Job summary
This is an exciting role within the Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division in the UKHSA. As a Surveillance Scientist you will contribute towards the establishment and ongoing maintenance of enhanced surveillance of childhood cases of hepatitis B to monitor the impact of universal hepatitis B infant immunisation programme that was introduced in 2017.
Please note that there is: x1 - Permanent post available and x1 - FTC post available with an end date of 31/03/2024 with the potential of becoming permanent.
Any application submitted will be considered for both the permanent and the fixed term opportunity. You only need to submit one application. Should you be progressed to the interview stage, there will only be one interview to attend for both posts.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for co-ordinating and carrying out data collection, validation, preparing and disseminating surveillance reports, and interrogating databases (including writing database queries) in response to information requests and surveillance publications. The post will involve working closely and effectively with clinical, microbiological, and other professional scientific and administrative colleagues at UKHSA, local Health Protection Teams (HPTs) and throughout the NHS.
The role will include administrative tasks to support and contribute to the day to day running of the surveillance systems, contribute to research and scientific journals, and help maintain a scientific literature database. The post-holder must have excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively both autonomously and within a team.
About us
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Selection process details
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria - please do provide evidence of how you meet this.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 - INTERVIEW
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
You will also be asked to provide information within the 'Employer/ Activity history' section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 13th November 2023 - unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.
Shortlist: 17th November 2023
Interviews:w/c 27th November 2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Maintain, develop and document surveillance systems, including databases for each area of responsibility in collaboration with lead epidemiologists, clinical scientists and reference laboratory staff and Health Protection Teams (HPT). Current applications include, MOLIS, Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS), SQL Server Manager, Access and Excel.
- Create and update queries and data validation checks for the removal of duplicate records, data formatting and ensuring completeness of data. Extraction of data for inclusion in routine reports (eg quarterly and annual Health Protection Reports) and requests for information such as Parliamentary questions. Data analysis will include using MOLIS, HPZONE, SGSS, SQL Server Manager, Access, STATA and Excel applications.
- Liaise with stakeholder staff providing hepatitis surveillance data for GPs and HPTs and other stakeholders Liaise with clinicians, laboratories and GPs regarding individual cases
- Develop, update and maintain appropriate pages on UKHSA website in a timely manner. Work closely with scientists/managers on validation of content of the web pages to ensure uploaded data meets UKHSA website guidelines.
- Run regular queries on a wide range of databases to prepare quarterly and annual surveillance reports for UKHSAs Health Protection Report and workbooks as appropriate.
- Prepare ad hoc hepatitis reports and information requests as required.
- Assist with the preparation of appropriate annual data sets as requested by senior colleagues with the preparation of appropriate annual data sets for international organisations e.g. World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- Contribute to papers for scientific journals and reports for the Department of Health and Social Security and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, and national hepatitis strategic and operational groups, upon request.
- Contribute to reports and papers for scientific journals as requested by scientific and medical colleagues.
- Present surveillance data and results at UKHSA and national meetings/conferences and attend national meetings/conferences as appropriate.
- Provide backfill for staff members undertaking externally funded R+D.
- Contribute to the delivery of externally funded R+D projects. Provide database support for other infectious disease surveillance projects.
- Assist the Security Information Officer and Caldicott Guardian for the Immunisation and Countermeasures Department.
- Undertake any other duties as specified by the line manager, or Head of Department
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Please review the job description for the full list of responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Maintain, develop and document surveillance systems, including databases for each area of responsibility in collaboration with lead epidemiologists, clinical scientists and reference laboratory staff and Health Protection Teams (HPT). Current applications include, MOLIS, Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS), SQL Server Manager, Access and Excel.
- Create and update queries and data validation checks for the removal of duplicate records, data formatting and ensuring completeness of data. Extraction of data for inclusion in routine reports (eg quarterly and annual Health Protection Reports) and requests for information such as Parliamentary questions. Data analysis will include using MOLIS, HPZONE, SGSS, SQL Server Manager, Access, STATA and Excel applications.
- Liaise with stakeholder staff providing hepatitis surveillance data for GPs and HPTs and other stakeholders Liaise with clinicians, laboratories and GPs regarding individual cases
- Develop, update and maintain appropriate pages on UKHSA website in a timely manner. Work closely with scientists/managers on validation of content of the web pages to ensure uploaded data meets UKHSA website guidelines.
- Run regular queries on a wide range of databases to prepare quarterly and annual surveillance reports for UKHSAs Health Protection Report and workbooks as appropriate.
- Prepare ad hoc hepatitis reports and information requests as required.
- Assist with the preparation of appropriate annual data sets as requested by senior colleagues with the preparation of appropriate annual data sets for international organisations e.g. World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- Contribute to papers for scientific journals and reports for the Department of Health and Social Security and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, and national hepatitis strategic and operational groups, upon request.
- Contribute to reports and papers for scientific journals as requested by scientific and medical colleagues.
- Present surveillance data and results at UKHSA and national meetings/conferences and attend national meetings/conferences as appropriate.
- Provide backfill for staff members undertaking externally funded R+D.
- Contribute to the delivery of externally funded R+D projects. Provide database support for other infectious disease surveillance projects.
- Assist the Security Information Officer and Caldicott Guardian for the Immunisation and Countermeasures Department.
- Undertake any other duties as specified by the line manager, or Head of Department
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Please review the job description for the full list of responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Science degree (or equivalent) or three years' experience of working in communicable disease surveillance (or similar).
Desirable
- MSc in Epidemiology or allied discipline, or 2 years postgraduate experience.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Knowledge of infectious disease surveillance
- Significant experience of data management, analysis and producing reports
- Significant experience of database analysis
- Experience in preparation of written reports and published work
- Experience of graphics and web-editing software packages, including web-site design and development
Desirable
- Working in an NHS environment and/or in communicable disease epidemiology
Skills / capabilities/ behaviors
Essential
- Data processing skills (e.g. Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel and other software applications).
- Ability to identify and solve practical problems
- Good interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to communicate with a range of people from different backgrounds.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines
- Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to communicate with a range of people from different backgrounds.
- Good attention to detail.
- Prepared to work flexibly and to multi-task.
- Awareness of data protection and confidentiality requirements.
Equality and diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Science degree (or equivalent) or three years' experience of working in communicable disease surveillance (or similar).
Desirable
- MSc in Epidemiology or allied discipline, or 2 years postgraduate experience.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Knowledge of infectious disease surveillance
- Significant experience of data management, analysis and producing reports
- Significant experience of database analysis
- Experience in preparation of written reports and published work
- Experience of graphics and web-editing software packages, including web-site design and development
Desirable
- Working in an NHS environment and/or in communicable disease epidemiology
Skills / capabilities/ behaviors
Essential
- Data processing skills (e.g. Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel and other software applications).
- Ability to identify and solve practical problems
- Good interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to communicate with a range of people from different backgrounds.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines
- Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to communicate with a range of people from different backgrounds.
- Good attention to detail.
- Prepared to work flexibly and to multi-task.
- Awareness of data protection and confidentiality requirements.
Equality and diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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).
