About the role
We are looking for a Practitioner in Public Health to join the Public Health team in North Northamptonshire Council. This newly formed Public Health team, following a split in 2022 from the Northamptonshire County Council into two unitary councils, is highly dynamic and building a team that is ambitious and aims to be best in class.
The Practitioner role in Public Health provides a rare opportunity to work directly with the newly recruited and inspirational Consultant and Deputy Director of Public Health to help shape the innovative ways of working, to frame the value of public health within the council, to prioritise prevention interventions, as well as build strong and trusted partnerships with voluntary and statutory organisations across Northamptonshire. North Northamptonshire Public Health is dedicated to working with local communities and this role will support us in taking an asset-based approach to reducing health inequalities and improving health outcomes for North Northamptonshire residents.
We are looking to appoint a Practitioner in our new Public Health structure with broad expertise to provide system knowledge and technical advice across a range of public health areas. Each Practitioner we recruit is expected to lead on a specific portfolio but will also work with the wider team to contribute to the broader public health agenda.
North Northamptonshire Council is committed to flexible and hybrid working, and we welcome discussions with potential applicants on working arrangements including part time working and job shares. In applying for this role please state your preference in terms of portfolios which we will review accordingly. We welcome candidates at any stage of their Practitioner career – newly qualified or experienced.
If you would like to discuss this role in more detail, please contact Helene Denness, Deputy Director of Public Health, Helene.Denness@northnorthants.gov.uk
The closing date is the 3rd November 2023 and interviews will be held during the week of 20th November 2023.
What will you be doing?
Note: There are several possible portfolios that are in scope for this Practitioner role, and we will therefore be looking at your experience, your ability and of course an understanding of your preference. The Practitioner portfolios in scope are:
- Health Protection and External Hazards
- Children and Adults Health Improvement
- Public Health Intelligence and Healthcare Public Health
Principle Responsibilities
You will be expected to fully manage and commission evidence-based health projects, in conjunction with partners, that deliver improvements in health that are strategic priorities for Public Health
You will guide and advise decision makers across the Public and Community Sectors to support the embedding of health design factors in the early stages of policies and programmes
In managing the impact of public health outcomes, you will provide subject matter expertise to inform the commissioning and/or decommissioning of providers to ensure maximum value
To support Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and from that develop a local understanding of health needs and subsequent gaps in evidence-based services
You may be required to represent public health in multi-agency forums, such as local Health and Wellbeing forums or relevant safeguarding boards. This may also require you to prepare and deliver presentations conveying complex and sensitive data into a form that is simple and understandable to the relevant audience
To work with the Consultant and Deputy Director of Public Health to build innovative and meaningful ways of interpreting and developing the Public Health strategy and aspiring to be best in class
About you
Education, Qualifications and Training
Essential Criteria
- Degree or Postgraduate qualification relevant to Public Health (e.g., master’s degree in public health related subject such as master’s in public health (MPH)) or evidence of equivalent qualifications
- Either have or working towards Practitioner level registration with UKPHR
Desirable Criteria
- Postgraduate degree (master’s level) OR significant experience in a post related post to public health e.g., either in local authority, NHS or voluntary sector
- Prince2 Practitioner level
Experience and Knowledge
Essential Criteria
- Able to demonstrate a good level of knowledge and understanding of local authority and NHS policies, statutory duties, and responsibilities
- Able to demonstrate understanding of public health practices, health promotion, health care evaluation and knowledge of evidence based public health practices
- Able to demonstrate experience of working with NHS, local authorities, or voluntary and community sectors cultures and structures
- Able to demonstrate working collaboratively with multi-agency groups, including being able to demonstrate responding positively to the challenges of working in a multi-agency environment which may include leading or chairing a multi-agency group
- Able to demonstrate the ability to contribute to the Public Health strategy and policies including long term planning plus health improvement strategies and plans
Desirable Criteria
- Able to demonstrate knowledge of data analysis and application in reports and evidence reviews
- Sufficiently adaptable to be able to work in areas of ongoing change
Ability and Skills
Essential Criteria
- Good planning and organisational skills to work on concurrent projects and deliver within timescales agreed thereby demonstrating working to deadlines
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills to deal with the expected practicalities of what can be achieved.
- Excellent oral and written communication.
- Ability to present complex information to groups in a simplified and relevant way, which may include multi-agency senior stakeholders.
Desirable Criteria
- Able to act independently, with minimal intervention from the line manager
- Recent experience of successfully line managing staff
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.
We are undertaking consultation with the Trade Unions on terms and conditions and the future NNC pay structure and during this time are appointing new employees on interim spot salaries. You will be advised of the outcome and any impact on your role once this work is complete.
Attached documents
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