Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response Practitioner

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Bournemouth is seeking an Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response Practitioner to ensure effective emergency responses and maintain essential services. Candidates should excel in communication and organizational skills, with experience in emergency planning and risk assessment. This role offers a chance to make a significant impact in healthcare, supporting staff and patients alike.

Qualifications

• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to engage confidently with colleagues at all levels.
• Able to make sound decisions in fast-moving situations.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain emergency preparedness plans and policies.
• Coordinate training and exercises for staff.
• Provide expert advice during emergencies.
• Conduct risk assessments and manage the risk register.
• Liaise with partners to ensure coordinated emergency planning.
• Monitor compliance with EPRR standards.
• Maintain accurate records and produce reports.
• Manage EPRR function administration.

Skills

Organisational skills

Strong communication

Calm under pressure

Adaptability

Job description

Overview

Are you passionate about making a real difference in healthcare? University Hospitals Dorset is seeking a dedicated Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) Practitioner to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will help ensure our Trust is ready to respond effectively to emergencies, protect patients and staff, and maintain essential services during challenging times.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain emergency preparedness plans, policies, and procedures in line with NHS England and statutory requirements.
• Coordinate and deliver training and exercises for staff across all departments to build resilience and awareness.
• Support incident response by providing expert advice and operational support during emergencies, major incidents, and business continuity events.
• Conduct risk assessments and contribute to the Trust\'s risk register, ensuring potential threats are identified and mitigated.
• Liaise with internal and external partners, including local authorities, emergency services, and other NHS organisations, to ensure a coordinated approach to emergency planning.
• Monitor compliance with EPRR standards and contribute to audits, reviews, and improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate records and produce reports for senior management and regulatory bodies as required, ensuring compliance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and NHS England EPRR guidelines, fulfilling the Trust\'s role as a Category 1 responder.
• Manage the administration of the UHD EPRR function; contribute to the development and implementation of business continuity and incident response plans; support the annual EPRR core standards assurance process; and coordinate / deliver EPRR exercises and staff training.
• Undertake emergency preparedness and business continuity tasks as delegated by the Head of EPRR, including responding to emergencies and service disruptions.
• Regular travel across all UHD sites is required to effectively manage and respond to EPRR needs across the organisation.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Organised and proactive, with excellent attention to detail.
• A strong communicator, able to engage confidently with colleagues at all levels and external partners.
• Calm under pressure, able to make sound decisions in fast-moving situations.
• Adaptable and resourceful, with a commitment to continuous improvement.

Interview Date

Interview Date: 20 November 2025

About UHD

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with \"university hospital\" status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m. We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £250m estates programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you\'ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we\'re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work. We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women\'s Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group. As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview. If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women\'s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.