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Salary
This post is eligible for an additional pay supplement of up to £3,000 (pro rata) upon appointment. See below under “salary" for more details.
Job grade
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Type of role
Veterinary Services
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
Are you considering a change in your veterinary career?
Are you looking for a career with variety and flexibility in the work you do?
Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal health and welfare, protecting Great Britain from exotic notifiable diseases?
Many of the skills and competences already acquired in veterinary positions elsewhere will be applicable and valued in veterinary roles within APHA. Why not explore a change, a new veterinary path, one that can have far reaching impacts?
Why not join us and make a difference?
Career Transitions - working for APHA in field veterinary and Veterinary Investigation Officer roles - VSGD - Vets Stay Go Diversify
Job description
This Vet role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following:
Conduct disease investigations in farm animals and wildlife by conducting post-mortems and diagnostic sampling.
- Obtaining relevant history from vets and farmers for investigating disease and to provide data for disease surveillance
- Using laboratory testing for diagnosis or to rule out diseases
- Collating, reporting and discussing findings with veterinary clients, farmers and APHA colleagues
- Providing advice on diseases and making recommendations on disease control and prevention
- Conducting farm visits to investigate for possible new diseases, zoonoses or potential threats to the food chain
- Opportunity to work with other veterinary and industry stakeholders, participate in knowledge exchange and influence standards of animal health and welfare
- Conducting surveillance for notifiable disease, through sampling and gross diagnostic pathology
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who:
- Are aware of the UK farming industry and diseases of farmed animals
- Have an interest or further experience in diagnostic pathology
- Can engage with customers and stakeholders confidentially and professionally
- Can produce reports to communicate veterinary knowledge
- Can demonstrate an ability to maintain and assure appropriate levels of quality assurance for scientific evidence and advice
- Are capable of strategic thinking, with diagnostic, analytical and creative problem-solving abilities
You can also visit APHA's Veterinary Careers website for further information:
Home - Careers as an APHA Vet (aphavets.co.uk)
We are planning to run ‘Drop-in’ sessions on Monday 18th March from 6:30pm via MS Teams. For further details please email steve.jacklin@apha.gov.uk
Licences
Qualifications
Languages:
Must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to enable effective communication about veterinary topics with customers and colleagues and meet one of the following:
- have undertaken undergraduate veterinary training in English
- having a sufficient command of spoken and written English to effectively perform the role being undertaken by a public sector worker in a customer-facing role
- have achieved the following scores in the academic international English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application – Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7.
Memberships
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Applicable UK farm animal knowledge and farm animal veterinary experience
- Veterinary knowledge
- In-tray exercise
- Presentation demonstrating veterinary knowledge based on a given veterinary scenario.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA. Our benefits include generous annual leave, flexible working a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
Pro-rata salary and allowances if on a Job Share.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, a 750-word personal statement detailing your suitability as a Veterinary Investigation Officer.
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Farm animal knowledge and farm animal experience
- ‘In-tray’ exercise (prioritisation task)
- Short presentation on a given veterinary scenario
- Veterinary knowledge
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sift date will be held on 26th March 2024.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical Criteria and Strengths.
A presentation and additional exercise will also be assessed.
Interviews will be held in person at County Hall, Spetchly Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP on 8th & 9th of April 2024
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
This post offers the successful candidate the opportunity to receive an additional pay supplement of £3,000 upon appointment. There is a further pay supplement up to £3,000 which may be offered based on candidate’s annual competency assessment. These allowances do not form part of the Terms of Employment.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Medical
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
