Job vacancy: Consultant in Health Protection, UK Health Security Agency, Horsham

Job summary

Main area

Health Protection

Grade

Medical Consultant

Contract

12 months (Fixed term for 12 months)

Hours

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

10 sessions per week (10 Sessions per week / 40 hours per week (NHS Medical and Dental pay scale) or 37.5 hours per week (NHS Agenda for Change).)

Job ref

919-JR-306770-EXT

Employer: UK Health Security Agency
Employer type: Public (Non NHS)
Site: UK Health Security Agency County Hall North
Town: Horsham
Salary: £91,342 - £145,478 MD £109,725-£145,478 AfC 8D £91,342-£105,337 Per annum, pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 24/03/2026 23:59

Consultant in Health Protection

Medical Consultant

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

RESPONSE

1. Will be expected, when required, to assume overall responsibility for the management of incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases, lead the local Health Protection team response to non-infectious environmental hazards and chemical incidents and assume overall responsibility for the day to day running of the acute response function.
2. To utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team and support and participate in the team’s formal case review process.
3. To ensure the monitoring of standards, ensuring quality and consistency and to take action where any shortfall occurs.
4. May be responsible for any ongoing longer-term management of issues relevant to a defined geography area within their area.
5. May perform Proper Officer duties in relation to Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 and the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2010 as agreed with Local Authorities.
6. Will be expected to contribute, and where required, lead the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning Resilience and Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the region’s responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.
7. Will contribute, support and where necessary lead the UKHSA regional centre input into Emergency Planning arrangements.
8. May be required to participate in an on call rota at local, regional or national level as required.

SURVEILLANCE

1. Contribute strategically to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.
2. Proactively use surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies.
3. Lead, plan and design agreed initiatives to address health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessment, with a particular focus on health protection

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

1. Take a lead in the proactive development and contribution to key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders and take responsibility for the maintenance of professional networks relevant to role.
2. Influence, and where appropriate, lead the development and implementation of system wide priorities and programmes for public health action or improvement.
3. Employ highly effective communication, negotiation and influencing skills to enable stakeholder relationships to deliver objectives with:
a. External organisations and wider NHS stakeholders to ensure collaboration in the strategy in the Sector
b. Internal leaders and staff to gain input to the development of systems, processes and activities
4. Deal with complex and conflicting subject matter problems or in day work load in workshops, meetings, one to one communications and other events, comprising various parts of the organisation.
5. Contribute actively to the development and implementation of system wide priorities and programmes for public health action or improvement.

RESEARCH, TEACHING AND TRAINING
1. Contribute to research activity to complement the health protection evidence base and where agreed, to lead research projects.
2. Deliver appropriate teaching activities across a range of audiences.
3. Contribute to training programmes (including supervision) for Foundation Year Doctors and Specialist Trainees in the Faculty of Public Health training scheme as appropriate, and to the training of health and care professionals and practitioners within the locality.
4. Ensure appropriate clinical supervision and mentorship systems are in place for staff within scope of responsibility.
5. Provide clinical/professional supervision and mentorship as appropriate.

Please refer to the Job Description for further explanation on responsibilities for this role.

External

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency (these are set out by the FPH)

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• 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.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V – please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible)

Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1500

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

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

Only those that meet all essential criteria will be taken through to sift.

In the event of large number of applicants meeting essential criteria, desirable criteria will be used.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a face to face interview.

This vacancy is being assessed using core competencies as set out by the Faculty of Public Health. During the interview we will assess against the below:

Knowledge
Experience
Skills and Abilities

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be what do you think are the main health protection issues in the South East and how will you work to address these.

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

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

Additional Information

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our office in Horsham or Ashford. 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) working at our office.

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Security Clearance

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Score Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or UK Public Health (Specialist) Register (Special Inclusion in the GMC full and specialist register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview); UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible within 6 months
If included in the GMC Specialist Register in a specialty other than public health medicine, infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine, infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology practice
Public health specialist registrar and specialist trainee applicants who are not yet on the GMC Register/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/UKPHR If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Public Health/Royal College of Pathologists/Royal College of Physicians or other recognised body
MFPH, or MRCPath, or MRCP MFPH by examination or evidence of equivalent qualification; FRC Path or evidence of equivalent qualification; MRCP or evidence of equivalent qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

Minimum 6 months experience in Health Protection practice
Practical experience in leading and facilitating change
Experience of communicable disease control in a wide variety of settings including out of hours on call
Experience of working with other agencies
Experience of emergency planning
Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection
Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, audit, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice
Understanding of social and political environment
Understanding of laboratory microbiology services
Understanding of clinical infectious diseases services
Understanding of clinical toxicology services
Understanding of the principles of radiological protection

Desirable criteria

Experience of budget management and financial processes
Experience and demonstrable competency in dealing with environmental hazards / chemical incidents
Ability to undertake prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of public health importance
Peer reviewed scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars, etc

Skills and capabilities

Essential criteria

Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills, including management of change
Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty
Adaptable to situations, can communicate with people of all capabilities and attitudes
Project management
Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation
Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media)
Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills
Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved
Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
Computer literate
Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies
Ability to concentrate for long periods (e.g. analyses, media presentations)
Resource management skills

Desirable criteria

People management and training
Training and mentoring
Have an awareness of and be working towards the key core competencies set out in Civil Service Competency Framework 2010-2017 and KSF for those on AfC terms and conditions

Behaviours and Attitudes

Essential criteria

Score Strong commitment to public health principles
5 Commitment to team-working and respect and consideration for the skills of others
Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative
High standards of professional probity

Equality and diversity

Essential criteria

An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, and in relation to management systems

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Link below:

Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers

This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. 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.

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

For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.

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.  You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay 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.

Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.

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 equality of opportunity. The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via  email:  [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here.

Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.

The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.

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 UKHSA 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 privilege day for the King’s birthday
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.
We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). 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.

Hybrid Working

UKHSA operates 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 usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.

Disability Confident Scheme

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview.   If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.

To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.

This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police Check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Security Vetting

Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.