Public Health jobs in United Kingdom

This is an exciting time at Barking and Dagenham, and we are looking for a dynamic and skilled public health strategist to deliver on the public health workplan for babies, children, and young people. You will work with internal partners across the council, such as children’s commissioning and social care, education, early years, Early Help and Community Solutions, and work across the Barking and Dagenham system with external partners in the NHS, community, faith and voluntary sector, schools, Government departments, and other local authorities.

This is an interesting opportunity for someone that wants to make a real difference to our local communities. Barking and Dagenham has some big public health challenges, including the worst childhood obesity in London and lower life expectancy than the England average. We have the highest proportion of children (0–17) in the UK (almost three in ten residents are under 18) and the highest proportion of under 5s in the UK (8.8%) – so working on the health and wellbeing of babies, children and young people is a very important role! We are one of the 20% most deprived boroughs in England and child poverty is amongst the highest in London boroughs and the country - with 46% of our children living in households on the poverty line. However, it is also a borough of great change - there is so much going on in Barking and Dagenham, even Hollywood wants to be part of it! Coming years will see the addition of film studios and city markets to our industries, and many new residents joining us in our new developments (such as our Healthy New Town - Barking Riverside). We have also been successful in getting Start for Life / Family Hubs funding – so the next 2 years will see all hands-on deck to deliver this ambitious programme of delivery.

The role will be working across the Babies, Children and Young People agenda, providing highly specialist public health knowledge, leadership, direction, policy advice, and support. Working to the Consultant in Public Health (Babies, Children & Young People) and with the wider public health team, this role will guide and advise others based on sound public health knowledge and evidence and explore and reframe health challenges by using co-production approaches to investigate the needs of communities.

This role will use these new insights to scope, shape and design new models of delivery to overcome health challenges faced by our babies, children and young people (and their families). The post holder will have expert specialist subject knowledge in public health practice for babies, children and young people and will be expected to be able to work on any public health priority as allocated, reporting to the Consultant in Public Health.

The post holder will contribute to delivering the goals of increased healthy life expectancy, reducing the difference in life expectancy between communities; increased resilience and independence; and a positive experience of care. The primary focus will be to improve the health of babies, children and young people in Barking and Dagenham and reduce health inequalities, in line with the Best Chance for Babies, Children and Young People Strategy and borough partnership priorities. The post holder will be able to participate in strategic planning and policy development and implement change, and to lead specific projects and support the development, commissioning, delivery, evaluation and performance management of programmes and services designed to improve health and reduce health inequalities as underpinned by the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

The post holder will be able to work independently without the need for substantial supervision to deliver work of high quality. The post holder may be required to manage a number of staff at appropriate grades in order to take forward operational project delivery.

A Masters degree level qualification or equivalent experience in public health or related discipline is essential for this role. In addition, you will have excellent communications skills, both oral and written (including ability to present / explain complex information to non-specialist audiences and individuals where persuasion might be required; and writing and contributing to reports, strategies and programme plans). Previous experience of working in local or central government or the NHS on topics including babies, children, and young people. Experience of commissioning or service design would be beneficial.

• Demonstrable experience in a senior level Public Health role, with significant experience of babies, children and young people’s public health
• Significant experience of working with multiple sets of health-related data and information systems in health and care related organisations
• Demonstrate in depth of understanding of national NHS and Social Care policy
• Demonstrate a specialist and in-depth knowledge of epidemiology and information analysis related to health and social care.
• Practical experience in managing and facilitating change
• Evidence of public health CPD and reflective practice
• Ability to transform research outcomes into effective health information that can be used to improve health
• Ability to conduct literature reviews and undertake critical appraisals

We are looking for someone with strong experience in undertaking evidence-based reviews to support alignment of policy / strategy content and recommendations with the public health evidence-base for babies, children and young people and related services (e.g., 0-19 healthy child services, infant feeding, Start for Life, Family Hubs, SEND, CYP mental health, childhood obesity, etc). As a forward-thinking Council, we are looking for likeminded individuals that are confident, innovative, and willing to take lead on key projects. You will be self-motivated and a confident influencer with sound political judgement; have strong organisational skills; be a very strong team player and know the benefits of collaboration. You will have a strong track record of delivering busy public health work programmes, managing your time effectively and flexibly, and producing high quality work to deadlines.

The successful candidate will have a curious mind, excellent analytical skills, an aptitude to problem solve, and be motivated by delivering robust evidence to inform action. You will be able to facilitate multi-agency public health working and communication with the public to support policy and strategy development. You will have a performance and change management ethos and have an understanding of project and programme management disciplines. You must be able to work collaboratively and successfully with partners in other council departments and external organisations.

If appointed, you will join a supportive and multi-disciplinary team, working across organisational boundaries, applying your skills to complex public health challenges and sharing findings with others. The Public Health Department is a forward-looking team with ambitions to significantly improve the health and wellbeing of our borough’s population through innovative and integrated working whilst also reducing health inequalities. We are a small, but dedicated, team. You will work closely with colleagues in social care, the NHS, primary care, and civil protection, as well as with wider partners, including care home staff and schools, across the borough.
About Barking and Dagenham
As Local Government Chronicle Awards 2018’s Council of the Year, and with Gold Investors in People status showing our commitment to our staff, there has never been a more exciting time to work for Barking and Dagenham Council. We have been on a journey over the last few years, transforming the way we work and deliver our services. Our goal is to harness the borough’s potential as London’s growth opportunity and to deliver growth that is inclusive and benefits all our residents – one borough, one community, no one left behind. As a council, we are agile, responsive and data-led, with the needs of our residents at the forefront of what we do. We offer a competitive pay package, a positive approach to flexible working, investment in your learning and development, and a commitment to your wellbeing.