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Job summary

Main area
Immunisations & Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
919-SO-310603-EXT
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Home based with a requirement to travel Nationally
Town
National
Salary
£43,742 - £50,056 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Immunisation Advice Nurse

NHS AfC: Band 7

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

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the national immunisation team at UK Health Security Agency.

The Immunisation Advice Nurse will be a national source of advice for health professionals across England on all aspects of immunisation policy and practice. They will be expected to develop and maintain an up-to-date, specialised knowledge of immunisation. The post holder will also be involved in the training of other healthcare staff involved in immunisation and in the design and provision of national training and immunisation programme information materials. Contributing to national vaccine guidance and participating in some surveillance activities within the department are further responsibilities of this post.

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.

Main duties of the job

  • Providing expert immunisation advice and support for health professionals across the UK on all aspects of immunisation practice and policy.
  • Providing teaching and training on all aspects of the immunisation programmes to support the education of those undertaking immunisation delivery.
  • Contributing to scientific writing and reviewing of documentation to support national immusisation programmes.
  • Maintain own professional development.
  • Develop working relationships with a wide range individuals,  of clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.

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.  

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·       The role of the immunisation advice nurse is to provide expert immunisation advice and support for health professionals across the UK on all aspects of immunisation practice and policy. 

·       Working to a lead immunisation nurse specialist, you will be part of a highly functioning team formulating and delivering presentations, information documents, elearning modules and practical exercises on a broad range of aspects of the immunisation programme and its policy and practice.

·       The individual in this role is expected to come from a nursing, midwifery or health visiting background, and be a current NMC registrant. The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge and experience of working within immunisation delivery and possess a good understanding of immunisation and infectious diseases.

·       The role includes attending and manning the immunisation stand at health professional conferences, signposting attendees to the relevant information leaflets/sources of information and answering questions. In addition, the post-holder will support the education of those undertaking immunisation delivery locally by organising, delivering, and evaluating training in immunisation for health professionals.

·       The immunisation advice nurse will support and assist Colindale Duty Doctors (consultants and specialist registrars) in responding to the immunisation queries they receive whilst on call.

·       The post holder will develop and maintain good working relationships with DHSC, NHS England national and regional teams and other organisations and professionals helping to deliver the national immunisation programme.

·       The role will include liaising closely with DHSC and related committees such as the Joint Committee of Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) to inform national vaccine policy and assisting with the development of advisory documents and guidelines for use at a national level.

·       Additional responsibilities include contributing to the review, updating and creation of public facing and healthcare practitioner documentation to support the programmes; including vaccine information leaflets, the Green Book - “Immunisation against Infectious Disease”, UKHSA website pages on vaccine preventable diseases, vaccine guidelines and vaccination training resources in collaboration with website development staff and colleagues within the Immunisation Department on an ongoing basis.

Essential criteria

Please be aware that we will assess on the 6  essential criteria stated on the advert rather than the full list on the job description document.

•    Current NMC registration (Lead).
•    Nursing / midwifery degree(Lead).
•    Minimum 5 years post-registration nursing experience in a healthcare environment including interagency / interdisciplinary working
•    Practical experience of working with immunisation delivery
•    Knowledge of immunisation and infectious diseases
•    Able to manage and prioritise a varied and competing workload and meet tight deadlines under pressure

Desirable criteria
•    Additional qualification in public health, epidemiology, research methods, health promotion or other relevant qualifications

Selection Process Details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria. 

Stage 1: Application & Sift 

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above 6  essential criteria, and this will be in the form of :

•    Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
•    1000 word Statement of Suitability. 

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. 

The CV/Application and Statement of Suitability will be marked together. 

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the 2 lead essentials.

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Please do not exceed 1000 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview  

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview. 

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview. 

There will be a Presentation, detailsof which will be shared prior to interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing week commencing 22nd of July. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location 

This is a home based role with a requirement to travel Nationally.  

Eligibility Criteria.

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement 

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Working for the Civil Service:

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.  

The Civil Service Code 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.   

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.   

It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:   

  • life sentences  
  • arson  
  • sexual offences  
  • hate and terror offences   

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.   

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 .

Starting salary

Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.  The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.  

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Current NMC Registration
  • Nursing / midwifery degree
Desirable criteria
  • Additional qualification in public health, epidemiology, research methods, health promotion or other relevant qualifications

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria
  • Minimum five years post-registration nursing experience in a healthcare environment including interagency/interdisciplinary working
  • Practical experience of working with immunisation delivery
  • Knowledge of immunisation and infectious diseases

Skills / capabilities/ behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Able to manage and prioritise a varied and competing workload and meet tight deadlines under pressure

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Purple SpaceApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Carer Confident -AccomplishedHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sarah Okonkwo
Job title
Resourcing Support
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Additional contact information: For information regarding the role please contact [email protected]   

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