Job summary
We are currently advertising for 2 roles within this vacancy, 1 permanent and 1 fixed term until 28 February 2026
Please state on your application which post / both you are applying for
UKHSA North West Region is made up of health protection consultants and practitioners, surveillance scientists, emergency preparedness professionals and business operations staff, operating from three sites.
We are recruiting enthusiastic, motivated Consultants in Health Protection. These are key posts in our health protection workforce enabling us to deliver our remit to protect the public's health from infectious diseases and other public health hazards through provision of a 24/7 acute health protection service.
Your contractual operational base will be Cunard Building, Liverpool (permanent post) or 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester (18 months fixed term post). All roles include hybrid working that allows for staff who can operate remotely at home, to fulfil their role and responsibilities in line with the team and UKHSA's policies and guidance. You will be expected to travel to any of our North West sites in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, providing leadership and development to the service.
Main duties of the job
As part of the North West Health Protection Team and in collaboration with relevant people in UKHSA Field Services and Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Directorates, and Local Authority Directors of Public Health in the North West, the Consultant in Health Protection will contribute to the provision of specialist advice and support locally to local authorities, hospitals, and primary care.
The consultant will contribute to the investigation and management of a full range of health protection incidents (including outbreaks of diseases like meningitis, and food poisoning), and will contribute to surveillance, co-ordination, support and monitoring of the local implementation of local, regional and key national programmes and place-based partnership working.
The post-holder will also be responsible for dealing with environmental public health incidents, situations, and other health protection emergencies, in collaboration with other members of the Health Protection Team as appropriate.
About us
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and maintaining close working relationships both internally and externally with a whole range of partner organisations. Working closely with key partners to ensure delivery of high-quality surveillance, response, and support systems. In addition, they will contribute and lead on local and national priorities including contribution to wider public health initiatives consistent with the UKHSA delivery model and integrated working.
They will have the ability to lead individuals and teams, engage with staff at all levels, and value diversity across the whole team will also be a key requisite of the role.
The post is subject to the core competencies as set out by the Faculty of Public Health for Consultant appointments and the post holder will be expected to demonstrate expertise in all of them (Appendix A).
Please see the attached Job Description outlining full responsibilities of the role.
Other Information
Selection process details
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 capabilities outlined in the person specification. You will be required to complete an application form. You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the person specification section as sub-headings in the application to make it clear how you meet each of the selection criteria.
At sift stage you will be assessed on the essential criteria listed in the job advert and statement of suitability.
Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1500 wordcount.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the person specification section as sub-headings in the application to make it clear how you meet each of the selection criteria.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview and assessment, a presentation will form part of this assessment.
STAGE 2 Interview
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will progress to an interview and will be assessed on the essential criteria as advertised.
This vacancy is being assessed against the essential and desirable criteria as outlined in the Job description
You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview
Interviews are expected to be held in person on week commencing 29th July. This date is subject to change
Option 3 External- 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.
The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.
Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice
Public Health Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC
Further information
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 websitehere.
For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact:
Merav Kliner, Regional Deputy Director of Health Protection - [email protected]
UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or UK Public Health (Specialist) Register
- If included in the GMC Specialist Register in a specialty other than public health medicine, infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine, infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology practice
- Public health specialist registrar and specialist trainee applicants who are not yet on the GMC Register/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/UKPHR
- Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Public Health/Royal College of Pathologists/Royal College of Physicians or other recognised body
- MFPH, or MRCPath, or MRCP
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Minimum 6 months experience in Health Protection practice
- Practical experience in leading and facilitating change
- Experience of communicable disease control in a wide variety of settings including out of hours on call
- Experience of working with other agencies
- Experience of emergency planning
- Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection
- Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, audit, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice
- Understanding of social and political environment
- Understanding of laboratory microbiology services
- Understanding of clinical infectious diseases services
- Understanding of clinical toxicology services
- Understanding of the principles of radiological protection
Desirable
- Experience of budget management and financial processes
- Experience and demonstrable competency in dealing with environmental hazards / chemical incidents
- Ability to undertake prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of public health importance
- Peer reviewed scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars, etc
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills, including management of change
- Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty
- Adaptable to situations, can communicate with people of all capabilities and attitudes
- Project management
- Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation
- Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media)
- Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills
- Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
- Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved
- Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
- Computer literate
- Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies
- Ability to concentrate for long periods (e.g. analyses, media presentations)
- Resource management skills
Desirable
- People management and training
- Training and mentoring
- Have an awareness of and be working towards the key core competencies set out in Civil Service Competency Framework 2010-2017 and KSF for those on AfC terms and conditions
Behaviours and attitudes
Essential
- Strong commitment to public health principles
- Commitment to team-working and respect and consideration for the skills of others
- Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative
- High standards of professional probity
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
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
UK Health Security Agency
Address
Cunard Building / 3 Piccadilly Place
Water Street
Liverpool / Manchester
L3 1DS