Environmental Public Health Practitioner

The Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) Department provides authoritative scientific advice to government, the NHS and other bodies. EHE's mission is to prepare for and prevent future health security hazards, strengthen capability and to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, and build the UK's capacity on health security for new and long-term exposure to environmental hazards.

The EHE Department comprises of multidisciplinary teams of scientists working across geographically dispersed locations within England and Wales. The department is responsible for providing specialist advice at local, national and international level on the public health impact of acute and chronic non-infectious environmental exposures. Scientists collaborate with academia on research and evidence reviews to underpin this advice, such as via the National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Units (HPRU). Many scientists also sit on cross government and multi-agency expert groups relevant to environmental public health. EHE also provides support to the Department of Health and Social care (DHSC) expert committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP).

Main duties of the job

The post holder, based in the Noise and Public Health group, will work with the team to support the objectives of UKHSA's noise programme to develop and share the evidence base on sound and noise, improve how information on the health impacts of noise pollution is communicated; and encourage and support behaviour change at every level.

The post holder will contribute to the development of expert advice on the mortality and morbidity effects associated with noise and the health impacts of interventions aiming to reduce exposure and improve soundscapes

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job responsibilities

General

• Undertake environmental public health risk assessments for both acute and chronic chemical and environmental hazard exposures to prevent or mitigate risks to the public.
• With support, critically analyse and interpret complex data and evidence to inform public health risk assessments and advice.
• Contribute to the UKHSA Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response arrangements as a Category 1 responder.
• Liaise and collaborate with other EHE colleagues; relevant regulators and others to promote an effective environmental public health response service by providing advice on the protection of the public.
• Plan and carry out, with support, complex scientific studies of high quality to formulate robust evidence-based advice for environmental public health.
• Review environmental permit applications; health impact or environmental impact assessments or planning applications and provide advice on threats to public health.

Publication and communication

• Contribute to research papers for submission to peer reviewed journals.
• Participate in scientific meetings and conferences, presenting papers describing research activities. These may be at internal (UKHSA), national, European or international events.

Disseminate information and knowledge gathered from participation at workshops, meetings, seminars and conferences to EHE colleagues.Training

• Assist in the provision of training on environmental public health issues for a range of stakeholders, in support of EHE training courses.
• Assist in the review any training materials in order to improve training outcomes.
• Participate at multi-agency training including emergency planning, chemical incident exercises and other technical workshops.

Other

• The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and UKHSA.
• It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.
• You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal, and external to UKHSA. This will include;

Internal

• Daily with other staff in the Unit up to Head of Unit/Group Leader.
• Frequently with Head of Department.
• Frequently with other EHE staff.
• Occasionally with other staff in RCCE at all levels (up to and including Directorate).

External

• Frequently with staff in Government Departments and Agencies.
• Other UK organisations and companies for contractual or advisory purposes.
• European and international collaborating managers and scientists for inputs into the formulation, execution and management of internationally funded work.
• Honours degree or equivalent level qualification in environmental science, environmental epidemiology or closely related area, or experience of working at a similar level in a related specialist area role criteria (including qualifications, licenses and registrations)
• Broad general knowledge of sciences, environmental sciences and environmental public health.
• Analysis of scientific and technical data
• Experience of scientific project work
• Experience of communicating technical information to lay people
• Ability to communicate technical and sensitive information effectively both orally and in writing at all levels from members of the public through to professionals, internally and externally to other organisations
• Ability to observe and question when gathering information, disregarding irrelevant and identifying key issues
• Technical competence in data analysis
• Ability to assess complex situations and interpret detailed documents that may include guidance and legislation
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage own workload.
• Ability to think on feet.
• Good presentation skills with experience of creating and giving presentations to varied audiences such as team colleagues and external stakeholders
• Ability to identify scientific issues and undertake comprehensive literature reviews
• Approachable and open with a high level of integrity and honesty and ability to form good working relationships with staff and stakeholders.
• Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Selection Process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, and Abilities.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1250 word Statement of Suitability.

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

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Honours degree or equivalent level qualification in environmental science, environmental epidemiology or closely related area, or experience of working at a similar level in a related specialist area
• Broad general knowledge of sciences, environmental sciences and environmental public health.
• Ability to identify scientific issues and undertake comprehensive literature reviews
• Ability to communicate technical and sensitive information effectively both orally and in writing at all levels from members of the public through to professionals, internally and externally to other organisations
• Analysis of scientific and technical data
• Ability to assess complex situations and interpret detailed documents that may include guidance and legislation
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage own workload.
• Ability to think on feet

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

Please do not exceed 1250 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 remote interview.

Behaviours, Strengths, and Abilities will be tested at interview.

You will be asked to prepare a 10 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at pace

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

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at one our locations at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Cambridge, Didcot, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle or Nottingham.

Security Requirements

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.

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will also be required to have Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years.In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Person Specification

• Application Form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at pace

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.

£31,997 to £43,552 a yearper annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working