Job summary
Southend-on-Sea is one of the UKs newest cities, a
place of ambition, growth, and opportunity. We are seeking an experienced and
progressive Consultant in Public Health/Public Health Medicine to join
us at a pivotal moment of transformation.
With Local Government Re-organisation on the
horizon, Southend-on-Sea City Council is preparing to reshape its approach
to health and wellbeing. This is your chance to influence delivery and
evolution of a new public health strategy, tackle inequalities, and
improve outcomes for every resident.
You will provide system leadership across the city, working collaboratively with partners to address deprivation, reduce health inequalities, and champion prevention initiatives. Your influence will extend across the Council, NHS bodies, primary care, voluntary and community sectors, and the Health and Wellbeing Board ensuring a joined-up approach to improving lives and leading our Health-in-all-Policies approach.
Main duties of the job
Key priorities include:
Reducing health inequalities: Life expectancy and health outcomes vary significantly across our city, sometimes within a mile of each other.
- Improving access to services: We are opening a new community clinic to reduce waiting times and improve care for vulnerable groups.
- Boosting vaccination uptake: Addressing inequities and increasing coverage among high-risk populations.
- Childrens oral health: Driving prevention and education to tackle poor dental outcomes.
- Mental health and wellbeing: Supporting young people and those affected by economic hardship, especially during the cost-of-living crisis.
- Preventable mortality: Reducing deaths from cancer, circulatory and respiratory diseases, and liver disease through targeted interventions.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of public health in a city with energy and vision. We need a leader who can inspire, innovate, and deliver measurable impact, someone who thrives on collaboration and can navigate complex systems with confidence.
About us
Southend
on Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to
meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who work alongside our partners and communities to deliver the city vision making lives better for the people of Southend.
Working
for Southend on Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in
local government within a collaborative and innovate environment, with the
benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive work life balance.
As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all local government functions
ranging from social services, transport, public health, and parks through to
planning, trading standards, community safety and education, so we offer a wide
range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and
investment in several exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great
place to work, learn and make a difference.
Career Development: As part of our commitment to your growth, you will have the opportunity to act up for the Director of Public Health when required, giving you exposure to strategic leadership at the highest level. This role offers a platform to influence policy, develop innovative solutions, and build a legacy of improved health outcomes.
If you're ready to make a lasting difference and lead Southend into a healthier future, we'd love to hear from you. To apply, please follow the link shown in the advert (not through NHS jobs).
Job description
Job responsibilities
To
be successful in this role, you must be a strategic thinker with strong
leadership and operational skills, capable of motivating organisations to
improve public health within existing resources. You must be able to lead in
crisis situations, apply both qualitative and quantitative analysis, and
develop and implement effective strategies and policies.
It
is vital that you have a deep understanding of the health and care system,
including its relationship with local and national government. You must also
demonstrate expertise in clinical quality assurance, evaluation, and
evidence-based practice, alongside a strong grasp of the interfaces between
health, social care, and wider determinants of health. You must be able to
navigate complex multi-agency environments with tact and diplomacy, while
driving meaningful public health outcomes for the residents of Southend-on-Sea,
will be the ultimate measure of success in this role. Experience in addressing
health inequalities, improving the health and wellbeing of children and young
people, and tackling the wider determinants of health is essential.
*Public health specialty registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC
Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR must
provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of
gaining entry at the date of interview, all other applicants must provide
verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in
the GMC/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers*
Job description
Job responsibilities
To
be successful in this role, you must be a strategic thinker with strong
leadership and operational skills, capable of motivating organisations to
improve public health within existing resources. You must be able to lead in
crisis situations, apply both qualitative and quantitative analysis, and
develop and implement effective strategies and policies.
It
is vital that you have a deep understanding of the health and care system,
including its relationship with local and national government. You must also
demonstrate expertise in clinical quality assurance, evaluation, and
evidence-based practice, alongside a strong grasp of the interfaces between
health, social care, and wider determinants of health. You must be able to
navigate complex multi-agency environments with tact and diplomacy, while
driving meaningful public health outcomes for the residents of Southend-on-Sea,
will be the ultimate measure of success in this role. Experience in addressing
health inequalities, improving the health and wellbeing of children and young
people, and tackling the wider determinants of health is essential.
