Public Health Practitioner
Welcome to Public Health Wales, the national public health organisation for Wales
Our vision is Working to achieve a healthier future for Wales
To find out more visit Public Health Wales and watch this video about our Strategic Plan
Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference
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Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English. To support our all Wales service, we particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
Job overview
The Wider Determinants of Health (WDoH) Unit is looking for an individual with passion and ambition to join its expanding team. Working collaboratively, the unit plays a key role in improving the health and well-being of the population of Wales and reducing health inequalities.
This is a unique opportunity for an individual with experience in health improvement, policy or applied research who wants to make a difference to the health of current and future generations in Wales. We are looking for someone who can contribute to the team in developing relationships with national and local partners and bring an evidence informed approach to policy development and initiatives which will influence the distribution of the wider determinants of health.If successful, you will work on areas such as education and skills, fair work, money and resources, housing and our surroundings.
If you are highly motivated, analytical, methodical, an effective communicator and ideally have experience of implementing projects in the NHS or local government we would love to hear from you.
The position is based at Public Health Wales offices, with current working conditions supporting agile working.
Main duties of the job
Contribute to the development and delivery of projects to understand and influence wider determinants of health at an All Wales level- Undertake the monitoring and contribute to evaluation of action which aims to improve population health and reduce health inequalities
- Monitor the delivery of project plans and relevant sections of the Public Health Wales Annual Plan.
- Contribute to the development of interventions that are co-produced with key stakeholders including the public
- Lead on the dissemination of knowledge and evidence relating to the wider determinants of health
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Working for our organisation
We are Public Health Wales – the national public health organisation for Wales. Our purpose is ‘working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help all people in Wales live longer, healthier lives. With our partners, we aim to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.
Together, our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the main source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. Never more has public health been so important as we come through the Coronavirus pandemic, face the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and tackle and prevent the harmful effects of climate change.
Our organisation is guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and from those wishing to work part time or on a job share basis.
To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/careers/
For guidance on the application process, please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will join the WDoH Unit which is part of the Health and Wellbeing Directorate in Public Health Wales. The unit seeks to maximise the influence of the public health system on WDoH by translating evidence, building capability and coordinating networks of influence.
This national role will contribute to this aim, translating and sharing knowledge and evidence and working with partners to strengthen the wider determinants to improve population health and reduce health inequalities in Wales.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential- Educated to degree level or equivalent level qualification in a health, behavioural, social or biological science or have equivalent experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- UKPHR Practitioner Registration
- Experience of undertaking public health activity within key settings (e.g. community, education, work, housing).
- Experience of implementing or delivering public health interventions and projects
- Experience of staff, stakeholder and public engagement and/or involvement experience
- Responsible for budget monitoring
- Experience in the use of formal project management methods
- Experience of developing and delivering training and education programmes
Knowledge & understanding
Essential- In depth understanding of one of the key settings (e.g. community, education, NHS)
- Have a basic understanding of the wider determinants of health
- Knowledge and understanding of core public health concepts and methods for improving health and evaluating impact
- Knowledge of key population health strategies and policies in Wales
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including writing for different individuals.
- High level numeracy skills and ability to manipulate data.
- Ability to interact with people working at different levels.
- Presentation skills to large audiences
- Highly developed interpersonal skills
- Excellent planning and organisational skills;
- Computer literate with an ability to use the required systems/office packages and specialist nutritional analysis software
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary.
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
- An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust
- Skills in the translation of complex technical information for a range of audiences •
- Desirable
- Ability to give a presentation on a familiar area of work in Welsh
- Ability to take accurate meeting notes in Welsh
- Ability to scan Welsh publications for relevant information
Closing date: XX February 2025
Interviews will be held via MS Teams on the week commencing the XX February.
For further details contact:
Christian Heathcote-Elliott, Principal Public Health Practitioner
[email protected]
Cerys Preece, Senior Public Health Practitioner
[email protected]
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Educated to degree level or equivalent level qualification in a health, behavioural, social or biological science or have equivalent experience . Evidence of continuing professional development.
- UKPHR Practitioner Registration
Experince
Essential criteria- Experience of undertaking public health activity within key settings (e.g. community, education, work, housing). Experience of implementing or delivering public health interventions and projects. Experience of staff, stakeholder and public engagement and/or involvement experience Experience of applying information governance and data protection legislation. Responsible for budget monitoring
- Experience in the use of formal project management methods. Experience of developing and delivering training and education programmes
Knowledge & understanding
Essential criteria- In depth understanding of one of the key settings (e.g. community, education, NHS). Have a basic understanding of the wider determinants of health. Knowledge and understanding of core public health concepts and methods for improving health and evaluating impact . Knowledge of key population health strategies and policies in Wales
Skills and abilities
Essential criteria- Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including writing for different individuals. High level numeracy skills and ability to manipulate data. Ability to interact with people working at different levels. Presentation skills to large audiences. Highly developed interpersonal skills. Excellent planning and organisational skills; Ability to work independently or as part of a team. Computer literate with an ability to use the required systems/office packages and specialist nutritional analysis software Emotionally resilient maintaining a calm and professional demeanour. Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, allocating work as necessary. Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change . An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust. Skills in the translation of complex technical information for a range of audiences
- Ability to give a presentation on a familiar area of work in Welsh. Ability to take accurate meeting notes in Welsh. Ability to scan Welsh publications for relevant information
The salary scale above has been agreed as part of the NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2024/2025 and will be implemented in November 2024 backdated to 1st April 2024 where applicable.
Public Health Wales, reserves the right to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage early applications.
Priority is given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.
If you have a disability and have any particular requirements to enable you to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked.To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.
If you are successful and short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the address with which you registered. Please ensure you check your email account regularly.
We are committed to fair, transparent recruitment and believe in equality of opportunity in our workplace and will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, religion or belief, race or nationality, marriage or civil partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or on any other grounds.We welcome applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements.
To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK.If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.
The salary scale shown is for a full-time member of staff, with the amount being adjusted pro rata for those working less than 37.5 hours per week.
In general, anyone joining our Trust who has not previously worked in the NHS will, by default, start on the first point of the advertised pay band. Pay progression will then be determined by annual Performance and Development Reviews in accordance with the NHS Wales Pay Progression Policy.An application for Incremental Credit may be considered, but can only be awarded based on evidenced, reckonable service and/or equivalent, relevant experience.