Job info	Job info details
Job title	Consultant in Public Health / Public Health Policy and Strategy Lead
Strategic team/Directorate	Public Health
Service	Public Health
Business unit	Public Health
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Director of Public Health
Accountable to (line manager)	Director of Public Health
Salary grade	Agenda For Change 8D
JE ref	HAY138

1. Key purpose of job

• The post holder will lead the Public Health Policy and Strategy function within the Public Health team.  This function will provide strategic and technical leadership within the Public Health team but will be primarily outward facing to support the wider Council, the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) and the Partnership and integration agenda.
• The post holder will report directly to the Director of Public Health (DPH) and will be expected to deputise as a divisional director.  The post holder will support the DPH in discharging the public health function as currently described.  As such, he/she will need to be flexible in the work they undertake across the general responsibilities and core competencies described below.  At any one time, specific defined areas of responsibility will be agreed with the DPH and form part of the post holder’s job plan/objectives.
• The post holder must be qualified as a public health specialist and be on the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• The post holder will be expected to influence the Council and partner action across the wider determinants to improve and protect health. They will provide strategic direction on policy, statistical intelligence and evidence of research and best practice.
• The Council’s Public Health responsibilities provide a significant opportunity to transform and co-ordinate partnership action to prevent ill health, develop early intervention and reduce inequalities working closely with NHS organisations and other partner agencies. The Council’s focus with regard to the economy and the development of voluntary sector capacity alongside community leadership also provide an opportunity for Torbay to attract additional funding to improve health and wellbeing.  The post holder will be instrumental in developing a co-ordinated and evidence-based approach across partners.
• For Torbay Council, the post holder will specifically influence the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board to identify and address priorities.  Working with Councillors, officers and partner agencies, he/she will develop policy to improve the health of the population of Torbay by highlighting inequalities across the wider determinants and formulating evidence-based strategy to address these.
• For the local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB), the post holder will provide the main leadership for the core offer from Public Health, co-ordinating the support from the wider team. He/she will provide public health evidence and statistical analysis to influence commissioning by the ICB.  He/she will represent Public Health by membership at ICB committees and working groups.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• The post holder will be expected to support the wider Public Health team during significant health protection outbreaks.  He/she may be required to contribute to the on-call rota for health protection, dependent on qualifications and the requirements of UK Health Security Agency.
• The post holder will be expected to lead on the development of new programmes as they arise.
• The post holder will work directly to the Director of Public Health to:
  • Provide public health leadership and support to Torbay Council, NHS ICB and partner agencies.
  • Contribute to the development of integrated partnership strategies, working closely with the NHS in Devon and other agencies.
  • Take responsibility for developing local policies, inter-agency and interdisciplinary plans and programmes to deliver key public health targets.
  • Provide expert public health advice and leadership to support and inform an evidence-based approach within ethical frameworks for planning and developing high quality equitable services across primary, secondary and social care, and across partners including voluntary organisations.
  • Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems to underpin public health action across disciplines and organisations, leading collation and interpretation of relevant data.
  • Actively work to reduce inequalities.
  • Develop partnerships and influence all agencies to ensure the widest possible participation in improving health.
  • Provide public health advice and expertise.
  • Ensure that relevant local experience and expertise supports or drives national developments and vice versa.
  • Contribute to the training programmes for Specialty Registrars and Public Health Specialty Trainees in Public Health.
• A detailed work plan will be drawn up with the Director of Public Health, incorporating the key tasks outlined in this Job Description.
• The post holder will be expected to:
  • Participate in the organisation’s staff appraisal scheme and departmental audit, and ensure appraisal and development of any staff for whom he/she is responsible.
  • Contribute actively to the training programme for Foundation Year Doctors/SHOs/Specialty Registrars in Public Health as appropriate, and to the training of practitioners and primary care professionals within the locality. The post holder would be expected to act as an Educational Supervisor when appropriate.
• Pursue a programme of CPD/CME in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body, and undertake re-validation, audit or other measures required to remain on the GMC/GDC Specialty Register or the UK Public Health (Specialty) Register or other Specialty register, as appropriate.
• Faculty of Public Health Competencies - All consultants irrespective of their background are expected to be proficient in the competencies set out below.
• Use of public health intelligence to survey and assess a population’s health and wellbeing:
  • To be able to synthesise data from multiple sources on the surveillance or assessment of a population’s health and wellbeing and on the wider environment, so that the evidence can be communicated clearly and inform action planning to improve population health outcomes.
• Assessing the evidence of effectiveness of interventions, programmes and services intended to improve the health or wellbeing of individuals or populations:
  • To be able to use a range of resources to generate and communicate appropriately evidenced and informed recommendations for improving population health across operational and strategic health and care settings.
• Policy and strategy development and implementation:
  • To be able to influence and contribute to the development of policy as well as lead the development and implementation of a strategy.
• Strategic leadership and collaborative working for health:
  • To use a range of effective strategic leadership, organisational and management skills, in a variety of complex public health situations and contexts, dealing effectively with uncertainty and the unexpected to achieve public health goals.
• Health improvement, determinants of health and health communications:
  • To influence and act on the broad determinants, behaviours and environmental factors influencing health at a system, community and individual level to improve and promote the health of current and future generations. To be proactive in addressing health inequalities and prioritising the most vulnerable or disadvantaged groups in the population.
• Health protection:
  • To identify, assess and communicate risks associated with hazards relevant to health protection, and to lead and co-ordinate the appropriate public health response. To understand how those risks associated with hazards relevant to health protection may be influenced by climate change and environmental degradation currently and in the future.
• Health and care public health:
  • To be able to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, safety, reliability, responsiveness, sustainability and equity of health and care services through applying insights from multiple sources including formal research, health surveillance, needs analysis, service monitoring and evaluation.
• Academic public health:
  • To add an academic perspective to all public health work undertaken. Specifically to be able to critically appraise evidence to inform policy and practice, identify evidence gaps with strategies to address these gaps, undertake research activities of a standard that is publishable in peer-reviewed journals, and demonstrate competence in teaching and learning across all areas of public health practice.
• Professional, personal and ethical development:
  • To be able to shape, pursue actively and evaluate your own personal and professional development, using insight into your own behaviours and attitudes and their impact to modify behaviour and to practise within the framework of the GMC's Good Medical Practice (as used for appraisal and revalidation for consultants in public health) and the UKPHR’s Code of Conduct.
• Integration and application of competencies for consultant practice:
  • To be able to demonstrate the consistent use of sound judgment to select from a range of advanced public health expertise and skills, and to use them effectively, working at senior organisational levels, to deliver improved population health in complex and unpredictable environments.
• Research and development:
  • To undertake and commission literature reviews, evaluative research surveys, audits and other research as required to inform equitable service and reduce health inequalities.
  • To develop links with academic centres as appropriate and national public health observatory resources to ensure the work of the local team is based on a sound research and evidence base.
  • To develop public health capacity through education and training by raising awareness of the contribution of public health skills and knowledge in the local community, including the local authority and the voluntary sectors, by contributing to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level and by supervising those training and working in public health.
• A high level of intellectual rigour, negotiation and motivation skills and flexibility is required to deal with complex public health issues, to advise and make recommendations regarding services and patient care. 
• A high level of tact and diplomacy is required and an ability to understand other cultures to enable effective working across organisational boundaries and influencing without authority.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• The post holder will line manage the contracts and commissioning manager so have oversight of all budgets and support the DPH in this responsibility.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• The post holder will manage staff (including trainees), including full line management duties, recruitment, appraisals, disciplinary and grievance responsibilities, etc.
• The post holder will supervise and manage Specialty Registrars and Public Health Specialty Trainees as required.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• The post holder will take part in on-call arrangements for communicable disease control / health protection as agreed with Public Health England.
• The post-holder will be expected to work flexible and be prepared to work out of different office bases according to need to reflect partnership working.

