Consultant in Global Public Health (Capacity Development)

Main area: Global Public Health

Grade: NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant or AfC Band 8d

Contract: Fixed term: 10 months (until 31 March 2023)

Hours: Full-time – 10 sessions per week (or 37.5 hours per week)

Employer: UK Health Security Agency

Employer type: Public (Non NHS)

Site: Nobel House

Town: London

Salary: £78,192 – £114,003 pro-rata (per annum)

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 04/05/2022 23:59

COVID-19 has reinforced the impact that threats to health can have on society and the economy and driven health security as a critical component of our national security architecture. The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

• Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
• Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
• Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
• Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
• Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats, and reduce inequalities

UKHSA’s immediate and most important priority is to continue the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the longer term, UKHSA will build on the legacy of the COVID-19 response to ensure resilient and scalable infrastructure to secure the UK in the strongest position to protect the public from future threats to health.

UKHSA mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. To achieve our objectives effectively and fairly, we commit to representing modern Britain and all its diversity. UKHSA recognises that diversity of background and life experience brings different insights, creates challenge and encourages change and innovation. This in turn produces more accountable and trusted public services and better decisions; better because they are more attuned to the needs and interests of all our communities. Differences of thought and outlook are not only respected but expected. We want all our employees to feel that they can be themselves at work and that they are valued.

Job overview

We are looking to recruit an outstanding individual to be the Consultant in Global Public Health (leading on capacity development) for the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST)

Created in 2016 and financed by UK Official Development Assistance, the UK-PHRST is the primary arm of Her Majesty’s Government to provide and coordinate the UK’s public health response to outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries. The UK-PHRST is a unique collaboration between UK-Health Security Agency and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In addition to outbreak response, the core activities of UK-PHRST are outbreak-related research and capacity development for outbreak response.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be required to operate at a strategic level, create and maintain networks and develop strategic direction nationally, regionally and globally. A broad understanding of outbreak related disciplines will be essential. The postholder will be responsible for oversight and supporting the implementation of the capacity development programme for the UK-PHRST. Diplomatic skills and an ability to engage with senior government and other donor or development agency officials at a high level will be essential to this role.

The successful candidate will be expected to have a broad level of knowledge across the technical working areas of outbreak responses, health protection and communicable disease control. Working across a wide range of health and public health systems will be critical for programme delivery. Previous experience of working in LMICs is essential especially with demonstrated experience in training, capacity development within emergency and outbreak settings.

Working for our organisation

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Lead and coordinate the CD programme across UK-PHRST
• Develop and oversee implementation of UK-PHRST CD strategy, encompassing priorities and actions for internal and external CD until March 2025
• Develop the CD implementation plan to coordinate and support CD activity across the programme
• Map and work closely with stakeholders and determine priority groups for engagement on CD, enabling wider UK-PHRST to support delivering CD for outbreak response
• Work closely with Deputy Director for Research (DDR) and LMIC stakeholders to support development of capacity in outbreak preparedness and response research and ensure CD activities across deployments and research are aligned
• Conduct capacity assessments with partners in LMICs, with support from relevant technical expertise in line with UK-PHRST objective of supporting outbreak preparedness

The post holder will be employed by UKHSA with an honorary contract with LSHTM. The successful applicant will be expected to work closely with both institutions. Overseas travel will be required as necessary by the UK-PHRST, but this role will not be required to deploy in response to emergency outbreaks.

Option 3 – External

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

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Inclusion in the GMC specialist register or the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate
• Public health specialty registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR 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/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers [see shortlisting notes below for additional guidance]
• If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they 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 If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT [see shortlisting notes below for additional guidance]
• Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body
• MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment

Desirable criteria

• Masters in Public Health or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Delivery of successful project management across organisational boundaries
• Experience of using complex information to explain public health issues to a range of audiences
• In-depth understanding of health and care systems, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
• In-depth knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, quality improvement, evaluation and evidence based public health
• Effective negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved
• Understanding of the public sector duty and the inequality duty and their application to public health practice

Desirable criteria

• Media experience demonstrating delivery of effective health behaviour or health promotion

Skills/Capabilities/Behaviours

Essential criteria

• Able to both lead teams and to contribute effectively in teams led by others
• Commitment to work within a political system irrespective of personal political affiliations
• Understanding of the social and political environment within which Global Public Health delivers
• Experience of working with Low- and Middle-Income Countries
• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills and operational nous
• Able to demonstrate and motivate organisations to contribute to improving the public’s health and wellbeing through mainstream activities and within resources
• Ability to lead and manage the response successfully in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Analytical skills able to utilise both qualitative and quantitative information
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement strategies and policies
• Scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars etc

Desirable criteria

• Resource and budget management skills

Equality and Diversity

Essential criteria

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ
This is a Non Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules and is therefore open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals and certain non EEA members. For more information please refer to the supporting documents detailing the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, salary on appointment is normally the minimum point (see salary range above). This will be dependent on the successful candidate’s current salary and terms and/or equivalent experience. The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change, most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. Please see attached an information sheet explaining starting salaries and benefits when joining the UKHSA.

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. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan. If you are an existing UKHA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay and Grading 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.

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.

As from 1 January 2021 broadly the following groups may be eligible to work in non-reserved posts within the Civil Service:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• EEA nationals with (or eligible for) status under the EUSS
• Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU & Turkish nationals

Changes_to_the_Civil_Service_Nationality_Rules_from_1_January*2021*-_Guidance_and_departmental_actions.pdf

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (attached as a supporting document).

Employees who feel they have been unfairly treated during a recruitment process can use the Civil Service Commission’s grievance procedure. External candidates should complain to the hiring manager handling their campaign. In addition both internal and external candidates have the right to complain to the Civil Service Commissioners.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.

The 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 the UK Health Security Agency 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 for the Queen’s birthday

We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
• 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

The 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.