INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.
Job title: Health Improvement Specialist (Healthy Living and Public Mental Health)
Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Merrion House (hybrid working)
An exciting opportunity has arisen at Leeds Public Health.
Our ambition is for Leeds to be the best city in the UK; one that is compassionate and caring, with a strong economy, tackling poverty and reducing inequalities. We want to be a healthy city for all ages, where people who are the poorest improve their health the fastest. Leeds Public Health plays a major part in delivering this vision as part of the highly collaborative approach of ‘Team Leeds’, and we have the ideal partners and assets in Leeds to succeed.
About you
To be considered for this Health Improvement Specialistrole you will need to have:
- An undergraduate degree
- Good knowledge of multi–agency working
- Good knowledge of Health Needs Assessment / Health Equity Audits
- Good data analysis and presentation skills
- Good team working
- A strong commitment to addressing health inequalities
About the role
Are you passionate about improving mental health and wellbeing at a population level? Leeds City Council is seeking an experienced and dynamic Health Improvement Specialist to deliver and support innovative public health programmes. This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people across Leeds, with a particular focus on Public Mental Health and Healthy Living.
Public Health is looking for an innovative and enthusiastic person with the experience and knowledge to support the development and implementation public health programmes across the city.
This post will require collaborative working and engagement with local stakeholders, effective communication skills and experience of managing varied and sometimes emotive programmes of work
The successful candidate will:
- Have experience of assessing evidence bases and using them to inform work programmes
- Have experience of implementing and evaluating a range of Public Health and Wellbeing programmes, working with a variety of professional groups/partners
- Have the ability to plan, arrange, co-ordinate and facilitate meetings with a range of stakeholders
- Have experience of working in diverse communities and have knowledge and understanding of health inequalities
This post is located in the Healthy Living and Public Mental Health Team in the Public Health function in Leeds City Council. Although the post holder can be deployed on any of the above work areas, they will have an initial focus on Public Mental Health programmes including suicide prevention and protective factors and Healthy Living programmes including healthy settings and workplaces.
The post holder will help support commissioning of evidenced based programmes of work that reduce health inequalities and support the delivery high quality projects.
Initial priorities will be:
- Support the continuous development, implementation and evaluation of public health programmes and commissioned services e.g. interventions to promote good health and wellbeing at work, training for people working in housing and the suicide prevention grants programme.
- Work with partners to develop and deliver targeted interventions to reduce the harms associated with problem gambling.
- Develop and deliver work to champion and coordinate training which may include mental health, key messaging in healthy lifestyles and suicide prevention.
- Support work to commission new services to reduce inequalities.
- Facilitate and contribute to a range of multi-agency meetings to provide public health input and expertise.
- Analyse data, intelligence and evidence to support the development of public health programmes and to influence wider public health priorities.
- Engage with communities, voluntary sector partners, and people with lived experience to co-produce and co-design approaches and interventions.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (please note that you will be required to spend regular time in the office in addition to home working)
- A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
How to apply
Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Judith Fox 0113 37 88538 or Rachel Buckley 0113 37 85804 or email judith.fox@leeds.gov.ukor rachel.buckley@leeds.gov.uk
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job purpose
To contribute and advise on the implementation of specialist local health improvement programmes ensuring the implementation of Public Health policies, strategies and work programmes which includes developing and maintaining public health information and support structures.
The post holder will have specific responsibility for developing and implementing a range of initiatives in relation to the full spectrum of health and wellbeing.
The post aims to actively work to address health inequalities within Leeds.
The post holder will also be required to facilitate/lead multi-agency public health group work; community based health needs assessments and provide public health related training to a range of staff and community groups.
Responsibilities
- Support the continuous development, implementation and evaluation of public health work.
- Facilitate the implementation of health and wellbeing programmes.
- Implement and monitor contracts with partners.
- Analyse and evaluate complex health data and effectiveness of public health initiatives and programmes, identifying and assessing alternative approaches.
- Develop, continually review and update action plans taking account of local and national policy and guidance.
- Support delivery of programmes to raise awareness and increase early detection in relation to the health and wellbeing of people of the specified locality or topic.
