Data Surveillance Scientist

Job summary

UKHSA’s local Health Protection teams provide a central part of how UKHSA works with partners to deliver its first function to protect the public’s health. They deliver this through a range of core functions including surveillance and monitoring, operational support and advice, education, training and research.

Working for your 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.

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

Job description

The Data Surveillance Scientist (DSS) works as part of a dynamic analytical community and supports the HPT to deliver an effective HP function by providing information and administrative leadership for the HP intelligence function, including surveillance, prevention, health protection risk assessment, investigation and control of communicable disease and environmental hazards, screening programmes and health monitoring.

This includes developing and maintaining effective health protection (including non-communicable disease) surveillance databases and supporting the use of CIMS (a national UKHSA web-based incident management system.

As part of a dynamic analytical community, the postholder will work collaboratively with, and may rotate working with the Knowledge and Intelligence (K&I) function of the Health Improvement Directorate, the regional Health Protection function and the National Infection Services Field Services team to jointly enhance services and develop hubs of excellence in analytical services.

Public Health Intelligence, Surveillance and Data Analysis

• Support development, operation and improvement of the enhanced surveillance system to provide a detailed long-term understanding of regional health threats.
• Provide advice and support on data analysis, presentation and interpretation to the HP team.
• Present and demonstrate data science tools and methodologies.
• Analyse communicable disease surveillance data and health protection programme and outcome indicators.
• Work with analytical and HP colleagues to identify requirements and develop statistical analysis approaches.
• Support creation of surveillance system specifications and development.
• Conduct comparative analyses of population health indicators using appropriate statistical techniques to measure healthcare outcomes and inequalities, track changes over time and interpret findings.
• Support HP risk assessments for outbreaks and incidents.
• Develop systems for receiving and sharing health protection intelligence within UKHSA and with local partners.
• Prepare data tables, graphs and maps for reports and presentations, and support production of regular HP intelligence bulletins.
• Respond to data requests and identify recurring themes or issues.
• Develop automated routines and solutions for surveillance reports.
• Contribute to public health analyses, reports, publications and peer-reviewed articles.
• Support epidemiological data analysis through GIS mapping and assist in the design, quality assurance and analysis of research and surveys.
• Liaise with UKHSA colleagues to establish reporting requirements and support production of datasets and indicators for monitoring key public health programmes.
• Maintain oversight of team outputs and surveillance systems, including disease trends and emerging threats.
• Support systems used to share public health information and knowledge, including websites, databases and intelligence-sharing platforms.
• Support HPT staff in the use of systems, including data capture, reporting and staff training.

Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations

• Support information and data management during outbreaks and epidemiological investigations.
• Provide first-line advice on information governance aspects of outbreak management, escalating where required.

Audit, Quality and Governance

• Validate and audit surveillance systems to ensure compliance with Information Governance requirements and improve data quality.
• Support the Associate Caldicott Guardian by maintaining oversight of information governance relating to identifiable personal data processed by the HPT.
• Audit data flows and procedures to ensure integrity and reliability of surveillance and other data sources.
• Ensure the secure, confidential and appropriate storage, access and retrieval of records in line with legislation and UKHSA policies.

Software and Statistical Skills

• Apply statistical tests and algorithms, including time-trend analysis, to support exceedance investigations.
• Support translation of statistical processes into automated solutions.
• Use statistical, database, mapping and web-based tools including Stata, R, ArcGIS, SQL, network analysis and SharePoint.
• Undertake analytical and programming tasks using specialist and standard software to support data extraction, analysis and validation.

Collaborative Working

• Maintain effective relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with Field Service colleagues and regional information specialists to support a cross-regional professional network.
• Collaborate with universities, local authorities and other organisations to access data, avoid duplication and enhance analyses.
• Present individual and team outputs to technical and non-technical audiences, including explanation of statistical concepts and findings.

Research and Development

• Undertake literature reviews, audits, surveys and other research activities as required.

Other
The above provides an outline of the role's responsibilities and may be supplemented by other duties reasonably required by the line manager. The job description and person specification may be reviewed to reflect the changing needs of the division and UKHSA. All work is confidential and must only be shared for authorised purposes.

Professional Development

• Identify and address development needs through appraisal and individual development plans, including attendance at internal and external training.
• Complete all mandatory training, including fire safety, information governance and other required courses.
  

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.

Incident Response Activity

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

Person specification

Qualifications and Registrat