Consultant Epidemiologist in London

The Travel Health and International Health Regulations (IHR) section contributes to the health of British travellers through surveillance, information, teaching and research, and has a central role in supporting UKHSA's role of National Focal Point under the International Health Regulations, and as EU Focal Point under the EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Section sits within the Chief Medical Advisor's group - Epidemic and Emerging Infection (EEI) Directorate at Colindale.

The main duties of the post are related to leading and developing surveillance for a range of travel associated infections and supporting the team's function in providing the IHR NFP and EU focal point. The postholder will be part of the senior leadership of the Travel Health and IHR section. The postholder will line manage some of the scientific staff within the section, undertaking annual appraisals and providing career development support as necessary.

Main Duties of the Job

• Oversight of surveillance of illness in returning travellers through a variety of surveillance mechanisms and in collaboration with UKHSA disease expert colleagues.
• Oversight of enhanced surveillance of enteric fevers which is managed by TH/IHR team and collaboration with the MRL with respect to enhanced surveillance of malaria.
• Ensuring that surveillance data are provided for those who need this information in an accurate, timely and user-friendly manner.
• Supporting the UK NFP role under IHR and the EU Focal Point under the TCA.
• Collaboration with NaTHNaC in provision of evidence-based advice to health professionals advising the travelling public, including contributing to clinical updates for the NaTHNaC website.
• Membership of the Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention, the NaTHNaC technical advisory group and the JCVI travel vaccine subcommittee, as required.
• In collaboration with NaTHNaC overseeing surveillance of international outbreaks/incidents of illness with relevance to public health in the UK and provide risk assessments as required.
• Supporting response to international outbreaks and incidents (including natural disasters and international mass gathering events) with implications for public health in the UK through provision of evidence-based advice.

About Us

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.

Key Duties:

• Provision of support and advice to local, regional and national colleagues in NHS, UKHSA, DHSC, non-health government departments, and non-governmental organizations regarding travel and international health regulations.
• Policy and protocol development in relation to travel health.
• Design and provision of teaching for a variety of individuals, institutions and stakeholders as required about travel health and international health regulations.
• Liaison with UKHSA communications to develop media messages about travel health and imported infection.
• Response to queries from a variety of stakeholders as required, including Parliamentary Questions.
• Identification of research areas to improve the evidence base in guiding public health action to protect and improve the health of travellers.
• Oversight of production of peer-reviewed publications in travel health relevant topics.
• Lead for maintenance and further development of travel health relevant content on the .GOV website.
• Contribution to IHR out of hours rota.

Additional Duties

The post holder may after agreement (which should not reasonably be withheld), be required to undertake other duties as required, which fall within the grading of this post, to meet the needs of the service. The post holder will participate in Travel Health and IHR section quality improvement programmes including clinical audit plus training and support to junior staff.

Professional Development

Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training/development needs with your line manager through appraisal/individual development plan. Attending internal/external training events. To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

The Consultant will be expected to:

• Participate in the organisations appraisal scheme including the professional appraisal scheme and ensure appraisal and development of any staff for which s/he is responsible.
• Contribute actively to the training programme for Foundation Year Doctors/Specialty Registrars in Public Health as appropriate, and to the training of practitioners and primary care professionals within the locality.
• Pursue a programme of CPD, in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements, or other recognised body, and undertake revalidation, audit or other measures required to remain on the GMC/GDC Specialist Register or the UK Public Health (Specialist) Register or other specialist register as appropriate.
• Complete all Civil Service mandatory training as required, e.g. fire safety, information governance, counter-fraud, bribery and corruption.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• The National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996. In line with legislation, inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists at the point of application.
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice.
• Any public health speciality registrar applicants who are currently on the UK public health training programme and not yet on either the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interview.
• If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they must also be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. 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 (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body.

Knowledge and Experience Essential

• Understanding of epidemiology, statistics, and public health practice.
• Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection and an understanding of laboratory microbiology and clinical infectious disease services.
• Significant strategic experience of leadership for public health and working with other agencies.
• Experience of staff management and training.
• Experience of communicable disease control in a wide variety of settings including out of hours on call.

Skills / Capabilities / Behaviours Essential

• Proven excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the media).
• Proven and effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills.
• Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies.
• Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty.
• Commitment to team-working, and respect and consideration for the skills of others.
• Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative.

Equality and Diversity Essential

• 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.