Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Public Health Assistant -Early Years 0-5 years

The closing date is 17 August 2025

Job summary

Public Health Assistants (Early Years) will work in their local community to:

  • Complete universal health and well-being reviews for children at 9-12 months and 2 to 2 1/2 years assessing child development using the ages and stages questionnaires
  • Weighing and measuring babies and children to ensure healthy growth and development
  • Deliver group programmes offering information and advice on key parenting topics
  • Support Healthy Child Clinics offering a service for families requiring information and advice from the Health Visiting Service.
  • Signpost families to access local services such as children's centres, community and voluntary groups which positively improve their health and wellbeing and the importance of play in children's lives and learning.

The Health Visiting Service supports families with a new baby or a child aged under five-years-old. Working together with families, we develop individual family health plans to help meet family's needs

Main duties of the job

You, will work closely with all children and their families who all play an invaluable contribution in how our users experience our services. You, are expected to be kind and responsive but professional and informative and contribute to the quality of the services provided within the community team across the health economy by:

  • Keeping the people who use our services as safe as possible through the use of sound assessment skills and effective risk assessments, escalating concerns to a senior colleague
  • Ensuring the best possible outcomes by using up-to-date skills and adhering to evidence-based policies and procedures within scope of assessed competence
  • Ensuring the people using our services have a good experience by respecting, empowering and working in partnership with families.

About us

Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we've got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent

We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences

We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn't visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission

The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won't involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We'll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both

See where you can go with KCHFTcareer pathways

Details

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

846-7336555-EP

Job locations

Birchlands Business Centre, Benhall Mill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5HU

Tunbridge Wells

TN2 5HU


Job description

Job responsibilities

As a community Trust many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. As such you will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role to be able to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment, if you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a community Trust many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. As such you will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role to be able to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment, if you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant level 3 qualification (NVQ / QCF Diploma or certificate of care / Advanced apprenticeship) e.g. National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) Diploma in Nursery Nursing or CACHE Level 3 award in Childcare and Education or equivalent experience
  • Functional Skills at Level 2 (Literacy and numeracy/ GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English and Maths)

Desirable

  • Certificate of higher education in early years or early childhood studies.
  • BFI responsive feeding training and awareness of BFI standards

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 2 years' experience in a child care environment or in a health or social care setting
  • Experience of working as part of a team
  • Experience with the use of Microsoft Office and a variety of IT packages

Desirable

  • Experience of planning and delivering high quality programmes to support child development and or breastfeeding volunteer or peer support.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Awareness of developments in the NHS Knowledge of up to date practice
  • Understands the role and remit of a Public Health Assistant

Desirable

  • Knowledge of Early Years Foundation Stage and it's outcomes Knowledge of key theories and developments around child learning and development

skill &abilities

Essential

  • Sound communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
  • Ability to organise own work
  • Ability to use own initiative

Desirable

  • Experience of delivering group sessions
  • Experience of working with families

Personal attributes

Essential

  • Empathetic & Supportive
  • Ability to work under pressure

Ability to manage

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, taking into account Trust policies and procedures
  • Ability to manage own time effectively.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant level 3 qualification (NVQ / QCF Diploma or certificate of care / Advanced apprenticeship) e.g. National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) Diploma in Nursery Nursing or CACHE Level 3 award in Childcare and Education or equivalent experience
  • Functional Skills at Level 2 (Literacy and numeracy/ GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English and Maths)

Desirable

  • Certificate of higher education in early years or early childhood studies.
  • BFI responsive feeding training and awareness of BFI standards

Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 2 years' experience in a child care environment or in a health or social care setting
  • Experience of working as part of a team
  • Experience with the use of Microsoft Office and a variety of IT packages

Desirable

  • Experience of planning and delivering high quality programmes to support child development and or breastfeeding volunteer or peer support.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Awareness of developments in the NHS Knowledge of up to date practice
  • Understands the role and remit of a Public Health Assistant

Desirable

  • Knowledge of Early Years Foundation Stage and it's outcomes Knowledge of key theories and developments around child learning and development

skill &abilities

Essential

  • Sound communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
  • Ability to organise own work
  • Ability to use own initiative

Desirable

  • Experience of delivering group sessions
  • Experience of working with families

Personal attributes

Essential

  • Empathetic & Supportive
  • Ability to work under pressure

Ability to manage

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, taking into account Trust policies and procedures
  • Ability to manage own time effectively.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Birchlands Business Centre, Benhall Mill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5HU

Tunbridge Wells

TN2 5HU


Employer's website

https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Birchlands Business Centre, Benhall Mill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5HU

Tunbridge Wells

TN2 5HU


Employer's website

https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

District Manager

Sharon Lepere

sharon.lepere@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

846-7336555-EP

Job locations

Birchlands Business Centre, Benhall Mill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5HU

Tunbridge Wells

TN2 5HU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)