Surveillance & Prevention Scientist Full Time

Public Health England (PHE) is an executive agency of the Department of Health providing; strategic leadership, research, advice and support for Government, local authorities and the NHS in protecting and improving the nation’s health.

Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview. If you have not been contacted within 4-6 weeks of the closing date please assume you have not been shortlisted for the next stage.

As an applicant for this role, you are urged to demonstrate within your supporting statement a combination of evidence that reflects your competence to meet the job specification and provide examples of how the PHE Charter is an integral part of the way you have and will continue to deliver service.

Please note that if the pay scheme is listed as ‘Other’, the post advertised will be subject to Public Health England Civil Service Terms and Conditions of employment unless otherwise stated.

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 Public Health England Civil Service terms and conditions, on appointment the starting salary 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 which have annual pay increments. Salary increases are awarded based on performance assessed through the annual appraisal cycle.

PHE is bringing together its national scientific laboratories and headquarters to create one of the world’s leading centres for public health science in Harlow, Essex, in the heart of the London and Cambridge life sciences corridor. This post will move to PHE Harlow between 2021 and 2024 as part of this major development. For more information please search ‘PHE Harlow collection’.

Public Health England (PHE) is an executive agency of the Department of Health providing; strategic leadership, research, advice and support for Government, local authorities and the NHS in protecting and improving the nation’s health.

A unique opportunity has arisen for a scientist in the CJD Section at the Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control (CIDSC). PHE provides national expertise and guidance on public health management and follow up to prevent person to person spread of CJD following surgical procedures. The post holder will help to maintain the core body of knowledge and expertise in this area at CIDSC and respond to requests for advice to trusts and PHE centres managing indicents locally. The postholder will manage the ongoing long term public health follow-up of the cohort of patients exposed to a CJD risk through their healthcare. They will work with UK experts in the field of CJD surveillance and risk management and attend and contribute to national expert meetings.

PHE has established a programme of work, and developed surveillance systems, to describe and monitor the type-specific epidemiology of HPV infections and related disease and evaluate the impact of mass HPV immunisation. The postholder will contribute to a number of HPV studies, providing scientific and data-management skills to this area of work.

The CJD and HPV sections have close links with the wider HIV/STI department and the postholder will also undertake projects to analyse and interpret data from national surveillance of sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health, and lead on aspects of information and data outputs across the department,

We are seeking an able science graduate for this post, the successful applicant will show evidence of ability to work independently and within multi-disciplinary teams, as well as ability to set their own objectives and achieve them efficiently. Good oral and written communication skills and proven aptitude to work with computerised databases will be essential. Experience of working within the health services would be an advantage.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact Dr Katy Sinka 020 8327 6411 katy.sinka@phe.gov.uk or Marta Checchi via email at marta.checchi@phe.gov.uk or 020 8327 6090

Option 3 – External

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

Appointment to this post is on PHE terms and conditions of service. Only previous continuous service in the Civil Service is recognised for contractual purposes.

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the person specification (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria. Please also see job description for competencies

Public Health England promotes diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunities employer

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.

Interview expenses will not normally be paid but will be paid in exceptional circumstances in agreement with the Deputy Director of HR.

PHE is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please therefore supply referees (with email addresses) to cover this period. Additional documentation such as P60s may be required as evidence. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more

For more information please go to the PHE website.

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