Emergency Planning Officer

NHS; Brighton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS community service provider is seeking an Emergency Planning Officer to support the delivery of its Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response agenda. This role requires excellent communication skills, experience in emergency planning, and the ability to maintain and develop business continuity plans. You'll work across various teams and contribute to essential training and incident response plans. A flexible and supportive working environment is provided, alongside opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Excellent training and development opportunities

Accredited Living Wage Employer

Qualifications

• Experience in Emergency Planning and Business Continuity.
• Experience with multi-agency and partnership working.
• Excellent IT skills in Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Support development and delivery of emergency planning.
• Assist in maintaining the Trust risk register.
• Support training for staff in Emergency and Business Continuity Planning.
• Prepare compliance reports for internal and external use.

Skills

Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)

Ability to establish sound working relationships

Excellent time management and prioritization

Knowledge of IT systems (Word, Excel)

Ability to analyse risks and threats

Education

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Post Graduate Diploma or Management qualification

Tools

Technical communication systems knowledge

Job description

Job Summary

a) The post holder will have an understanding of Emergency Planning and Business Continuity and be able to support the Emergency Planning Lead in the delivery of the Trust's Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response (EPRR) agenda, ensuring that Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust fulfils its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, NHS England EPRR Framework 2015, Business Continuity Standard ISO 22301, the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and other government planning requirements.

b) The post holder has responsibility Trust wide to ensure the development and delivery of the organisation's emergency planning and resilience function and improve standards of emergency preparedness across the organisation.

c) The post holder will contribute to the management, coordination, development and delivery of service business continuity plans and incident response plans via the Trust Resilience Group and will be heavily involved in the delivery of the EPRR training and exercise programme for the Trust.

d) The post holder, in partnership with the Emergency Planning Lead will represent the Trust within multi agency emergency planning committees.

Main duties of the job

• Support in maintaining the Trust risk register by analysing and interpreting data to understand the threats to and vulnerabilities of its critical services.
• Maintain emergency plans to support reducing, controlling and mitigate the effects of incidents that may impact upon the trust.
• Assist in the delivery of the Trusts Business Continuity Management System, with a particular focus on supporting teams to review their Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Business Continuity Plans (BCP). Support the Emergency Planning Lead to review the Trust-wide BIA and BCP.
• Assist in the delivery of training sessions in line with the Trusts Training Needs Analysis to variety of SCFT staff, including the On Call team, Trust Executives and incident support staff, in relation to Emergency and Business Continuity Planning.
• Support the Emergency Planning Team in developing and delivering Table‑top, Live‑play and Communications Exercises to staff across the Trust, and multi‑agency partners, to ensure the effectiveness of Trust plans and procedures. Attend multi‑agency Exercises across the NHS Sussex system and SRF.
• Prepare reports for internal and external use to provide updates on Emergency Planning work‑streams. This includes compliance reports for Training and Exercising and Business Continuity.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing.
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex.
• Flexible working options: part‑time, flexi‑time, annualised hours, and flexi‑retirement.
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities.
• Accredited Living Wage Employer – fair pay for all staff.
• Cost‑effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton.
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks.
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust.

Our values

Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

Qualifications

• Essential: Educated to degree level or equivalent, Post Graduate Diploma, Management qualification or equivalent.
• Desirable: Emergency planning qualification e.g. Health Emergency Planning or equivalent relevant experience.
• Essential Experience: Experience in Emergency Planning, Business Continuity; experience in multi‑agency and partnership working with other NHS Trusts, Local Authority and Social Services.
• Desirable Experience: Proven record of planning, delivery and participation in Emergency Planning/Major Incident/Business Continuity exercises; proven record of planning, delivery of training in Emergency Planning and Major Incident/Business Continuity response.
• Essential Skills and Knowledge: Excellent communication skills (written and verbal); ability to give clear instruction; ability to communicate with and establish sound working relationships with multi‑agency partners; experience of policy and procedure and plan development; excellent time management and prioritisation; ability to work with minimal supervision; ability to prepare and provide clear and concise reports; ability to continually analyse risks and threats; ability to review and analyse the Trust's emergency response plans; excellent IT skills in Word, Excel and use of internet; knowledge and familiarity of technical communication systems including mobile and mobile PC working.
• Desirable Skills and Knowledge: Sound understanding of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, NHS England Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) Framework 2015, NHS England Core Standards for Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response, The Health and Social Care Act 2012 and other government planning requirements.
• Other Desirable: Ability to drive.

Post details

Date posted: 22 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: 6

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year, per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 150-GM2301-COR

Job locations: Brighton General Hospital, Brighton, BN2 3EW

Employer details

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton General Hospital, Brighton, BN2 3EW

Certification and Disclosure

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a Disclosure and Barring Service check is required.

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.

UK Visas and Immigration website.

Guidance for overseas applicants regarding criminal records checks.