Public Health Practitioner

Job summary

You'll play a key role in addressing health inequalities and preventing ill-health in our communities through delivering ambitions within our new Public Health strategy. You'll support the operational development, implementation, commissioning, delivery and performance of new and expanding public health projects in topics such as falls prevention and physical activity across Hampshire in one of two available roles: 1. Public Health Practitioner Falls Prevention and Physical Activity, Permanent You'll play a pivotal role in ensuring we deliver against our priorities of working with partner organisations and services to reduce health inequalities and deliver targeted work for those most in need of support. You'll take a lead role for specific aspects as identified by the project leader, including our key priority to provide an equitable and evidence-based falls prevention offer. This will include working closely with Hampshire's Steady and Strong class instructors to maximise their offer.

2. Public Health Practitioner Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities, Temporary You'll play a key role in addressing health inequalities and preventing ill-health in our communities helping older adults to Live Longer Better, and supporting the health and wellbeing needs of adults with learning disabilities. You'll ensure there is a coordinated and evidence-based approach to project implementation and delivery with clear measurable outcomes.

Main duties of the job

For both roles, a degree in a relevant subject area is essential. Youll have specific knowledge on supporting the health needs of older people, be creative in your approach and be self-motivated with excellent communication, organisational and negotiating skills. Your sound understanding of public health principles and practice will enable you to operate with minimal supervision and ensure a coordinated and evidence-based approach to project implementation and delivery with clear measurable outcomes. With a proven record of managing multi-disciplinary projects and an ability to prioritise and work under pressure, youll use your excellent relationship building and influencing skills to effectively work with others to achieve change. In return, we are committed to your continued personal development and offer an extensive Benefits Package. We recognise the benefits hybrid working can bring, so youll be able to work remotely (with equipment provided) with office-based working in Winchester once a week. Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for this role

About us

The post holder will work as part of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Public Health Team. Youll support the operational development, implementation, commissioning, deliveryand performance of new and expanding public health projects in topics such as fallsprevention and physical activity across Hampshire.

We are part of the wider Hampshire and Isle of Wight Public Health Team who enjoy the challenge of working innovatively to ensure continuous improvement of public health initiatives and driving them through to completion.

This is an exciting time to join our well-established and dynamic Older People team where you will be supported to develop your career in Public Health.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Contribute to the development, delivery and evaluation of public health business plans. Provide technical input into the planning, commissioning and delivery of projects in the Council and in partnership with other stakeholders such as the voluntary sector, District/ Borough Councils and NHS. Contribute to programme implementation and lead specific public health projects such as Hampshires Steady and Strong Programme, Falls Friends and Live Longer Better to improve the health outcomes of our population in line with the Hampshire Public Health Strategy and other key policies. Contribute to the generation of, and use insight data to inform the development of targeted interventions with communities at high risk of poorer outcomes to reduce inequalities. Contribute to needs assessments, public consultation and equity audits. Develop and sustain key working relationships, providing public health input to partners in order to facilitate collaborative working with commissioners, providers, private sector and voluntary sector stakeholders. Support the identification of local priorities for falls prevention and physical activity in older adults and develop the action plans, policies and strategies to meet these priorities. Contribute to public health training, including those who have a public health focus to their jobs, and for multi-agency, community-based training events to promote and support the delivery of public health initiatives and projects. Deputise for Senior Public Health Practitioner or Principal as required. Contribute to local and national public health audits and research projects to develop evidence of effectiveness in a range of public health areas.

Key Tasks:

Strategy & Planning

Develop and maintain an understanding of the evidence base for falls prevention and physical activity in older adults, including priority issues within the local population. Develop projects /pilot interventions to address public health priorities for older adults and adults with disabilities. Support the development and delivery of strategies relevant to falls prevention and physical activity in older adults, and adults with disabilities. Advise the public health team on interpretation and implementation of key national policy and guidance. Contribute to reports and briefing papers to support the Hampshire County Council governance and decision-making processes. Be flexible to respond to the needs of the business including departmental-level initiatives. Lead on specific work streams as agreed with the Senior Public Health Practitioner and Public Health Consultant.

Performance and Quality Assurance

Contribute to the performance and quality management of local authority services and identification of areas for improvement ( through service level agreement review processes). Contribute to performance and quality assurance of other services as required. Contribute to reports and briefings on performance and quality for the Public Health Quality and Performance Meetings and Senior Management Team.

Partnerships and Innovation

Lead on the delivery of projects to improve outcomes for public health priorities through partnership working with key stakeholders. Develop and sustain key working relationships with partners and key stakeholders including providers, private and voluntary sector. Provide public health advice and support to key stakeholders and partners. Represent the Public Health Team as required at Regional and National network meetings and other relevant forums. Provide public health input to the development of relevant pathways.

Commissioning and Procurement

Contribute to evidence-based commissioning and procurement processes as required. Contribute to service reviews and audits; identify strengths, weaknesses and gaps and contribute to reports on these; support the development of proposals that ensure that services optimise public health outcomes for service users and provide value for money. Contribute to the range of health needs assessments in relation to falls prevention and physical activity in older adults as directed by the Public Health Senior Team. Contribute to the development of service specifications for services that are consistent with national guidance and the evidence base and effectively meet local need.

Service User Involvement and Engagement

Support the development of processes to engage with and involve residents and those with lived experience to contribute to shaping future service development and improve outcomes. Support the development of evidence-based outcome measures to be able to monitor, evaluate and report on the performance of public health services//projects and key public health outcomes against targets, indicators and feedback. Person Specification

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours

Essential

Some understanding of the political landscape/ understanding of how public health fits into the wider health and social care system. Strong experience working in a public health setting or relevant leisure or health and care system experience. Understanding of the wider determinants of health and inequalities and current public health policy related to older people. General understanding of public health and the concepts, principles and models underpinning health improvement. Project management skills. Ability to interpret datasets and performance data and present data clearly and concisely to audiences of all capabilities and attitudes. Understanding of evidence-based practice and research methods. Good communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to use effective influencing and negotiation skills with partners. Have particular experience in communicating with older people. Ability to build and nurture effective relationships and credibility with a range of professional groups and organisations. Ability to prioritise diverse issues simultaneously and manage competing priorities. Understanding of local authority and the social and political environment. Competent IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, databases, email and Internet. Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive information and a strict regard for confidentiality.

Qualifications

Essential

Undergraduate level qualification Bachelors degree in relevant subject area.

Desirable

UKPHR Registered Public Health Practitioner (or equivalent recognised professional registration) or working towards this. Postgraduate level qualification in Public Health related field Masters degree. Specific qualification in delivering exercise for older people Otago Exercise Leader or Postural Stability Instructor.

Experience

Essential

Experience of delivering training. Experience of collaborative working and ability to engage and work with people at all levels, including harder-to-reach communities.

Desirable

Experience of working with partners and an understanding of their key priorities and challenges. Experience in contributing to consultation and engagement processes. Experience relevant to the provision of physical activity with older people as part of falls prevention initiatives.

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