Sunderland City Council

Public Health Clinical Lead (Maternity Cover)

The closing date is 09 October 2025

Job summary

Temporary, expected to be until July 2026 (maternity cover).Sunderland City Council is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of local communities and reducing health inequalities in the city. Our Health Healthy Plan sets out our ambitious to help Sunderland become a healthier, stronger and more thriving place. We work closely with a wider range of partners including the NHS and voluntary and community sector.

Main duties of the job

The Public Health Clinical Lead will play a key role in achieving the ambitions of the Healthy City Plan. The role will provide clinical leadership and support the development of high-quality services, strategies and policies that best meet the needs of the local population.

We are seeking an individual who has strong leadership skills, public health knowledge and experience and is passionate about reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes. This role will involve working across the local health and care system and so strong skills in building relationships and influencing others are crucial.The development of strategies and polices along with supporting service commissioning are all key elements of the role. We hope to appoint someone with strong experience of working across the system, including with community members and a willingness to innovate in order to deliver positive outcomes to local communities.

About us

As a colleague at Sunderland City Council you will have access to a fantastic range of benefits and discounts, including flexible and remote working, learning and development opportunities, and access to the local government pension, child care and car lease schemes.Please refer to the Job Description and the essential criteria in the Person Specification when completing the personal statement on the application form. This information is used to select candidates for interview.

Details

Date posted

26 September 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£60,244 to £64,869 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

F0001-285312

Job locations

City Hall

Plater Way

Sunderland

SR1 3AA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Service/Team

Public Health and Wellbeing Directorate

Public Health Team

Responsible to

Deputy Director in Public Health and Wellbeing/Consultant in Public Health

Responsible for staff/equipment

The post holder will provide day-to-day management and oversight for staff within the Public Health team, including direct line management of Contracts and Finance Officer. This will include co-ordination of work, provision of advice, one to ones, appraisal, training and continuing professional development, recruitment and discipline.

Main purpose of job

The post holder will make a significant contribution to the Public Health and Wellbeing directorate within the Council, with a reach out into the wider integrated care system and evolving place-based arrangements for health and care provision.

The post holder will provide a Clinical Public Health Lead role within the Public Health team, developing and implementing a range of evidence-based strategies, policies and programmes that support improved population health and a reduction in inequalities.

The role will also have a cross-department role in supporting Sunderland City Council in relation to clinical governance, commissioned public health services, and maximise the public health contribution to the health and care system in Sunderland.

Key responsibilities

In this role the post holder will be accountable to the Deputy Director in Public Health and Wellbeing/ Consultant in Public Health and will ensure that:

Public health strategies and programmes respond to the health needs and characteristics of the local population;

Public health strategies and programmes reflect up-to-date evidence, best practice and guidance (including NICE guidance);

Assurance can be given to the Council in relation to the performance of public health strategies and programmes and their contribution to public health outcomes, Council corporate outcomes and the outcomes of key partnerships;

Public health is represented on relevant partnerships and strategic groups focussed on key public health programmes;

Public Health programmes are regularly reviewed and change management processes are applied to support continuous improvement and deliver better outcomes, quality and value.

The post holder will provide clinical advice and leadership, to support commissioning and internal governance processes, including:

Ensuring professional advice is available to members of the Public Health and Wellbeing team and wider council colleagues to inform commissioning and assurance processes.

Ensuring clinical governance systems and processes are in place to enable safe, high quality and cost-effective care for commissioned contracts.

Ensuring processes for audit and risk assessment are implemented within commissioned services.

Ensuring frontline clinical staff are supported to maximise opportunities for health promoting practice and embed personalised care and population health across the life course, in-step with place-based partnership and commissioning arrangements.

The post holder will make a substantial impact on the health and wellbeing of the population of Sunderland by developing evidence-based strategies, policies and programmes, providing professional advice to the Public Health team and place-based partner, providing expertise and support to professionals, service users and the public.

The major focus of the work will be to develop evidence-based strategies and oversee the implementation of partnership programmes or commissioned services to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce health inequalities across the population of Sunderland.

Key tasks

The following list is typical of the duties the post holder will be expected to perform. It is not necessarily exhaustive and other duties of a similar nature and level may be required from time to time.

The post holder will:

1. Lead, co-ordinate and manage the development of an agreed range of priority areas, public health strategies, policies and programmes, working with stakeholders as appropriate.

2. Establish and maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including the ICB, local provider organisations (e.g., NHS Trusts, GP practices, PCNs, dentists, community pharmacies, child health services and schools), voluntary and community groups and local communities.

3. Engage with a range of stakeholders, organisations and individuals across sectors and in a range of settings to oversee the implementation and delivery of interdisciplinary and/or interagency strategic plans and programmes.

