London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Job overview
Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) is an essential component in any public health response. The UK-Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) require a highly experienced RCCE specialist to join our multi-disciplinary deployable team to deliver the RCCE functions of the UK-PHRST, providing expert advice during outbreak responses and emergencies .
The post holder will be available to be deployed within 48 hours as part of the response function of the UK-PHRST, for periods of up to eight weeks. The post holder will be employed by UKHSA with an honorary contract with LSHTM. The successful applicant will be expected to work closely with both institutions.
When not responding to outbreaks, the post holder will, lead and contribute to capacity development activities overseas, and conduct, operational research relevant to the UK-PHRST’s role and remit in partnership with well-established networks of collaborators.
The post holder should anticipate spending up to half their time overseas and will also spend some time in the UK on teaching, training and operational research.
Main duties of the job
The role will involve:
Response
- Provide support on outbreak response activities for the country of deployment and the UK- PHRST for risk communication and community engagement activities.
Data Management and Analysis
- Contribute to the development, strengthening and application of data collection for risk communications and community engagement interventions.
- Liaise with appropriate national and regional counterparts to integrate findings from knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) surveys, focus group discussions and other feedback from community engagement activities into risk communication activities and products.
Partnership Working
- Develop and nurture key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders as required for role.
Teaching and Training
- Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities on RCCE.
- Support quality assurance and training activities to strengthen risk communication products overseas, in the context of the healthcare system in collaboration with partners (e.g. Ministry of Health, WHO, NGOs) as appropriate.
Research
- Lead, conduct and contribute to UK-PHRST research projects.
- Contribute to and/or develop grant proposals.
Management
- Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues.
- Identify and seek to resolve potential problems.
Working for our organisation
Launched in 2016, the UK-PHRST is an innovative government-academic partnership funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and co-led by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), with a consortium of academic and implementing partners in the UK and internationally.
It is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of public health professionals and researchers with a novel integrated triple-remit of outbreak response, research and capacity strengthening to prevent and control epidemics of infectious diseases in countries eligible for UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). Both institutes contribute and are responsible for delivery of the UK-PHRST triple mandate across outbreak response, research and capacity strengthening, with LSHTM leading the research programme and UKHSA who lead the outbreak response
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Person specification:
Essential Criteria
- MSc or PhD in Social and Behavioural Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Education, Communication, Public Relations or another relevant technical field
- Knowledge of current developments in risk communication and community engagement in outbreaks or other emergencies and emergency communication for development/social and behaviour change
- Proven experience in the development and implementation of risk communications strategies and plans
- Understanding of information governance, data protection issues and data confidentially requirements
- Experience of providing effective project and people management
- Able to apply risk communications/community engagement principles and concepts in acute emergency settings
- Highly effective verbal, written and presentation communications skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Able to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders both in the UK and overseas
- Able and prepared to travel at short notice for periods of up to 6 weeks to austere environments and often remote areas
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems and working with multi-ethnic and multi-cultural teams
Desirable criteria
- Proven experience of rapid assessments, operational research, social data research and analysis, including participatory and qualitative methods, with proficiency in qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo, supported by peer-reviewed publications
- Experience of delivering training and/or capacity building in risk communications, community engagement, health promotion, or communication for development
- Experience of, or received training in, strategic communication planning, social and behaviour analysis, formative research and evaluation of communication interventions
- Ability to communicate (speak/read) at a working level in a second language (other than English), such as French, Portuguese, or Arabic
Security Clearance Level Requirement:
- Satisfactory completion of an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- National Vetting System Security Clearance (Security Check). Individuals must either have a pre-existing Security Clearance or be able to obtain and maintain one for the duration of their employment.
- Being declared medically ‘fit for deployment’ prior to placement. All medical appointment records will be confidentially retained in line with UKHSA information governance policies.
- Completing the UK-PHRST mandatory training programme
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Statement of Suitability in no more than 750 words. This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and achievements, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to theperson specification outlined above.
You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history this will be used in sifting process.
STAGE 1 – APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the essential criteria in 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 a single video interview.
STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on the criteria for the role outlined in the person specification.
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on a blended interview against a mixture of Behaviours, Strength and experience elements of Success Profiles.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
Changing and Improving Communicating and Influencing Working Together Managing a Quality Service Delivering at Pace
Interview Date
Interviews will be held week commencing 13th June 2022. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Option External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Person specification
Experience required
Essential criteria
- Knowledge or mastery of an activity or subject gained through involvement in or exposure to it – please refer to the person specification for further details
- Demonstration of specific professional skills, knowledge and qualifications as specified in the person specification
Behaviours Through Success Profiles
Essential criteria
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Strengths
Essential criteria
- Assessed against the person specification
IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ This is a Non Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules and is therefore open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals and certain non EEA members. For more information please refer to the supporting documents detailing the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, salary on appointment is normally the minimum point (see salary range above). This will be dependent on the successful candidate’s current salary and terms and/or equivalent experience. The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change, most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. Please see attached an information sheet explaining starting salaries and benefits when joining the UKHSA.
For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.
For Temporary Appointments: If you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan. If you are an existing UKHA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay and Grading policy.
Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.
To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.
As from 1 January 2021 broadly the following groups may be eligible to work in non-reserved posts within the Civil Service:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- EEA nationals with (or eligible for) status under the EUSS
- Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU & Turkish nationals
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (attached as a supporting document).
Employees who feel they have been unfairly treated during a recruitment process can use the Civil Service Commission’s grievance procedure. External candidates should complain to the hiring manager handling their campaign. In addition both internal and external candidates have the right to complain to the Civil Service Commissioners.
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
The UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.
If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
Any move to the UK Health Security Agency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at **https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/**.
Benefits of working at UKHSA include: Generous annual leave:
- 26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
- 28 days after 5 years of continuous service
- 32 days after 10 years of continuous service,
- plus public holidays and one for the Queen’s birthday
We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours) • Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions. • Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving • Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
The UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.
How to apply
Further details / informal visits contact
Name: Cleopatra Zifiglio
Job title: HR Resourcing Manager
Email address: [email protected]
Additional information
For an informal chat or for more details about the role please contact:
Name: Susan Ismaeel Job Title: UK-PHRST Programme Manager Email address: [email protected]