Job summary
Are you passionate about addressing health literacy barriers in services?
Do you want to make it easier for people to access the care and support they need?
Do you want to help make sure everyone has a fairer chance of getting the best experience and outcomes from healthcare services?
We may just have the role for you.
It is Trust policy that for posts that are for a time limited period, applicants who are currently employed by an NHS organisation will only be appointed on a secondment basis and should have approval from their line manager this is possible before applying.
Applicants who are not employed by an NHS organisation, will receive a fixed term contract
Main duties of the job
As a health literacy officer you'll work alongside services to identify and address health literacy barriers.
You'll help services make amendments to their written and digital materials.
You'll help services improve their signage, and the interactions they have with patients and service users.
You'll be helping to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of the residents of Derbyshire.
About us
Our purpose is to provide community health services to a patient population of over one million people in Derbyshire and Derby, as part of Joined Up Care Derbyshire.
We employ around 4,200 substantive staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people's own homes and via virtual consultations.
DCHS is a top performing NHS Trust that strives for innovation and improvement for the service and individuals that work within it.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PLEASE NOTE: Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account
- To provide advice on prevention, reducing health inequalities and the value of health literacy across the organisation and beyond.
- To champion the use of appropriate materials that are inclusive of all patients.
- To support programmes that contribute to tackling longstanding and widening health inequalities.
- To communicate effectively with clinical and non-clinical staff in the organisation in the organisation and wider system at all levels, in relation to health literacy.
- Provide and receive information from a range of sources where there are barriers to understanding
- Build good relationships with internal teams including those working in patient experience, communications and clinical governance
- To be a representative of prevention and population health as appropriate in System and Trust meetings with a range of stakeholders, locally, and potentially regionally as required
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders in primary care, local authorities, NHS England, the voluntary sector and others to ensure shared learning and good practice
- Work collaboratively across clinical and non-clinical departments to ensure literature and materials are delivered efficiently and effectively to a deadline.
- Actively promote the role of the organisation in relation to population health and health literacy activities at a local, regional and national level
- Engage effectively with local groups and individuals, especially those who are seldom heard and may gain most benefit from improved health literacy of materials.
- Establish an effective communication network within own areas, promoting and encouraging active participation of staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PLEASE NOTE: Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account
- To provide advice on prevention, reducing health inequalities and the value of health literacy across the organisation and beyond.
- To champion the use of appropriate materials that are inclusive of all patients.
- To support programmes that contribute to tackling longstanding and widening health inequalities.
- To communicate effectively with clinical and non-clinical staff in the organisation in the organisation and wider system at all levels, in relation to health literacy.
- Provide and receive information from a range of sources where there are barriers to understanding
- Build good relationships with internal teams including those working in patient experience, communications and clinical governance
- To be a representative of prevention and population health as appropriate in System and Trust meetings with a range of stakeholders, locally, and potentially regionally as required
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders in primary care, local authorities, NHS England, the voluntary sector and others to ensure shared learning and good practice
- Work collaboratively across clinical and non-clinical departments to ensure literature and materials are delivered efficiently and effectively to a deadline.
- Actively promote the role of the organisation in relation to population health and health literacy activities at a local, regional and national level
- Engage effectively with local groups and individuals, especially those who are seldom heard and may gain most benefit from improved health literacy of materials.
- Establish an effective communication network within own areas, promoting and encouraging active participation of staff.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant good honours degree
- A level English or equivalent
- Public Health, health promotion or communication training
- Health Literacy Training
Desirable
- Project Management Qualification/ experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience of implementing best practice/guidelines in Health Literacy
- Experience of working with different teams and challenging practices
- Experience of developing/amending patient letters/information leaflets to improve health literacy levels of materials
- Experience of presenting to a range of audiences on the topic of health literacy.
- Experience of working with a degree of autonomy.
- Experience of engaging with community groups and individuals.
- Experience of NHS/public health service/project development and management
- Experience of quality improvement work
- Experience of working with under-served groups and/or promoting inclusion
Desirable
- Scientific posters, peer-reviewed publications or conference presentations
- Experience of supervising/managing others
Skills
Essential
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent engagement skills with an ability to build collaborative relationships with a wide range of internal and external partners and stakeholders
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Strong commitment to public health principles
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant good honours degree
- A level English or equivalent
- Public Health, health promotion or communication training
- Health Literacy Training
Desirable
- Project Management Qualification/ experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience of implementing best practice/guidelines in Health Literacy
- Experience of working with different teams and challenging practices
- Experience of developing/amending patient letters/information leaflets to improve health literacy levels of materials
- Experience of presenting to a range of audiences on the topic of health literacy.
- Experience of working with a degree of autonomy.
- Experience of engaging with community groups and individuals.
- Experience of NHS/public health service/project development and management
- Experience of quality improvement work
- Experience of working with under-served groups and/or promoting inclusion
Desirable
- Scientific posters, peer-reviewed publications or conference presentations
- Experience of supervising/managing others
Skills
Essential
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent engagement skills with an ability to build collaborative relationships with a wide range of internal and external partners and stakeholders
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Strong commitment to public health principles
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.