4. Represent the Health, Housing and Communities team on relevant partnerships and strategic groups with responsibility for delivering public health programmes, acting as Chair where appropriate.

5. Lead the evaluation and quality assurance of strategies, policies and programmes and develop and update short, medium and long term implementation plans in line with changing needs and expected outcomes.

6. Review service programmes and lead change management processes to support continuous improvement and deliver better outcomes, quality and value working with members of the Health, Housing and Communities team, wider colleagues within the Council, and staff in partner organisations.

7. Support the Health, Housing and Communities team to implement evidence-based practice by undertaking, commissioning and/or overseeing research and development to ensure improved health outcomes and reduced health inequalities.

8. Provide professional advice and guidance to members of the Health, Housing and Communities team, other Council officers, elected members and other stakeholders in relation to evidence based public health, health and care strategies and programmes.

9. Utilise a range of information sources to develop understanding of health needs to inform the development and implementation of a range of evidence-based strategies, policies and programmes.

10. Ensure that public health, health and care initiatives and programmes are underpinned by effective community, public and stakeholder engagement activities.

11. Seek and provide assurance to the Senior Management team in relation to progress and performance of strategies, policies and programmes.

12. Monitor key performance indicators, outcomes and quality measures to ensure compliance with strategy goals and programme objectives and to secure their contribution to improving the health of the population of Sunderland.

13. Write and contribute to reports which will vary in length and complexity, summarise reports and disseminate their findings.

14. Present varied, complex and/or sensitive concepts or information to non-specialist and specialist audiences.

15. Work with colleagues within the Council, in partner organisations, and in public health, health and care networks to share and develop practice in relation to health and care.

Other duties/specific policies e.g. DBS

Promote and champion a positive organisation-wide culture that reflects the Councils vision and values and treat members of the public with courtesy and respect.

The post holder must carry out their duties with full regard to the Councils Equal Opportunities Policy, Code of Conduct and all other Council Policies.

The post holder must comply with the Councils Health and safety rules and regulations and with Health and safety legislation.

The post holder must comply with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the management of Council records and information.

The postholder must comply with the principles and requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR in relation to the management of Council records and information, and respect the privacy of personal information held by the Council

The post holder will be required on occasion to travel within the City/region as appropriate to undertake the role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Service/Team

Public Health and Wellbeing Directorate

Public Health Team

Responsible to

Deputy Director in Public Health and Wellbeing/Consultant in Public Health

Responsible for staff/equipment

The post holder will provide day-to-day management and oversight for staff within the Public Health team, including direct line management of Contracts and Finance Officer. This will include co-ordination of work, provision of advice, one to ones, appraisal, training and continuing professional development, recruitment and discipline.

Main purpose of job

The post holder will make a significant contribution to the Public Health and Wellbeing directorate within the Council, with a reach out into the wider integrated care system and evolving place-based arrangements for health and care provision.

The post holder will provide a Clinical Public Health Lead role within the Public Health team, developing and implementing a range of evidence-based strategies, policies and programmes that support improved population health and a reduction in inequalities.

The role will also have a cross-department role in supporting Sunderland City Council in relation to clinical governance, commissioned public health services, and maximise the public health contribution to the health and care system in Sunderland.

Key responsibilities

In this role the post holder will be accountable to the Deputy Director in Public Health and Wellbeing/ Consultant in Public Health and will ensure that:

Public health strategies and programmes respond to the health needs and characteristics of the local population;

Public health strategies and programmes reflect up-to-date evidence, best practice and guidance (including NICE guidance);

Assurance can be given to the Council in relation to the performance of public health strategies and programmes and their contribution to public health outcomes, Council corporate outcomes and the outcomes of key partnerships;

Public health is represented on relevant partnerships and strategic groups focussed on key public health programmes;

Public Health programmes are regularly reviewed and change management processes are applied to support continuous improvement and deliver better outcomes, quality and value.

The post holder will provide clinical advice and leadership, to support commissioning and internal governance processes, including:

Ensuring professional advice is available to members of the Public Health and Wellbeing team and wider council colleagues to inform commissioning and assurance processes.

Ensuring clinical governance systems and processes are in place to enable safe, high quality and cost-effective care for commissioned contracts.

Ensuring processes for audit and risk assessment are implemented within commissioned services.

Ensuring frontline clinical staff are supported to maximise opportunities for health promoting practice and embed personalised care and population health across the life course, in-step with place-based partnership and commissioning arrangements.

The post holder will make a substantial impact on the health and wellbeing of the population of Sunderland by developing evidence-based strategies, policies and programmes, providing professional advice to the Public Health team and place-based partner, providing expertise and support to professionals, service users and the public.

The major focus of the work will be to develop evidence-based strategies and oversee the implementation of partnership programmes or commissioned services to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce health inequalities across the population of Sunderland.