7. Physical demands of the post

• The Post is office based but will require occasional travel but mostly within Devon.

8. Specific resources used by the post

• None.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• Devon and Plymouth Public Health teams, Department of Health and Social Care/Office for Heath Improvement and Disparity SW), UK Health Security Agency, Local Care Partnership and NHS Integrated Care Board.

Internal

• Community safety, Pride in Place (Economic Development team) and Senior Leadership team.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
• This job description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder and in the light of the needs of the organisation and the development of the speciality of public health and any wider developments in the field of public health. This is a new post and it is likely that the post will evolve over time. The duties outlined for this post will be subject to regular appraisal and any amendments will be made in consultation and agreement with the post holder.
• Medically qualified members of the Public Health team are expected to play certain roles in medical leadership, in relationships with the medical profession and in bringing a medical perspective to public health advice. A medically qualified holder of this post would be expected to share these roles with other medically qualified members of the wider team arrangements across Devon.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• This post is hybrid at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
• We also understand the importance of an effective work-life balance, therefore offer an enviable hybrid working approach to reduce the potential challenges of hybrid working while maximising its benefits. This is managed effectively with the expectation that hybrid workers will be in office for two days per week (pro rata) supporting the need to attend essential meetings and participate in for team development or supervision responsibilities. .
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements.  Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Consultant in Public Health / Public Health Policy and Strategy Lead
Strategic team/Directorate	Public Health
Service	Public Health
Business unit	Public Health

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Strong commitment to public health principles.
• Able to prioritise work and to 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 others.
• Self-motivated, proactive and innovative.
• High standards of professional probity.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the media).
• Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills.
• Good presentational skills (oral and written).
• Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved.
• Computer literate. Ability to work with Excel, Word and equivalent IT systems.
• Ability to concentrate for long periods (e.g. analyses, media presentations).
• Resource management skills.
• Project management skills.
• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills and operational nous.
• Able to demonstrate and motivate organisations to contribute to improving the public’s health and wellbeing through mainstream activities and within resources.
• Ability to lead and manage the response successfully in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances.
• Analytical skills able to utilize both qualitative (including health economics) and quantitative information.
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement strategies and policies.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

N/A

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• 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.
• Understanding of social and political environment.
• In-depth understanding of health and care system and relationships with both local & national government.
• In depth knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, quality improvement, evaluations and evidence based public health practice.
• Strong and demonstrable understanding of interfaces between health, social care and key partners (dealing with wider determinants of health).
• Understanding of the public sector duty and the inequality duty and their application to public health practice.

Desirable knowledge

N/A

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Project management skills.
• Staff management and training.
• Practical experience in facilitating change.
• Budget management skills.
• Delivery of successful change management programmes across organizational boundaries.
• Experience of using complex information to explain public health issues to a range of audiences.
• Able to influence senior members including directors and CEOs.
• Able to both lead teams and to able to contribute effectively to teams led by junior colleagues.
• Commitment to work within a political system irrespective of personal political affiliations.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Training and mentoring skills.
• Academic experience; Scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars, etc.
• Media experience demonstrating delivery of effective health behaviour or health promotion messages.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• 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 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 If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview.
• If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
• Applicants from a background other than medicine are required to have gained full Specialty registration with the UKPHR at the point of application.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Masters in Public Health or equivalent.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
• Ability to provide resilience in any Health Protection related incident.