About the role
We are seeking a Public Health Officer to join the recently restructured Public Health team in North Northamptonshire Council. Our Public Health team formed following a split in 2021 from the Northamptonshire County Council into two unitary councils. The emerging team are highly motivated and ambitious to work together and create a best-in-class standard in all that they do.
The role supports the critical drugs and alcohol portfolio and is a key role in supporting the Public Health Team to operate a robust system/process for managing alerts received in relation to warnings on potent/contaminated drugs circulating in the county.
This close working relationship will enable the role holder to provide essential support within Public Health but will also enable tremendous personal growth in relation to being at the heart of a national strategic programme. A remarkable opportunity to be part of a significant programme of work.
‘From Harm to Hope’ is the 10-year National Drug Strategy and places the responsibility on Councils to reduce drug and alcohol related deaths.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) strongly recommends that Local Authorities create and embed a Local Drug Information System (LDIS) as this provides rapid responses to the drug alerts and non-fatal overdose incidents. These responses produce vital, high-quality, and effective information to reach key partners in a timely manner to prevent serious harm/death to children/adults living in across the county.
We are seeking to appoint a highly articulate individual who has broad experience in undertaking operational and project responsibilities and ideally has a background in Public Health or Local Authorities.
As a new team, we’re welcoming, open to new ideas and approaches and committed to investing in you and your development. The successful applicants will join our friendly and enthusiastic team committed to improving health and tackling health inequalities across all of Northamptonshire.
North Northamptonshire Council is committed to flexible and hybrid working, and we welcome discussions with potential applicants on working arrangements and schedule preference.
We would however anticipate that the successful candidate for this role will be present in the Kettering office (NN16 8TL) 1-2 days per week.
If you would like to discuss this role in more detail, please contact Kay King, Practitioner Drugs and Alcohol Portfolio, Kay.King@northnorthants.gov.uk
Interviews expected to be held on Wednesday 15th May.
What will you be doing?
Key Responsibilities
You will join our Public Health team and will be an invaluable resource for the management of key information regarding combating drugs and alcohol risks across Northamptonshire and the fight against health and wellbeing deterioration, as a result of substance addiction.
You will be the operational system owner of the new Public Health Drug and Alcohol related Death Review and Surveillance System as well as supporting the Local Drug Information System (LDIS) process.
You will oversee the integrity, accuracy and completeness of the data contained within the systems under your control. You will be assigned duties to support and co-ordinate analysis, organise and support review meetings with our partners to ensure that relevant drug and alcohol deaths are discussed, and subsequent learning can be used to prevent any further and unnecessary deaths.
These duties could range from supporting the delivery of improved outcomes for residents via small projects, working independently with other cross functional teams, assist in the preparation and review of statistical information, and ensure internal and external communication is of the highest standard.
We are looking for someone who can work independently and with good interpersonal and time management skills. You must be able to evidence working with diverse stakeholders and demonstrate where you have the ability to communicate with clarity and enthusiasm to create rapport and build trust and confidence.
We need someone to ensure reliable, accurate and timely information is available at all times to inform decision making and demonstrates initiative, confidence, and personal responsibility for action
The team will be pleased to consider development opportunities for the right candidate(s) as we are out to spot top talent through our shortlisting and interview processes.
About you
Please refer to job description for full details
Experience
- Ability to demonstrate initiative, confidence, and personal responsibility for taking action.
- Capable of managing essential information in a cohesive and accurate manner and working under strict time pressures, as the role requires
- Excellent interpersonal and time management skills with the ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to ensure that reliable, accurate and timely information is available at all times to inform decision making.
- Embrace new ideas and adjust work priorities in line with business demands.
Our benefits
We offer:
- a competitive salary
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
- generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
- agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
About us
We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.
Our priorities are:
- helping people live active fulfilled lives
- caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities
- enabling a thriving and successful economy
- leading on a green and sustainable environment
- ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live
- providing modern public services
Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.
Your differences make us different - Achieve Together.
Attached documents
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