Key tasks

The following list is typical of the duties the post holder will be expected to perform. It is not necessarily exhaustive and other duties of a similar nature and level may be required from time to time.

The post holder will:

1. Lead, co-ordinate and manage the development of an agreed range of priority areas, public health strategies, policies and programmes, working with stakeholders as appropriate.

2. Establish and maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including the ICB, local provider organisations (e.g., NHS Trusts, GP practices, PCNs, dentists, community pharmacies, child health services and schools), voluntary and community groups and local communities.

3. Engage with a range of stakeholders, organisations and individuals across sectors and in a range of settings to oversee the implementation and delivery of interdisciplinary and/or interagency strategic plans and programmes.

4. Represent the Health, Housing and Communities team on relevant partnerships and strategic groups with responsibility for delivering public health programmes, acting as Chair where appropriate.

5. Lead the evaluation and quality assurance of strategies, policies and programmes and develop and update short, medium and long term implementation plans in line with changing needs and expected outcomes.

6. Review service programmes and lead change management processes to support continuous improvement and deliver better outcomes, quality and value working with members of the Health, Housing and Communities team, wider colleagues within the Council, and staff in partner organisations.

7. Support the Health, Housing and Communities team to implement evidence-based practice by undertaking, commissioning and/or overseeing research and development to ensure improved health outcomes and reduced health inequalities.

8. Provide professional advice and guidance to members of the Health, Housing and Communities team, other Council officers, elected members and other stakeholders in relation to evidence based public health, health and care strategies and programmes.

9. Utilise a range of information sources to develop understanding of health needs to inform the development and implementation of a range of evidence-based strategies, policies and programmes.

10. Ensure that public health, health and care initiatives and programmes are underpinned by effective community, public and stakeholder engagement activities.

11. Seek and provide assurance to the Senior Management team in relation to progress and performance of strategies, policies and programmes.

12. Monitor key performance indicators, outcomes and quality measures to ensure compliance with strategy goals and programme objectives and to secure their contribution to improving the health of the population of Sunderland.

13. Write and contribute to reports which will vary in length and complexity, summarise reports and disseminate their findings.

14. Present varied, complex and/or sensitive concepts or information to non-specialist and specialist audiences.

15. Work with colleagues within the Council, in partner organisations, and in public health, health and care networks to share and develop practice in relation to health and care.

Other duties/specific policies e.g. DBS

Promote and champion a positive organisation-wide culture that reflects the Councils vision and values and treat members of the public with courtesy and respect.

The post holder must carry out their duties with full regard to the Councils Equal Opportunities Policy, Code of Conduct and all other Council Policies.

The post holder must comply with the Councils Health and safety rules and regulations and with Health and safety legislation.

The post holder must comply with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the management of Council records and information.

The postholder must comply with the principles and requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR in relation to the management of Council records and information, and respect the privacy of personal information held by the Council

The post holder will be required on occasion to travel within the City/region as appropriate to undertake the role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant post-registration experience in public health nursing or nurse management

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Nursing
  • Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
  • Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in public health, health or care

Skills, Knowledge, Ability (including ability to develop knowledge, skill or experience)

Essential

  • Strong knowledge of public health programmes, health inequalities, and workforce development
  • Ability to assess population health needs and develop responsive strategies and programmes
  • Analytical skills to interpret complex data and develop solutions to improve health outcomes
  • Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) for diverse audiences
  • Ability to produce high-quality documentation (e.g. strategies, policies, specifications)
  • Project planning and management skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Strategic thinking and budget prioritisation capability
  • Ability to lead and motivate teams across partner agencies
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Significant post-registration experience in public health nursing or nurse management

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Nursing
  • Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
  • Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in public health, health or care

Skills, Knowledge, Ability (including ability to develop knowledge, skill or experience)

Essential

  • Strong knowledge of public health programmes, health inequalities, and workforce development
  • Ability to assess population health needs and develop responsive strategies and programmes
  • Analytical skills to interpret complex data and develop solutions to improve health outcomes
  • Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) for diverse audiences
  • Ability to produce high-quality documentation (e.g. strategies, policies, specifications)
  • Project planning and management skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Strategic thinking and budget prioritisation capability
  • Ability to lead and motivate teams across partner agencies

Employer details

Employer name

Sunderland City Council

Address

City Hall

Plater Way

Sunderland

SR1 3AA


Employer's website

https://www.sunderland.gov.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sunderland City Council

Address

City Hall

Plater Way

Sunderland

SR1 3AA


Employer's website

https://www.sunderland.gov.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Director of Public Health and Wellbeing

Ryan Swiers

ryan.swiers@sunderland.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

26 September 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£60,244 to £64,869 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

F0001-285312

Job locations

City Hall

Plater Way

Sunderland

SR1 3AA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Sunderland City Council's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)