking analysis based on the mandatory surveillance data using statistical software (Stata or R).
- Automate analysis of data undertaken routinely
- Implement and maintain databases associated with the surveillance programme, SQL and knowledge of Microsoft technology stack essential.
- Logical / physical database modelling
- Undertake data linkage and support analyses relation to:
- events prior to onset of HCAI
- outcomes of HCAI
- efficiency of linkage
- Assist in the generation, evaluation and comparison of denominators for use with hospital patient based analyses.
- Undertake joint working projects with statisticians and mathematical modellers in the statistics/modelling group, to include:
- Trend analyses
- Intervention analyses
- Outcome analyses
- Perform de novo data extractions and assist scientific staff with analysis.
- Adept with SQL administration on existing systems
- Write SQL queries on request
- Maintain and create stored procedures within SQL servers
- Troubleshoot SQL problems
- Write and troubleshoot STATA or R scripts
- Liaise with external organisations such as NHS Trusts, the DHSC, and other stakeholders, and, in relation to mandated conditions, to provide surveillance data to support their work as appropriate. This will entail developing and maintaining links with other agencies and professional groups.
- Liaise with the NHSD to ensure surveillance activities (e.g. data definitions) comply with the relevant Information Standards.
- Responsible for producing up-to-date content for the relevant sections of the PHE website.
- Provide information for Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and general information requests under supervision.
- Assist in outbreak and incident investigations as necessary.
- Contribute to the writing of reports for the Department and for publication, and present results of work at local, national or international meetings.
- Contribute to teaching and training as required.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade as specified by the line manager, Head or Deputy Head of the department
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The primary responsibility will be to lead the Sections input into the development of the mandatory surveillance system through:
- Participation in the HCAI DCS working groups this includes (but is not limited to):
-
- Review and feedback of technical specification documents within the agreed Project timescales.
- System testing
- Training new users
- Over sight of transition from legacy system
- Liaising with external partners to troubleshoot issues arising
- Protocols and algorithms for data checking
- Automated routine enhanced surveillance reports
- Develop and manage the enhanced surveillance and analyses of HCAI and to assist in the delivery of the research and development programme by:
- Continual development of the enhanced surveillance and risk factor data collection for the DCS.
- Undertaking analysis based on the mandatory surveillance data using statistical software (Stata or R).
- Automate analysis of data undertaken routinely
- Implement and maintain databases associated with the surveillance programme, SQL and knowledge of Microsoft technology stack essential.
- Logical / physical database modelling
- Undertake data linkage and support analyses relation to:
- events prior to onset of HCAI
- outcomes of HCAI
- efficiency of linkage
- Assist in the generation, evaluation and comparison of denominators for use with hospital patient based analyses.
- Undertake joint working projects with statisticians and mathematical modellers in the statistics/modelling group, to include:
- Trend analyses
- Intervention analyses
- Outcome analyses
- Perform de novo data extractions and assist scientific staff with analysis.
- Adept with SQL administration on existing systems
- Write SQL queries on request
- Maintain and create stored procedures within SQL servers
- Troubleshoot SQL problems
- Write and troubleshoot STATA or R scripts
- Liaise with external organisations such as NHS Trusts, the DHSC, and other stakeholders, and, in relation to mandated conditions, to provide surveillance data to support their work as appropriate. This will entail developing and maintaining links with other agencies and professional groups.
- Liaise with the NHSD to ensure surveillance activities (e.g. data definitions) comply with the relevant Information Standards.
- Responsible for producing up-to-date content for the relevant sections of the PHE website.
- Provide information for Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and general information requests under supervision.
- Assist in outbreak and incident investigations as necessary.
- Contribute to the writing of reports for the Department and for publication, and present results of work at local, national or international meetings.
- Contribute to teaching and training as required.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade as specified by the line manager, Head or Deputy Head of the department
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Experience of managing risks and reporting
- Peer review publication record
- Experience of delivering talks to scientific conferences and delivering engaging training
Desirable
- Of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance
- Demonstrated experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments
- Staff management
- Of advanced epidemiological and statistical research methods
- Relevant work experience in public health including time spent undertaking surveillance
- Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Of using computers and database software packages (particularly Microsoft Excel)
- Of using STATA
- Of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data
- Of data management, data linkage, analysis and reporting
Not applicable
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
- MSc or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health-care research or similar
- Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance and/or public health
Desirable
- PhD or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health-care research or similar
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Experience of managing risks and reporting
- Peer review publication record
- Experience of delivering talks to scientific conferences and delivering engaging training
Desirable
- Of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance
- Demonstrated experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments
- Staff management
- Of advanced epidemiological and statistical research methods
- Relevant work experience in public health including time spent undertaking surveillance
- Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Of using computers and database software packages (particularly Microsoft Excel)
- Of using STATA
- Of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data
- Of data management, data linkage, analysis and reporting
Not applicable
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
- MSc or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health-care research or similar
- Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance and/or public health
Desirable
- PhD or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health-care research or similar
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
