Health Protection Practitioner

The post holder will be part of the multi-disciplinary team providing the day-to-day health protection function, including the management of infectious and environmental hazards and supporting response to major incidents. The post is an entry level Health Protection development post and as such will develop specialist knowledge and skills to undertake case management, liaise with, and provide health protection advice and response across a range of partner organisations, professionals and the public. The post holder will undergo a programme of on-going development and education to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to provide specialist health protection advice and meet competencies required to undertake the role. When competence has been established they will contribute to the out-of-hours on-call service. There are two posts available within this recruitment.

• Under supervision, contribute to the day to day running of the acute response function to ensure highquality, safe and effective delivery of the health protection service.
• Provide first point of contact for specialist knowledge, support and advice to health professionals on health protection matters.
• Undertake initial assessment and management of routine acute response work and non-complex incidents.
• Escalate and refer challenging or complex incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and non-infectious environmental hazards to senior manager asappropriate.
• Manage and carry out continuing responsibility for a caseload ensuring accurate, up to date records of contacts/action by completion of relevant records andcompliance with team handover procedures, in line with UKHSA's standards for record keeping.
• To utilise an evidence based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team, seeking senior advice as/when appropriate.
• Support and participate in the team's formal case review process.
• Contribute to and where required lead under supervision the ongoing longer term management of issues relevant to a defined geographical area.
• Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning andResilience Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the region's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.
• May be required to participate in a local on call rota at regional level as required., We are seeking a Health Protection Practitioner (AfCBand6 nurse or HEO civil servant), Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards
• Contribute to the use of surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies
• Support identification and reporting of health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessment

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

• Through activities delegated and supported by line management, contribute to the development of effective relationships with a range of individuals and stakeholders.
• With support and guidance from line management, may sometimes deal with difficult and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day to day work load.

RESEARCH, TEACHING AND TRAINING

• Contribute to research activity to complement the health protection evidence base
• Contribute to the development and delivery of teaching resources and activities across a range of audiences with support from senior manager as appropriate

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

• To act as role model adhering to team professional standards
• Contribute to the development of policies and protocols for a wide range of health protection issues
• Contribute to and undertake audit as part of a wider programme of quality/service improvement activity
• Undertake projects on defined areas of work as agreed with the line manager
• Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed
• Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements within the team
• Proactively contribute to wider organisational development
• Contribute to the strategic work of the locality/patch based health protection team and deputise where appropriate
• Contribute pro-actively to the development and testing of the regions business continuity plan

OTHER DUTIES

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 your line manager. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of UKHSA Regions.

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1,500 word Supporting Statement

Desirablerolecriteria:

• Experience of building and developing effective stakeholder relationships
• Experience of working in community settings and with health care providers
• Experience of risk management and associated reporting
• Knowledge of the principles of health protection
• Experience of supporting/assistingthe development and delivery of presentations,trainingand/or education, AfC: Registered General Nurse with NMC registration
• CS: First degree (Health Related e.g. environmental health, biomedical science, public health) or equivalent experience e.g. laboratory
• Experience as a practitioner in a Health related field( e.g. Nursing, Environmental Health, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health), Presentation
• First degree (Health Related e.g. environmental health, biomedical science, public health) or equivalent experience, e.g. in laboratory [ Civil Service terms and conditions ]
• Registered Nurse with NMC registration[ AfC terms and conditions ]
• Working towards registration withan appropriate healthor science related professional body [ Civil Service terms and conditions ]
• Experience as a practitioner in a Health related field( e.g. Nursing, Environmental Health, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health)
• An understanding of and ability to work under the current Health and Social Care Act (e.g.safe guardingvulnerable adults; data protection, information governance)
• Proven experience in the establishment and maintenance of good relationships with managers,staffand external contracts
• Effective verbal and written communication skills including report writing and presentations
• Ability to work independently, manage and prioritise own workload and cope with competing demands
• Ability to problem solve whilst working in an unpredictable environment, often under pressure and to tight times