Veterinary Investigation Officer (VIO) APHA Bury St Edmunds (ID2114)

This veterinary role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following:
+ Undertake 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., As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV-style template and a 750-word personal statement detailing your suitability as a Veterinary Investigation Officer.
If you would like to discuss the job in more detail with one of the veterinary staff, please contact steve.jacklin@apha.gov.uk.
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 will be held on Tuesday 26th November.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your Experience, Behaviours, Technical Criteria and Strengths.
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Farm animal knowledge and farm animal experience
+ ‘In-tray’ exercise (prioritisation task)
+ Veterinary knowledge
On arrival candidates will be given 30 minutes to prepare a short presentation on a given Veterinary Scenario, and prepare answers for the "in tray" exercise.
Interviews will be held in person at APHA Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 11th or Thursday 12th December. Confirmation will be given once sift results are released.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in applications
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be carefully reviewed and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn.
We understand that you might use artificial intelligence (AI) and other resources for your application; however, we also value the personal touch and urge applicants to write statements without the use of AI to emphasise their own unique experiences. Please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
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 possibility to work the remaining time flexibly from home, depending on work demands. 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 an additional pay supplement of £3,000 (pro rata) upon appointment. A a further pay supplement up to £3,000 may be offered, based on candidate’s annual competency assessment and any additional roles and responsibilities. These allowances do not form part of the Terms of Employment and may be withdrawn subject to funding.
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.
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.
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.
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
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., + 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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Do you want a role safeguarding standards of animal health and welfare, protecting Great Britain from exotic notifiable diseases?, + 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., Valid UK driving licence, Degree in Veterinary Medicine that is recognised in the UK

Memberships
Registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 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
or
• 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
or
• 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., 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 - The presentation is to last between 5 and 10 mins and will be delivered at the start of the interview.

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?

Alongside your salary of £41,220, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £11,941 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
In return for your dedication and hard work, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, and support as 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 generous contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme, reward vouchers and in-year bonuses. We also offer additional days off if accrued extra hours (flexi-time –if accumulated), three paid volunteering day per year. We also have a social committee who run team building and fun events at the Weybridge site.
Further details can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.
Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.