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About the role

This is a senior role within the health protection team and provides leadership, management and oversight of the health protection function, including the response to incidents and outbreaks and responsibility for the day to day operational delivery.

The post holder will play a key role in developing, shaping and assuring the health protection function, which may include managing individuals and teams, working closely with partners, and ensuring delivery of high-quality surveillance, response and support systems. The post holder will have responsibility for developing and maintaining close working relationships both internally and with partner organisations. In addition, they will contribute and lead on regional and national priorities, including contribution to wider public health initiatives consistent with the regional delivery model and integrated working.

RESPONSE1. Will be expected, when required, to assume overall responsibility for the management of incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases, lead the local Health Protection team response to non-infectious environmental hazards and chemical incidents and assume overall responsibility for the day to day running of the acute response function.2. To utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team and support and participate in the team's formal case review process.3. To ensure the monitoring of standards, ensuring quality and consistency and to take action where any shortfall occurs.4. May be responsible for any ongoing longer-term management of issues relevant to a defined geography area within their area.5. May perform Proper Officer duties in relation to Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 and the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2010 as agreed with Local Authorities.6. Will be expected to contribute, and where required, lead the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning Resilience and Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the region's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.7. Will contribute, support and where necessary lead the UKHSA regional centre input into Emergency Planning arrangements.8. May be required to participate in an on call rota at local, regional or national level as required.

Person specification

Essential

Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or UK Public Health (Specialist) Register (Special Inclusion in the GMC full and specialist register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview); UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible within 6 months
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 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 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 MFPH by examination or evidence of equivalent qualification; FRC Path or evidence of equivalent qualification; MRCP or evidence of equivalent qualification
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
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
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
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

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
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

Consultant in Health Protection

About the role

Person specification