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.
Job overview
The UKHSA RCCE Radiation Emergency Response Group (ERG) is responsible for overall co-ordination and evaluation of UKHSA's emergency arrangements for radiological and nuclear incidents. This involves specialist emergency planning and training of UKHSA response staff, participating in and providing specialist input to the planning of national, international and local emergency exercises, liaising with external stakeholders within UK civil contingency arrangements and overseas, and working together with national and international organisations to develop improved emergency planning and response guidance and arrangements. ERG also provides specialist training and technical services to those in external organisations involved in radiological and nuclear emergency preparedness.
In the event of a radiation emergency, the Radiation Emergency Response Group's role is key to ensuring senior staff are supported with the necessary information, equipment and advice concerning arrangements, and that the required communication of complex scientific information takes place effectively and efficiently.
Advert
ERG is recruiting an Emergency Preparedness Administrator covered by this Job Description. The main duties and responsibilities of the post are described in the sections below and are broadly split between the following work areas:
* Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response arrangements within UKHSA RCCE, including maintaining systems, contributing to staff training programmes and the organisation of emergency exercises (internal and external);
* Support of ERG's work with stakeholders external to UKHSA in the field of radiation emergency preparedness and response in developing arrangements and policies.
Emergency Response
As a Category 1 responder, under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, UKHSA has a set of civil protection responsibilities which it must fulfil in the response to any emergency or major incident. Post holders will be expected to contribute to the preparedness for and response to major incidents and emergencies as required. These include:
* Participation in the UKHSA response to radiological emergencies under an allocated role within the UKHSA Radiation Emergency Plan
* Response in emergencies and during exercises may include working unsociable hours
* Development and maintenance of staff competencies in UK nuclear emergency arrangements and response structures to ensure we can respond effectively to an emergency
* Assist in the maintenance and development of national and international radiation emergency preparedness and response arrangements.
The job holder will be required to work as part of a small team of specialists.
Working for our organisation
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Please visit our careers site for more information
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In this role you will
* maintain copies of radiation emergency response plans held by UKHSA, including ensuring that copies are up to date and liaising with ERG scientists to ensure that plans are reviewed regularly
* maintain records of staff participation in training and exercises
* organise internal and external training courses, including logistics, delegate contact, course material collation, and feedback analysis. This also involves liaison with scientists in ERG on course material provision
* organise emergency exercise participation, including logistics, procurement, participation according to response role and setting up response facilities
* maintain response systems, databases and facilities, including the lessons management for exercises/incidents, periodic equipment checks and staff access to online resources
* arrange and attend meetings within UKHSA and externally in person and over MS Teams, producing minutes and record management associated with such meetings where required
* in conjunction, with scientists within ERG, the implementation of organisational emergency preparedness and response systems as required
* be required to travel within the UK with occasional overnight stays
*Please note, this is not an exhaustive list*
Essential criteria
* A-levels in subjects such as Sciences, Maths and English or equivalent experience in a role such as administration or procurement.
* Experience in managing information assets.
* Experience in writing meeting reports and briefing documents, including proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 applications.
* Experience of organising staffing logistics.
* Numerate and able to understand financial issues.
* Ability to remain focused on a task and concentration on the matter in hand.
* Excellent organisational skills, including capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
* High level of commitment to delivering excellent customer service and continuous improvement.
* Adaptable and resourceful, able to manage and prioritise a personal portfolio of short and long term work, to make decisions autonomously, when required, and working to tight and often changing timescales.
* Ability to rapidly analyse a situation and develop practical solutions to problems.
Desirable criteria:
* Experience in training or emergency preparedness.
* Experience in training and exercise design, delivery and evaluation.
* Knowledge of UK multi-agency emergency response arrangements
* Experience in the development of advice in radiological protection
* Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
Selection Process
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and/or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
You will be required to complete an:
* Application form ('Employer / Activity history' section on the application)
* (up to 500 number of words) word supporting statement
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 500 words.
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 CV –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible)
If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead criteria will be conducted.
* A-levels in subjects such as Science, Maths and English or equivalent experience in a role such administration or procurement.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications.
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. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
This vacancy is being assessed using competency framework. 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 sent to you prior to interview but will be based around:
* Radiation emergency response
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Please note: 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.
Location
This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton, Oxfordshire.
*Please note, hybrid working is not available for this role*
Eligibility Criteria
External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement:
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
* The level of security needed is
o Basic Personnel Security Standard
o Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check.
o Successful candidates also require Security Clearance
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 5 as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. 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.
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 .
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:
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:
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.