Consultant in Public Health Infection

Location

Forvie Site, Cambridge, East of England (with hybrid home/office working arrangements currently in place, including core team days in the Cambridge office) With occasional travel within the geographical area of responsibility and travel elsewhere as may be required by the post

About The Job

Job summary

The Field Services Directorate (FSD) was established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological, public health microbiological, infectious diseases and data sciences capacity and skills delivering surveillance and outbreak investigations consistently of the highest quality.

In each UKHSA region, FS and health protection teams work closely with the consultant in public health infection (CPHI) to deliver a high-quality health protection service. CPHIs in collaboration with FS, HPTs and regional laboratories play an important role in supporting outbreak and incident responses, providing public health microbiology advice including interpretation of test results and overseeing public health microbiology laboratory regional services. This role requires maintaining active links and relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, both within UKHSA (e.g., Health Protections Teams, reference and specialist microbiology laboratories) and outside of UKHSA (e.g., NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, infection prevention and control (IPC) networks, and commissioners of healthcare services). Together the regional CPHIs form the national CPHI network. The CPHI network promotes positive collaboration and peer support to encourage enhanced working practices and ensure that public health microbiology has national consistency and resilience.

Job Description

The main duties of the job are as follows:

• Act as a key member of UKHSA’s multidisciplinary team
• Provide strategic leadership for determining the requirements and priorities for the provision and commissioning of PHM and infection services from the budget allocated to the region. This will be undertaken in conjunction with colleagues in Health Protection Operations Group, Chief Scientific Advisor Group, the NHS, and Local Authority public health teams, to reflect the aims and objectives of the health protection system.
• Act as the scientific and clinical interface between UKHSA and other providers of laboratory services in the region, including both the NHS and Independent Sector. This involves expertise in diagnostic microbiology, having strong clinical infectious diseases expertise, understanding data and analytical capacity and experience in providing advice/services in this regard.
• Provide specialist and impartial advice for all infections of public health interest in the region, such as gastrointestinal infections, vaccine-preventable diseases, respiratory infections, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and others as required.
  
  
  

Please see attached JD outlining full responsibilities of the CPHI role

Person specification

This is a senior role within FS and provides strategic leadership, operational management, oversight and advocacy for developing, shaping and assuring the public health microbiology (PHM) function. The post holder(s) will be the CPHI within the East of England Region and will be responsible for the provision of PHM response to incidents and outbreaks and responsibility for the day-to-day operational delivery of this function in community, institutional and healthcare settings.

The post holder will provide an expert opinion on the quality, analysis and interpretation of microbiology diagnostic test results, including interpretation of genomic sequence data and associated meta-data. They will also advise on the appropriate microbiological testing and screening initiatives, appropriate communicable disease control measures and liaise with stakeholders to improve joint delivery of local public health microbiology services. They will support the liaison with the NHS and other partners to deliver and continuously improve UKHSA laboratory surveillance functions, support the interpretation and delivery of field service public health intelligence outputs and contribute to the national services of the wider FS.

The post holder will have responsibility for developing and maintaining close working relationships both internally and with partner organisations. In addition, they will contribute and lead on regional and national priorities, including contribution to wider public health microbiology initiatives consistent with the regional delivery model and integrated working.

To reflect the possibility for continued professional exposure to laboratory-based microbiology / virology clinical services, this role could be a joint post with another organisation with the role attracting further PAs with funding from another organisation (e.g., NHS Trust, academic institution) for the other elements of the job plan. Therefore, there may be a requirement to participate in on-call rotas for a host trust but that will vary depending on local arrangements and will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The CPHI role therefore, could be taken on part time role alongside a frontline NHS service role. Candidates looking for a part time / job share role are encouraged to apply.

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%
  
  
  

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Option 3 – External - Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of 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.

FRCPath and/or MRCP (on the specialist register in infection-related specialty) or equivalent training and experience AND MBBS or equivalent (Medical Applicants).

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register for an infection related speciality with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview).

Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.

FRCPath and/or PhD or equivalent qualifications and experience commensurate with an Agenda for Change Band 8d Clinical Scientist of equivalent standing, or be eligible within 6 months.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) . See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality Requirements

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
  
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Dr Ellen Heinsbroek, Head of East of England Field Services
• Email : ellen.heinsbroek@ukhsa.gov.uk
  
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : scs.mdrecruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk