Data Surveillance Information Officer

The Data Surveillance Information Officer (DSIO) is essential to delivering HPT objectives, providing expert information management and administrative support to ensure efficient service delivery. Working closely with colleagues across the Health Protection Team and Field Services, the postholder helps maintain a coordinated and responsive health protection service.

The role supports clinical incident management from a data perspective, strengthens governance processes and promotes high standards of data quality. By collaborating with Acute Response Duty Teams, the DSIO provides data analysis, information and operational insight to support informed decision-making and timely responses to emerging challenges.

You are responsible for supporting the flow, storage and retrieval of data across the regional team, ensuring data integrity, analysis and reporting. They also contribute to the development of information systems and liaise with external organisations where required.

The DSIO works with Consultants in Health Protection, microbiologists and other professional staff, ensuring routine and ad hoc reports are produced and shared, while supporting regional health protection activities, including outbreak and incident investigations.

Support the data of infectious disease surveillance, notifications, and outbreak data.

Maintain accurate databases, reporting systems, and statutory returns (CIMS)

Analyse data, produce reports, and support outbreak investigations

Ensure data quality, compliance, and information governance standards

Collaborate with health partners and provide system training and guidance

Develop procedures, represent the surveillance function, and support service improvement

Please note this list is not exhaustive.

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

• Support clinical staff in managing infectious disease cases and outbreaks through follow-up, coordination of results and data analysis, providing accurate and timely information to the team.
• Ensure robust data flow and reporting mechanisms for laboratory and clinical notifications to protect individuals and local populations and support continuous improvement of health protection functions.
• Ensure all records are processed and maintained in line with agreed protocols and SOPs; and checks are made on data electronically submitted
• Assist the DSS in ensuring timely reporting to the Health Protection team and partner organisations in line with the surveillance reporting calendar.
• Develop, manage and maintain surveillance systems and databases for communicable diseases and environmental hazards, ensuring data from all sources is valid and accurately recorded.
• Liaise with key surveillance partners including Field Services, Local Authorities, Microbiologists, TB nurses, and regional and national teams.
• Ensure surveillance databases remain accurate and consistent, resolving data quality issues.
• Audit data and information systems to ensure integrity and reliability and contribute to surveillance quality improvements.
• Review and evaluate routine and ad hoc surveillance reports to ensure timely and accurate delivery.
• Support outbreak investigations and epidemiological research through reports, graphs and outbreak curves. May participate in food poisoning investigations including questionnaire design, data entry and analysis. May require out-of-hours working with time off in lieu.
• Provide CIMS training for staff as required, and Act as CIMS Information Champion for the region.
• Attend meetings and working groups representing the Surveillance function and complete associated actions.
• Prepare SOPs based on national guidance with health protection clinical staff.
• Maintain confidentiality and information security in line with UKHSA policies, the Data Protection Act and Caldicott requirements.
• Attend professional meetings, conferences and training as designated by the Manager/Surveillance Lead/Regional Deputy Director.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Identify and address professional development needs through appraisal and development planning, attending relevant training.
• Complete all mandatory training, including fire safety and information governance.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• The post holder will communicate regularly with a wide range of clinical and non-clinical colleagues within and outside UKHSA.

INTERNAL

• UKHSA Regional teams
• Other UKHSA divisions/directorates

EXTERNAL

• NHS Trust microbiology departments
• Infection Prevention & Control teams
• Hospital clinicians, microbiologists and infection control staff
• Local Authorities
• General Practitioners and staff
• Integrated Care Boards, * Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

• Educated to degree level in numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills or have worked in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics/data science and has an understanding of basic epidemiological terms and methods.
• Highly proficient in the use of computers, databases, and Microsoft Access, Word and Excel, with experience in data management, analysis, reporting and presentation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate proactively, accurately and succinctly, and to negotiate effectively with a wide range of health, IT and academic professionals.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and coordinate workloads, work independently and collaboratively, and meet tight deadlines.
• Demonstrates sound numeracy, attention to detail and problem-solving skills, producing accurate, consistent work and dealing with issues calmly, efficiently and in a timely manner.
• Committed to maintaining confidentiality, undertaking training and participating in continuous professional development.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and environments, with a willingness to travel for meetings and training across the region and occasionally beyond

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Use of some of the following: spreadsheets, databases, GIS, statistical software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS, SPSS)
• Experience of maintaining code using R or an alternative statistical package
• Working in communicable disease surveillance
• Use of Refman or equivalent and Microsoft Powerpoint
• Applying for research governance approval, * Educated to degree level in numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills or have worked in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics/data science
• Experience in data management, handling, analysis and reporting, Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed if based out of Fareham, Ashford (Kent), or Horsham is Baseline Personnel Security Standard and Counter-Terrorist Check for those based out of Chilton.

If you are successful at interview and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words., This role is being offered as hybrid working based at either one of our four offices in Fareham, Ashford (Kent), or Horsham. The role can also be worked out of our office in Chilton (Didcot).

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of our SE offices.

If you are based at our office in Chilton, you will be required to have a 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 as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. 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.