- Lead on the development of systems to ensure the sharing of best practice between the services.
- Work in partnership with other council directorates and external organisations such as ICB’s and third sector to ensure optimum quality of service delivery.
- Maintain stock and resource levels within own function.
- Authorise payments for goods and services required for public health work.
- Monitor budget expenditure.
- To facilitate and develop marketing strategies to continuously raise awareness of health and wellbeing needs.
- Project manage public health programmes.
- Contribute to the preparation of reports, presentations and other promotional material.
- Actively work to ensure that targets and outcomes seek to reduce inequalities.
- Proactively identify opportunities to work in partnership to deliver public health work programmes.
- Participate in team meetings, providing information to members as appropriate.
- Participate in the appraisal and personal development planning process.
- Provide training, development and mentorship to a range of Public Health areas.
- Regularly access evidence bases and use them to ensure that work programmes are informed by current evidence of effectiveness.
- Participate in and support Health Impact Assessments and Health Equity Audits and public involvement surveys.
- Identify opportunities to promote, disseminate good practice through a variety of methods, including published journals.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Freedom to Act
- To be guided by local, national, and international innovation and initiatives of relevance to public health.
Additional information - The responsibilities of the post holder will need to be flexible as the role evolves.
- Attend relevant study/development opportunities.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade which may be required from time to time.
Relationships
Local
Leeds City Council staff
Elected members Leeds Office of the Integrated Care Board
GP practices
Other independent contractors in Leeds
Local residents and communities
Voluntary Community and Faith Sectors
NHS Provider Trusts
Leeds Universities
Local Media
Sub-Regional/Regional
UK Health Security Agency Yorkshire and the Humber Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in Yorkshire and Humber
NHS England West Yorkshire Area Team
Other academic institutes across the region.
National/International
Department of Health
UK Health Security Agency Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
NHS England
Faculty of Public Health
World Health Organisation
Communicates and has contact with:
Other NHS organisations and Public Health Teams within North of England
Qualifications
- Degree
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills required
- Strong IT skills – Microsoft, internet and e-mail.
Surveillance and Assessment - Skills in the interpretation and analysis of data.
Assessing the evidence - Ability to collect and collate evidence from different sources.
- Ability to apply evidence within role.
Leadership and collaborative working - Ability to embrace working with culturally diverse communities and partnerships.
- Ability to plan, arrange, co-ordinate and facilitate meetings with a range of stakeholders.
- Ability to write reports and other materials for varying purposes and audiences.
- Presentation skills.
- Good time management and ability to prioritise workload.
- Good communication skills both verbal and written.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work both on own initiative/self-motivated and as part of a team.
Knowledge/qualifications required
- Degree.
- Knowledge of project management.
- Engaged in continuing professional development and reflective practice.
- Knowledge of multi-agency partnership working.
- Knowledge and understanding of health inequalities.
- Knowledge of public policy and political awareness.
- Knowledge of current strategic landscape public health operates within.
Experience required
Assessing the Evidence
- Experience of evaluating public health initiatives.
- Experience of assessing evidence bases and using them to inform work programmes.
Leadership and collaborative working - Experience of working in diverse communities.
- Experience of working in partnership.
- Experience of working with a variety of professional groups.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- Commitment to improving health and reducing health inequalities, public health ethics and to fostering a learning environment.
- Able to work flexibly-hours and location, and willingness to travel.
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Skills required
- Ability to manage budgets.
- Negotiation and influencing skills.
- Ability to deliver training.
Knowledge/qualifications required
- Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health or Health Promotion.*
Experience required
Surveillance and Assessment
- Experience of undertaking Health Needs Assessments and Health Equity Audits.
Leadership and collaborative working - Experience of working in another sector e.g. health or voluntary.
- Experience of delivering training.
Policy and strategy - Experience of supporting the implementation of policies and strategies within own area of work.
*Please note we are aware Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health or Health Promotion may have different titles. If you are unsure if your Post Graduate Diploma is equivalent to a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health or Health Promotion please contact the recruiting officer to discuss.
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