Field Epidemiology Training Programme Fellow (Micro/ID)

Job summary

The UK Field Epidemiology Training Programme (UKFETP) is a full-time, competency-based 2-year specialist postgraduate training programme. The programme is aimed at medical, scientific, veterinary or nursing staff who are, or whose future career may be, in a post involving field investigation and epidemiology or public health microbiology and who want to further enhance their specialist epidemiology skills.

This call is specifically for ringfenced posts available to higher specialist trainees in microbiology, infectious diseases, and virology. This route into UKFETP has been opened up as part of a pilot to improve access to those not currently working as epidemiologists but working in related specialties.

The programme provides training and experience to develop the core competencies agreed for field epidemiologists in the United Kingdom and in the European Union (EU). For further information about the programme, please review the prospectus or contact the team (details below).

Prior to completing the application, please review the instructions on how to complete as this will greatly increase your chance of being selected for interview.

Main duties of the job

Training is provided mainly on the job with at least ten percent of time dedicated to formally taught training courses. Fellows will be based in a UKFETP training location for the two-year fellowship. The training locations include national public health centres in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, or local UKHSA teams. Fellows are expected to relocate for the duration of the training programme.

In order to conduct the main duties of the fellowship, you are required to be educated to postgraduate level and have demonstrable experience of working within public health, health protection, microbiology with some public health microbiology component, infection prevention and control, or epidemiology. You will be an excellent team member and have an understanding of public health systems in your country of work. You will be familiar with analysis, interpretation, and presentation of scientific data. You will be able to demonstrate how the UKFETP could be of value to your future career.

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the role are detailed in the attached job description. Other expectations are detailed below.

Relocation: Individuals currently contracted by UKHSA and working in a UKFETP training site are expected to relocate to an alternate site for the duration of the programme. However, consideration will be given for extenuating circumstances.

Sites: Different training sites are available each year on a rotational basis. The location of the training placement for each individual will be determined after interview based on the fellows' learning needs and work interests, and on performance at interview.

Full time: The fellowship must be completed full time.

Travel: Training within or outside the UK may necessitate week-long residential stays. Fellows may also have the opportunity to undertake national projects and international missions.

Previous FETP: We would not consider applications from those that have already completed an advanced FETP programme.

Other Information

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

Applicants are strongly advised to read the instruction on how to complete the application and use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

For further details relating to this post, please refer to the accompanying Job Description and Person Specification and the UKHSA website on Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP).

Successful applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start date (11 September 2025). The UKFETP cannot provide sponsorship.

For an informal discussion, please contact the UKFETP office at fetp@ukhsa.gov.uk. Additionally, a Q&A live event will be held on Thursday 5 December at 2pm during which information about the FETP and the application process will be provided with an opportunity to ask any questions. Participation in this meeting will be anonymous.

To join the meeting follow the link below: If link does not open for you please contact the office on fetp@ukhsa.gov.uk.

FETP Fellowship 2025 Pre-Application Event

Invitations to interview will be sent out in mid March 2025. Interviews will be held in North West London on 31 March 2025. Successful candidates will begin the programme on 11th September 2025.

Closing Date: 23.55 22/12/2024

Hybrid Working

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our lab/office in various UKHSA offices, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, and Public Health Wales. 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). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance

Successful candidates for this role must pass an enhanced 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 is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Medical degree MBBS or equivalent qualification
• Combined Infection Certificate Examination (CICE)

Desirable

• Masters' degree or PhD in a scientific discipline with a significant health (human or animal), public health, epidemiology or data analysis component or Diploma in Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• MRCP (UK)

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Completed Core Infection Training Years 1 & 2
• Demonstrable experience of working within Public Health, Infectious diseases, Clinical microbiology with a public health microbiology component or Infection prevention control, Health Protection or epidemiology for at least 18 months by the date of application deadline
• Understanding principles of public health in relation to infection and outbreak management
• Experience of managing data, undertaking basic analysis and presenting information in reports and presentations
• Experience of audit/evaluation or research activities

Skills / Capabilities / Behaviours

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Able to undertake analysis of health datasets
• Be able to demonstrate a keen interest in applied epidemiology, such as evidenced by career progression and/or CPD to date
• Be able to demonstrate how the UKFETP will be of benefit to them and their career path
• Be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for being in a learner role and receiving supervision and feedback

Equality and Diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Interpreting Data Skills

Essential

• Experience of interpreting and evaluating data in response to an evolving situation or incident response
• Able to make sense of complex information and imperfect data to draw meaningful conclusions

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.
Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency
Address

Various in UKHSA Offices, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, Public Health Wales

London NW9 5EQ, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, Bristol BS1 6EH, Birmingham B2 4BH, Leeds LS2 7UE, Liverpool L3 1DS

London

NW9 5EQ

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