Job summary
-The post holder will be a key part of the Merton Public Health Team and will lead the strategic development and delivery of complex programmes within a designated portfolio (Wider Determinants of Health and Healthy Places). They will be able to take on other areas of public health as the needs of the organisation change.
-The post holder will have a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience in multiple public health priorities, lead the development and maintenance of key strategic and operational partnerships at the London Borough of Merton, as well as with South West London NHS Integrated Care Board, and the local voluntary sector, Greater London Authority (GLA) and other London-based and national organisations.
Main duties of the job
-Senior Public Health Principals are expected to be able to adapt to any area of public health and to prioritise personal/professional development to enable them to do so. Responsibilities will change over time as the needs of the population change and council priorities change. This will happen in discussion with the role holder.
-The current portfolio of work will be set out in a workplan and currently includes, but is not limited to:
-Leading, embedding and sustaining Health in All Policies and Marmot approaches across council and partner strategies and plans
-Oversight of relevant priorities in the Merton Health and Wellbeing Strategy, including the healthy places priority.
-Strategic approach to upskilling colleagues and others in wider determinants of health and health in all policies
-Develop strategic plans to ensure health impact assessment is understood and used to improve the health of the population, working in collaboration with Planning colleagues.
-Lead creative approaches to embed behaviour change in policy development and practice, in collaboration with Public Health colleagues.
-Work with Consultant(s) in Public Health on leading and enabling research in local authorities, particularly for research on healthy places and wider determinants of health, and specifically NIHR research streams including LARPs, HDRC and PHIRST opportunities.
About us
At Merton Council, we are Merton UnitedOne Borough, One
Team. We are committed to nurturing civic pride, building a sustainable future,
and creating a borough where sport and active living are at the heart of our
communities.
Merton Council is a friendly and ambitious organisation
dedicated to the diverse communities who live here and to creating a healthier
future for local people through its joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. We are
looking for people who resonate with the councils values, which can be viewed
at Values | Work for Merton |
Merton Council
We pride ourselves on creating a workplace that encourages
creativity, supports wellbeing, and delivers real, tangible impacts in the
community.
Merton Council offers a competitive salary, membership of
the Local Government Pension Scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, and
flexible working arrangements.
There are great transport links to the Civic Centre, with
Morden Northern Line Underground Station very close bytravel into central
London takes just 25 minutes. We are also a 10-minute walk from Morden Road
Tram Stop and both Morden South and South Merton Railway Stations.
Please see our Work
for Merton : Working for us | Merton Council page on our website for more information about
a great range of benefits that go beyond salary and offer flexibility to suit
you: Work for Merton : Working for us | Merton Council.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder has responsibility for strategic leadership of the wider determinants of health agenda, with a focus on healthy places and healthy environments, working across all directorates in London Borough of Merton and in partnership with communities and external organisations.
-They will provide strategic direction, leadership and develop and manage the implementation of public health strategies and action plans. They will have oversight of the relevant priorities of the Merton Health and Wellbeing Strategy (published in 2025) ensuring these are being driven forward by relevant boards and committees.
-The post holder will work with senior level boards e.g. Health and Wellbeing Board, Merton NHS Integrated Care Partnership, and senior boards of the Housing and Sustainable Development Directorate, and Environment, Civic Pride and Climate Directorate. This role will communicate effectively and influence these boards and other senior fora, as well as support and advise the operational level teams.
-They will provide expert public health professional advice to partners, embedding approaches which address the wider determinants of health and which help reduce health inequalities.
-They will be responsible for leading change and creating new, innovative and evidence-based programmes and initiatives.
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
-1. MSc qualification in Public Health/Health Policy or related subject or equivalent professional qualification.
-2. Conceptual and analytical skills, normally demonstrated by degree level education or equivalent.
Knowledge & Experience
-3.Knowledge of strategy and policy development, as well as national policy drivers for public health, and ability to link this to wider determinants of health and healthy places.
-4.Knowledge of methods of developing clinical qualityassurance and evidence based clinical practice.
-5.Experience working in multi-agency partnerships particularly in the fields of public health, local authority, regeneration, housing, planning, natural environment, NHS or commercial determinants of health.
-6.Experience of undertaking population needs assessment, evaluation, policy and strategy development
-7.Previous experience of audit or quality assurance
Skills & Abilities
-8.Ability to provide professional leadership within a defined public health area and influence without authority.
9.Ability to participate in strategic planning andpolicydevelopment and implement change.
.10-Excellent IT skills including use of databases, statisticalpackages and keyboard skills to RSA level1 or equivalent.
.11-Ability to work with partners in sometimes ambiguous context in order to improve population health outcomes.
.12-Confident, resilient and able to work autonomously
Other Requirements (relevant to this post)
.13-Commitment to develop and improve own performance
.14-Continual professional development of all public health competencies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder has responsibility for strategic leadership of the wider determinants of health agenda, with a focus on healthy places and healthy environments, working across all directorates in London Borough of Merton and in partnership with communities and external organisations.
-They will provide strategic direction, leadership and develop and manage the implementation of public health strategies and action plans. They will have oversight of the relevant priorities of the Merton Health and Wellbeing Strategy (published in 2025) ensuring these are being driven forward by relevant boards and committees.
-The post holder will work with senior level boards e.g. Health and Wellbeing Board, Merton NHS Integrated Care Partnership, and senior boards of the Housing and Sustainable Development Directorate, and Environment, Civic Pride and Climate Directorate. This role will communicate effectively and influence these boards and other senior fora, as well as support and advise the operational level teams.
-They will provide expert public health professional advice to partners, embedding approaches which address the wider determinants of health and which help reduce health inequalities.
-They will be responsible for leading change and creating new, innovative and evidence-based programmes and initiatives.
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
-1. MSc qualification in Public Health/Health Policy or related subject or equivalent professional qualification.
-2. Conceptual and analytical skills, normally demonstrated by degree level education or equivalent.
Knowledge & Experience
-3.Knowledge of strategy and policy development, as well as national policy drivers for public health, and ability to link this to wider determinants of health and healthy places.
-4.Knowledge of methods of developing clinical qualityassurance and evidence based clinical practice.
-5.Experience working in multi-agency partnerships particularly in the fields of public health, local authority, regeneration, housing, planning, natural environment, NHS or commercial determinants of health.
-6.Experience of undertaking population needs assessment, evaluation, policy and strategy development
-7.Previous experience of audit or quality assurance
Skills & Abilities
-8.Ability to provide professional leadership within a defined public health area and influence without authority.
9.Ability to participate in strategic planning andpolicydevelopment and implement change.
.10-Excellent IT skills including use of databases, statisticalpackages and keyboard skills to RSA level1 or equivalent.
.11-Ability to work with partners in sometimes ambiguous context in order to improve population health outcomes.
.12-Confident, resilient and able to work autonomously
Other Requirements (relevant to this post)
.13-Commitment to develop and improve own performance
.14-Continual professional development of all public health competencies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MSc qualification in Public Health/Health Policy or related
- subject or equivalent professional qualification.
Desirable
- degree level education or equivalent.
- Completion of Part I Faculty of Public Health Examination.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MSc qualification in Public Health/Health Policy or related
- subject or equivalent professional qualification.
Desirable
- degree level education or equivalent.
- Completion of Part I Faculty of Public Health Examination.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
