Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The hospital based acute respiratory infection sentinel surveillance (HARISS) system was developed in 2023/4 within UKHSA with NHS and University partners, with plans to expand the surveillance system network in 2024/5. The surveillance system monitors RSV and other ARI disease admissions in older adults. It aims to strengthen understanding of the burden of RSV, influenza and COVID-19 associated illness requiring hospital admission in older adults and is a platform for estimating he effectiveness of vaccines in preventing hospital admissions and severe outcomes. It also provides a source of sample material from hospitalised patients for virological characterisation of influenza, COVID-19 and RSV.

HARISS is closely linked to the UKHSA Respiratory DataMart System (RDMS), a sentinel network of NHS and public health laboratories which provides case-level virological surveillance. The post holder will work closely with, and cross cover as required, the RDMS scientist. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Contribute to the development of enhanced surveillance systems and research studies of respiratory diseases, including coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. This post requires an individual with an understanding of respiratory disease epidemiology and surveillance, preferably in a UK context.

Specific responsibilities: 

• Take a lead role in the continued development and implementation of the hospital based acute respiratory infection sentinel surveillance (HARISS) system.
• Liaise with clinicians, surveillance/research nurses and laboratory teams within NHS Trusts in the HARISS surveillance network.
• Work closely with informatics teams at UKHSA and at HARISS contributing laboratories.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners.
• Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues.
• Planning, managing and delivering on a range of projects requiring potentially complex analytic input, including negotiating and agreeing the most appropriate data output, initiating and planning workloads and setting delivery timescales.
• Identify potential problems and seek to resolve.
• Support the national surveillance of respiratory viral infections, including RSV. The post holder will be expected to support and cross cover other disease specific areas, depending on need.
• Analyse and interpret complex data and undertake statistical analyses.
• Use common statistical/database tools such as R, SQL, Access and Stata in routine reports, surveillance activities and the development of solutions.
• Undertake complex analytical and programming tasks using common and specialist software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation.
• Contribute to regular routine reports and peer reviewed publications on the surveillance and epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases.
• Supporting the analytical work of other members of the Immunisation Division.
• Use and develop database queries and spreadsheets to undertake complex analysis.
• Check for data anomalies prior to and during analyses, considering corrective action or bringing to the attention of principle analysts as required.
• Carry out quality assurance of data prepared by others. Take a lead in developing and promoting quality assurance procedures.
• Liaising where necessary with colleagues concerning issues of data quality and effect on analysis. 
• Communicate analytical/statistical matters to non-analytical/statistical professionals.
• Have expertise in presenting findings of your own analyses to internal and external colleagues.
• Attending local and national meetings with key stakeholders including health intelligence analysts, health improvement and protection colleagues, and partner organisations for UKHSA.
• Actively supporting and participating in networks for public health intelligence specialists.
• Ensuring personal (and promoting team) compliance with corporate policies in relation to security, confidentiality and release of information.

Other responsibilities

• The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Directorate.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria:

• First degree in a science subject or equivalent experience in the subject matter
• MSc or PhD in epidemiology, public health or allied discipline
• Postgraduate experience in epidemiology, public health or allied discipline, including a sound knowledge of the principles and practices of disease surveillance
• Relevant experience of information and data management including complex and/or sensitive health data analyses with understanding of information governance and data security issues in relation to data collection, storage, sharing and research, and proficiency in relevant software or languages.
• Knowledge / experience in performing analytical epidemiology and descriptive epidemiology, including proficiency in statistical and graphical packages (e.g. R)
• Experience of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data and identifying needs or gaps in knowledge
• Experience of collaborating with other organisations and working with multiple stakeholders.
• Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with people in partner organisations
• Able to convey surveillance and scientific information clearly and concisely in writing and orally
• Experience of successfully managing projects
• Able to prioritise competing demands
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of preparing written reports and scientific publishing

Selection Process Details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience, skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria. 

Stage 1: Application & Sift 

Competency-based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 13 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a: 

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 word Statement of Suitability. 

This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. 

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria 
• Meets some essential criteria 
• Meets no essential criteria 

Piles 'meets all essential criteria' will be taken through to shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on lead criteria of:

• First degree in a science subject or equivalent experience in the subject matter
• Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with people in partner organisation

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.
 
Please do not exceed 1500 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Competency-based

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview  

Candidates invited to interview will be asked to undertake a brief assessment of a dataset as part of the interview process. The subject of this will be sent prior to interview and interviewed candidates will be asked to present their findings at the interview.

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

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

Selection Process 

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV. 

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.  If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
 
Face to Face interviews 

In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.