Medical Officer

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The post holder will report to the Occupational Health Consultant, and will work closely with the Occupational Health Senior Management Team to provide a comprehensive occupational health service.

The main duties of the post will include: • assisting in providing advice and guidance to all Government Departments, Executive Agencies including the NI Prison Service and other public bodies on their occupational health, safety and hygiene responsibilities; • medical examinations in Belfast, and occasionally centres elsewhere in Northern Ireland, of employees referred to OHS by client bodies, including in relation to recruitment, fitness for post, health surveillance and sickness absence. In addition to medical examinations, face to face and remote consultations are also provided; • providing pension medical advice on cases referred to OHS by Civil Service Pensions; • providing medical advice on cases referred to the OHS by a range of other agencies (currently under review); • working with the OHS multi-disciplinary team in promoting and maintaining an occupational health service for the NICS including participation in health promotion activities; and • collaborating with client bodies in assisting them to meet their occupational health needs.

This list is not exhaustive; other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time TERMS AND CONDITIONS There are currently two permanent, full time vacancies. However, we are open to discussions about alternative work patterns that support a healthy work-life balance and applications will be considered from candidates wishing to work reduced hours. Further appointments may be made from this competition should NICS positions become vacant which require the same eligibility criteria and have similar duties and responsibilities.

Location These posts will be based at Bruce Street, Belfast. The NICS operates a Hybrid Working Policy which allows staff to work between the office and remote working locations/home, based on business needs. While OHS provides a front line service which in the main requires attendance in the medical suite an element of remote work/home working can be considered.

Salary Salary will be within the range £65,409 - £71,353 within which pay progression will be performance related. Starting salary will be at the minimum of the scale. If the successful candidate is an existing civil servant, normal pay on promotion/re-grading arrangements will apply.

Pensions The NICS offers all employees an attractive pension package. You'll find further details on the Civil Service Pensions (Northern Ireland) website at www.finance-ni.gov.uk/civilservicepensions-ni

Holidays In addition to public and privilege holidays, currently 12 days, the annual leave allowance will be 25 days, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.

Hours of Work The normal conditioned hours of work are full-time (37 hours net) Monday to Friday. Most offices work flexi-time. However, the NICS offers a range of flexibilities to enable a better work-life balance for employees. It is envisaged that some element of home working and / or remote working may be possible in line with the NICS Hybrid Working policy and business need. Travel Access to a form of transport will be required in order to fulfil the responsibilities of this post. Travel throughout Northern Ireland will be required.

Vetting An appointment will be dependent on the individual satisfying the vetting requirements for the post. The level of vetting required for this post is Counter Terrorism Check (CTC).

Probation Confirmation of appointment will be dependent upon the satisfactory completion of a probationary period of 1 year. If performance, conduct or attendance during this period is not satisfactory the appointment may be terminated.

CONDITION OF APPOINTMENT (see Eligibility Criterion 3) Successful candidates will be required to attain Diploma in Occupational Medicine through the Faculty of Occupational Medicine within 5 years of appointment to the post. Candidates must be available to undertake the necessary course of study which will include a requirement to undertake some work and activity during their own time. Failure to achieve Diploma in Occupational Medicine through the Faculty of Occupational Medicine within a maximum of 5 years of appointment or, withdrawal from the training route at any stage, may result in the termination of your appointment.

Failure to Complete Course of Study Where you decide not to complete the course, you will be required to refund costs on a pro-rata basis, except in exceptional circumstances.

Career Development The NICS is committed to career development and offers attractive career prospects across a wide variety of roles and professions. Career development is an integral part of the performance management system. Personal Development Plans identify learning and development needs with a view to enhancing skills and capabilities. NI Civil Servants have access to a wide range of internal job opportunities, including secondments with external organisations and are encouraged and supported in proactively managing their career. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Applicants must, by the closing date for applications: 1. Currently hold, or be entitled to hold, full registration with the General Medical Council and a valid licence to practise medicine in the UK*. AND 2. Have the equivalent of at least 3 years' post full registration (or post entitlement to hold full registration) clinical experience**, gained within the last 7 years. AND 3. Be prepared to gain the Diploma in Occupational Medicine through the Faculty of Occupational Medicine within 5 years of appointment to the post.

*Candidates must obtain the necessary registration and valid licence by the date of appointment. **Clinical experience is defined as having worked in, for example, general practice, general medicine, surgery, psychiatry or occupational medicine. Equivalent professional membership: give details of the professional membership held and reasons why you consider it to be equivalent to the membership required. The onus is on you to provide the panel with details of the professional membership so that a well-informed decision can be made. You will be required to provide documentary evidence of your professional membership at interview so please ensure you have these readily available.

SHORTLISTING CRITERIA In addition applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, the following shortlisting criteria will be used: 1. (a) Possess a recognised qualification in Occupational Medicine. OR 1. (b) Possess a higher specialist medical qualification awarded by a Royal College, Faculty or University The selection process will consist of a competence based interview.

COMPETENCE BASED INTERVIEWS Selection panels will design questions to test the applicant’s knowledge and experience in each of the above areas and award marks accordingly. No notes or personal documentation may be brought into the interview room. 1. Leading and Communicating At all levels, effectiveness in this area is about leading from the front and communicating with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. It is about supporting principles of fairness of opportunity for all and a dedication to a diverse range of citizens. Marks available: 20 2. Making Effective Decisions Effectiveness in this area is about being objective, using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice. For all staff, it means showing clarity of thought, setting priorities, analysing and using evidence to evaluate options before arriving at well reasoned, justifiable decisions. Marks available: 20 3. Managing a Quality Service Effectiveness in this area is about being organised to deliver service objectives and striving to improve the quality of service, taking account of diverse customer needs and requirements. People who are effective plan, organise and manage their time and activities to deliver a high quality and efficient service, applying programme and project management approaches to support service delivery.

Marks available: 20 4. Delivering at Pace Effectiveness in this area means focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. For all staff, it is about working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way Marks available: 20 5. Collaborating and Partnering People skilled in this area create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the NICS, to help to achieve business objectives and goals. At all levels, it requires working collaboratively, sharing information and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. Marks available: 20 6. Changing and Improving People who are effective in this area are responsive, innovative and seek out opportunities to create effective change. For all staff, it is about being open to change, suggesting ideas for improvements to the way things are done, and working in ‘smarter’, more focused ways. Marks available: 20 Total Marks Available: 120 Overall Pass Mark: 72

INTERVIEWS It is intended that interviews for this post will take place in Bruce Street during week commencing 24th June 2024.

NICS COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK The selection process will assess candidates against the NICS competency framework at level 4.

The NICS competency framework sets out how all NICS employees should work. It puts the Civil Service values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality at the heart of everything they do, and it aligns to the three highlevel leadership behaviours that every civil servant needs to model as appropriate to their role and level of responsibility: Set Direction; Engage

People and Deliver Results. Competencies are the skills, knowledge and behaviours that lead to successful performance. The framework outlines ten competencies, which are grouped into three clusters. The competencies are intended to be discrete and cumulative, with each level building on the levels below i.e. a person demonstrating a competency at level 3 should be demonstrating levels 1 and 2 as a matter of course.