Emergency Preparedness Resilience & Response Officer
Emergency Preparedness Resilience & Response Officer
An exciting opportunity to join the NHS Wales Performance & Improvement Emergency Preparedness Resilience & Response (EPRR) team has opened.
Would you enjoy working in a team that prepares for and responds to emergency situations across NHS Wales? The successful candidate will be an essential member of the team and will be responsible for the support, coordination and operational delivery of the teams EPRR work programme, including seeking assurance of capability across NHS Wales.
Due to the nature and sensitivity of the documentation that the post-holder will have access to, the successful candidate will be required to complete additional vetting as part of the recruitment. Details will be discussed at interview, or you can contact the named point of contact on this advert prior to applying or attending the interview.
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more details including essential and desirable requirements of the job role.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist input within defined national EPRR workstreams, leading operational delivery of assurance, audit and continuous improvement including training of emergency preparedness across NHS Wales.
Works collaboratively with NHS Wales organisations, Welsh Government (WG) and partner agencies to deliver national training and EPRR priorities, policies and programmes.
Lead operational developments to implement robust arrangements across NHS Wales to respond to any type of major incident and participate in a 24/7 on‑call rota.
About us
NHS Wales Performance & Improvement (formerly the NHS Wales Executive) has an important and valuable role in the delivery of key Welsh Government priorities:
To support NHS Wales to deliver better health services for patients and the public and to support Ministers to hold NHS Wales to account for the provision of health services. Since its inception in April 2023, strong foundations have been put in place within NHS Wales Performance & Improvement (NHS P&I) – including a more joined up and informed approach between policy development and operational NHS delivery, and improved coordination and collaboration across whole systems and pathways. Building on this foundation, NHS P&I aims to be an acknowledged centre of excellence in its field, efficient and responsive to the needs of both NHS Wales and Ministers, supporting best practice, and streamlining accountability.
NHS P&I will support the NHS by providing:
- Improvement services
- Value and sustainability support
- Clinical expertise in service improvement, drawing on the best in Wales
NHS P&I will support Ministers by providing:
- Performance management support
- Planning advice
- Advice to Welsh Government on use of powers of directions and intervention
Job responsibilities
Lead the development and maintenance of systems, reporting tools and assurance processes to monitor NHS Wales compliance with EPRR legislation, standards and frameworks.
Analyse and interpret complex information to support EPRR audit, assurance and compliance activity, producing formal reports and improvement actions, and exercising judgement to escalate concerns and recommend corrective actions where there are complex or competing priorities to senior leadership groups. Review and quality assurance of allocated set areas of NHS Wales capability plans and associated national work programmes relating to major incidents, specific national risks and high‑profile events.
Operate with autonomy within the NHS Wales EPRR structures, acting as the designated senior officer for assigned areas of national, regional and local workstreams, subgroups, including chairing meetings and driving delivery of agreed actions and priorities.
Implement improvement and corrective actions arising from assurance, audit and review processes across defined EPRR portfolios.
Lead development and implementation of systems and processes with impact across the NHS Wales EPRR response function and participate in the 24/7 on‑call rota, exercising judgement in response to escalated incidents and formal incident declarations.
Develop and implement national EPRR protocols and response arrangements to support NHS Wales readiness and coordinated emergency response capability.
Lead development and delivery of EPRR exercising and testing programmes to assure effectiveness of NHS Wales response and communication arrangements.
Provide specialist advice for implementation and consistent application of national EPRR policies, standards and guidance across NHS Wales.
Lead areas of development to enhance national resilience and response capability through analysis of audits, debriefs, exercises and risk information, recommending improvement actions across NHS Wales and partner organisations.
Provide specialist advice and guidance within command‑and‑control structures during critical events and major incidents, exercising judgement in complex situations, challenging decision making where appropriate and ensuring accurate incident records are maintained.
Work with Health Boards, Trusts and Welsh Government to provide professional advice, challenging non‑compliance and exercising judgement to escalate concerns and recommend improvement actions.
Provide specialist advice on complex risks and coordinate the NHS Wales EPRR risk register, supporting identification, escalation and mitigation of risks within defined areas of responsibility.
Lead delivery of contingency planning activities and deliver NHS Wales preparedness and response arrangements for high‑profile events.
Provide specialist operational input in the production of Welsh Government assurance reports and act as a key source of professional EPRR advice and support to NHS Wales organisations.
Lead structured debrief and lessons identified processes arising from incidents and exercises, analysing complex information from audits, for the implementation and monitoring of improvement actions across NHS Wales.
Provide specialist EPRR and business continuity advice to support wider programmes and initiatives across NHS Wales P&I.
Deliver defined national EPRR workstreams, translating strategic direction set by the EPRR Manager into operational plans, milestones and assurance outputs.
Acting on behalf of the NHS Wales Performance and Improvement (NHS P&I) Heads of EPRR Managers, lead and direct the development and implementation of national policies / plans, EPRR standards and guidance for all NHS Wales organisations.
Work with a high degree of autonomy, planning and delivering work within an agreed national EPRR portfolio, making day‑to‑day operational decisions without routine managerial oversight.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
- Degree qualification or possess equivalent experience, skills, training and knowledge.
- Post graduate diploma in Health Emergency Planning (or equivalent knowledge and experience) as required.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of legislation related to Civil Contingencies, Emergency Planning and Business Continuity acquired through training and/or experience.
- Recognised qualification in Emergency Planning.
- Knowledge of related legislation: Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations, Health And Safety At Work (HASAW) Act.
- Have attended a certified course by the Business Continuity Institute (BCI).
- Prince Project Management or equivalent.
- Certificate of completing and/or competency of an accredited course in Command & Control of major incidents.
- Loggist trained.
Experience
- Evidence of partnership working across a range of disciplines/agencies.
- Experienced in developing policies and procedures.
- Evidence and experience of preparing reports/briefing papers, both internal and external.
- Evidence of continuous professional development.
- Experience of leading and managing staff.
- Experience of organising and facilitating meetings, including developing agendas and note taking.
- Experience of managing confidential/sensitive information and an understanding of how this should be shared and stored.
- Experience working in health care or a Category 1/2 organisation.
- Experience of participating in debriefs/lessons identified processes.
- Experience of dealing with complicated situations or responding to incidents.
- Experience of establishing and administering databases, including interrogation of data and presentation of information.
- Experience of operating as a loggist in emergency situations/incident rooms.
Skills and Attributes
- Excellent communication and analytical skills.
- Highly developed written and presentation skills.
- Proficient planning and organisational skills and capacity to manage disparate activities simultaneously.
- Able to motivate staff effectively.
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and reprioritise due to unforeseen incidents.
- Ability to foster and maintain positive working relationships.
- Practical approach with attention to detail for example to legal requirements and corporate governance.
- Ability to work under pressure and own initiative to meet strict deadlines.
- Ability to keep accurate records and write concise, accurate notes and correspondence.
- Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft software, such as Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, including excellent typing, and document formatting skills with an ability to produce accurate informative reports, minutes etc.
- Welsh Language Skills at level 1, e.g., introduce yourself, greet someone in person, answer the phone with a Welsh scripted greeting.
- Ability to demonstrate understanding and application of our workplace values, together with the underpinning behaviours identified for success in this role.
- Experience of chairing meetings.
- Experience of developing, planning and delivery of training / exercises to staff groups.
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.
Ynysbridge Road, Gwaelod‑y‑garth, Cardiff CF15 9SS
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