About this role
Job summary
Are you passionate about improving peoples health and wellbeing? Do you exhibit great leadership? Are you looking for a new challenge? Then we could have the perfect job for you!
We are looking for an exceptional and engaging individual to join our Public Health team in Thurrock and help to achieve our ambitious vision for the health and wellbeing of residents across the borough.
We are looking to appoint a Consultant in Public Health with broad expertise to provide system leadership and technical knowledge across a range of public health areas. You will be responsible for a broad Public Health portfolio across the domains of public health health improvement, health protection and healthcare public health. Precise areas of responsibility will be negotiated according to organisational requirements, key priorities and expertise within the department and will be set out in the annual job plan.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will deal with complex public health and wellbeing challenges in a multi-organisational environment with widely differing governance and finance system and organisational cultures.
It is expected that the post-holder will be able to cope with such circumstances as well as multiple and changing demands, and to meet tight deadlines. A high level of intellectual rigour, political awareness and negotiation and motivation skills as well as flexibility and sensitivity are required.
The post holder will advise the Health and Wellbeing Board and make recommendations regarding services, residents care and wider determinants of health and therefore a high level of tact, diplomacy and leadership is required including the ability work within the local political and at the same time maintain the ability to challenge and advocate for effective working and on specific issues in order to achieve public health outcomes.
The achievement of public health outcomes and the successful pursuit of change are the purpose of the job and the metric against which performance will be assessed.
About us
This is a rare and exciting opportunity in a Public Health team and an organisation that is committed to improving the health and wellbeing and tackling health inequalities for its residents and delivering better services for its residents, communities, and staff. You will enjoy a range of benefits.
Generous annual leave entitlement 25 days rising to 30 after 5 years service. Career average pension scheme Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave above the statutory minimum. Employee assistance programme to provide support for employees both in and outside of work. Flexible working to help balance work and personal life including job sharing, part-time working and home working, dependent on role and where appropriate. Buying additional annual leave. Career break scheme for up to 2 years. Wide range of courses to support employee development. Discounts with local suppliers including cycle, beauty and fashion stores, restaurants, estate agents and driving schools. 24-hour health advice and support.We offer a hybrid working set-up, our office is just a 2-minute walk from the train station with rapid links in and out of Central London. Candidates are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week.
We arecommitted to flexible and hybrid working, and we welcome discussions with potential applicants on working arrangements including part time working and job shares. We welcome candidates at any stage of their consultant career newly qualified or experienced.
Job description Job responsibilities
Job Summary
Public health consultants work as system leaders at strategic or senior management level or at a senior level of expertise such as epidemiology or health protection. The combination of leadership and managerial skills together with high level of technical skills and knowledge gives them a unique skill set essential for improving the health and wellbeing of populations.
They must be qualified as a public health specialist and be on the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register.
Strategic Objectives
To work in partnership with stakeholders across the council, NHS and wider system partners to improve and protect health and wellbeing outcomes for the population of Thurrock and reduce health inequalities.
Ensure the delivery of mandated public health services such that the full range of benefits are delivered to residents of the authority. This will include taking responsibility for the relevant outcome indicators within the UKHSA, OHID, NHS and Social Care Outcome frameworks and working across organisational boundaries.
Ensure development and maintenance of systems and processes to enable the authority to work with partners to respond to major incidents including health protection threats. The postholder, on behalf of the authority and the DPH, will lead on those aspects that the Secretary of State delegates to the authority. They will ensure that partner organisations (UKHSA, OHID, ICS and NHS England) have appropriate mechanisms to enable surge capacity to be delivered as and when required.
To lead work across all council directorates as well as influencing partnership boards dealing with the determinants of health to maximise health improvement opportunities and the reduction of inequalities in health outcomes amongst citizens, both currently and for future generations.
Work across the entire council, NHS bodies and other partner agencies together with influencing private sector, voluntary, faith, social enterprise and voluntary sector organisations that can impact on health, both currently and into future generations and influencing the attitudes and behaviour both of professionals and the population generally.
Work Programme
It is envisaged that the post holder will work 10 programmed activities over 5 days. Following appointment there will be a meeting at no later than three months with the line manager to review and revise the job plan and objectives of the post holder. The overall split of the programmed activities is 7.5 to be devoted to public health duties and 2.5 to supporting professional activities (as per the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges recommendation). The timetable is indicative only. A formal job plan will be agreed between the post holder and the line manager (usually the DPH) three months after commencing the post and at least annually thereafter.
These professional obligations should be reflected in the job plan. The post-holder may also have external professional responsibilities, e.g. in respect of training or work for the Faculty of Public Health. Time allocation for these additional responsibilities will need to be agreed with the line manager.
Consultants have the same professional status irrespective of local line management arrangements and have experience in various areas of public health practice.
You will provide public health expertise for improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities through delivery of action, influence and advice to the Council, NHS and wider system partners. Working to the Director of Public Heath you will inspire development of innovative solutions and influence action that supports continuous improvement in health for the citizens of Thurrock. You will be expected to work within and across organisations, be able to influence budgets held by those organisations as well as advocate for change effectively.
You will also support the Director of Public Health to discharge the Councils statutory Public Health responsibilities and oversee the management of associated resources and staff. You will be expected to support Public Health workforce development undertaking supervision for Public Health Specialist Registrars and staff seeking professional registration.
This is a senior appointment within the Council and the postholder will be expected to demonstrate strong leadership and change management skills. The postholder will be expected to operate across all domains of Public Health health protection, health improvement, healthcare public health and wider determinants.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Project Management skills Staff management and training Practical experience in facilitating change Budget management skills Success in understanding and tackling inequalities Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the media) Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances Good presentational skills (oral and written) Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data Computer literate Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies Ability to concentrate for long periods (e.g. analyses, media presentations) Resource Management skills To behave in accordance with our values. Commitment to the principles of agile working including the ability to work flexibly with regards to both hours of work and location of work including remote and home working as required. Strong commitment to public health principles Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty Adaptable to situations, able to handle people of all capabilities and attitudes Commitment to team-working, and respect and consideration for the skills of other Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative High standards of professional probity High level of understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation. Understanding of NHS and local government cultures, structures and policies Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice Understanding of social and political environment Understanding of interfaces between health and social care Understanding of and commitment to principles of equality and diversity and compliance with Thurrock Council policies. Understanding of the latest equality legislation and best practice.
Desirable
Training and mentoring skills Scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars etc.
Qualifications Essential
Masters Degree in Public Health or equivalent MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment The National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 (legislation.gov.uk) In line with legislation, inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists at the point of application. If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine practice Any public health speciality registrar applicants who are currently on the UK public health training programme and not yet on either the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interview* *Applicants going through the portfolio registration routes (GMC or UKPHR) are not eligible to be shortlisted for interview until they are included on the register. The six-month rule does not apply to these portfolio route applicants. Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Thurrock Council
Address Civic Offices
New Road
Thurrock
RM17 6SL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers (Opens in a new tab)