Job overview
Are you passionate about making a real difference in healthcare? University Hospitals Dorset is seeking a dedicated Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) Practitioner to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will help ensure our Trust is ready to respond effectively to emergencies, protect our patients and staff, and maintain essential services during challenging times. We are looking for an individual who is? Organised and proactive, with excellent attention to detail. A strong communicator, able to engage confidently with colleagues at all levels and external partners. Calm under pressure, able to make sound decisions in fast-moving situations. Adaptable and resourceful, with a commitment to continuous improvement Interview Date: 20th November Main duties of the job Develop, implement, and maintain emergency preparedness plans, policies, and procedures in line with NHS England and statutory requirements. Coordinate and deliver training and exercises for staff across all departments to build resilience and awareness. Support incident response by providing expert advice and operational support during emergencies, major incidents, and business continuity events. Conduct risk assessments and contribute to the Trust’s risk register, ensuring potential threats are identified and mitigated. Liaise with internal and external partners, including local authorities, emergency services, and other NHS organisations, to ensure a coordinated approach to emergency planning. Monitor compliance with EPRR standards and contribute to audits, reviews, and improvement initiatives. Maintain accurate records and produce reports for senior management and regulatory bodies as required Working for our organisation UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview. If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions. UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes. AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process Detailed job description and main responsibilities The post holder will support the Head of Emergency Preparedness, Resilience & Response (EPRR), tasked with providing administrative support; managing debrief processes; designing, developing, and delivering specialised EPRR training and advice. The post holder will support both strategic and operational aspects of EPRR within the Trust and across the UHD footprint. The role is crucial in ensuring compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act and NHS England EPRR guidelines, fulfilling the Trust’s role as a Category 1 responder. Responsibilities include managing the administration of the UHD EPRR function; contributing to the development and implementation of business continuity and incident response plans; supporting the annual EPRR core standards assurance process; and coordinating / delivering EPRR exercises and staff training. Additionally, the post holder will undertake emergency preparedness and business continuity tasks as delegated by the Head of EPRR, including responding to emergencies and service disruptions. Regular travel across all UHD sites is required to effectively manage and respond to EPRR needs across the organisation. Person specification essential Essential criteria Degree in Emergency / planning/ disaster management / leadership or project management managerial experience within the NHS experience of delivering training Ability to use MS office to create reports, and interrogate data Trained debriefer Desirable criteria Teaching qualification other planning qualification Essential Essential criteria Abilty to collborate constructively with internal and external parties.