*Public health specialty registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC
Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR must
provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of
gaining entry at the date of interview, all other applicants must provide
verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in
the GMC/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers*
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List/UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists
- *Public health specialty registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview, all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers*
- If registered in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, the equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine practice
- Must meet minimum CPD requirements in line with the Faculty of Public Health or other recognised body standards
- Membership of the Faculty of Public Health (MFPH) by examination, exemption or assessment
Desirable
- Accredited Clinical Supervisor (Faculty of Public Health)
- Masters degree in Public Health or equivalent
Additional information
Essential
- May be required to join on call arrangements relating to Public Health Emergencies or Outbreak of infectious diseases.
- The postholder may be required to drive across the City and will require the use of their own vehicle in some instances.
- This is a hybrid role and will require the post holder to work at least two days per week, on average, in the office.
- Further information about the Professional Status of Consultants, Faculty of Public Health Competencies and a structure chart can be found in the job description.
Behaviours
Essential
- Driving Positive Change - has a future focused approach that can easily respond to different and changing demands. Possesses a positive attitude so that they may adapt to the pace of change. Embraces new technologies and new ideas.
- Trust and Respect - creates mutual trust and remove barriers to help develop a highly collaborative and respectful team. Values feedback and respectfully listens to other peoples opinions.
- Strong Leadership - Leads by example, and through their behaviours and positive professional approach to work. Encourages team motivation and achievements. They actively challenge bad behaviour, respect other peoples views, and are open, transparent and supportive.
- Acting with integrity and behaving responsibly - Takes ownership of their work, responsibility for their actions and decisions and accountable for their performance and development.
- Acting with integrity and behaving responsibly is key to ensure the Council and its employees achieving an excellent reputation with residents, partners and businesses.
- Building relationships to work well together - Works to reach common goals; sharing information, supporting colleagues, welcoming feedback, building good relationships and partnerships to improve productivity and effectiveness. Applies an inclusive approach to staff, customers, residents and the community as a whole to deliver efficient and effective services
Experience
Essential
- Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to lead complex change programmes across organisational boundaries, influence leaders, including CEOs and motivate partners to improve population health.
- Commitment to work within a political system irrespective of personal political affiliations
- Public Health Expertise:
- In-depth knowledge of clinical quality assurance, quality improvement, evaluation methods, and evidence-based public health practice, including ability to assess effectiveness of interventions and measure outcomes.
- Strong understanding of interfaces between health, social care, and key partners, including wider determinants of health.
- Analytical Skills: Skilled in synthesising data from multiple sources for surveillance and assessment of population health, including leading JSNA and applying qualitative and quantitative data (including health economics) to inform policy, commissioning, and service improvement.
- Policy and Strategy Development: Ability to design and implement strategies and policies, develop inter-agency plans, and contribute to procurement processes, informed by robust evidence and evaluation frameworks.
- Health Protection: Competence in risk assessment and response coordination for communicable disease control and environmental hazards, including consideration of climate-related risks.
- Communication and Influence:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences, including councillors, NHS, and community stakeholders and advocate for public health priorities.
- Research and Innovation: Experience in applied research, critical appraisal, evaluation frameworks, and influencing research agendas to meet local needs and contribute to teaching and learning activities.
- Leadership and Resilience: Capacity to lead responses in unplanned circumstances, inspire commitment to prevention, and manage complexity effectively.
- Professional and Ethical Practice: Commitment to ethical standards, transparency and public health advocacy, maintaining CPD and appraisal in line with FPH requirements
Desirable
- Communication and Influence:
- Experience in media engagement to deliver effective health behaviour and health promotion messages.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List/UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists
- *Public health specialty registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview, all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers*
- If registered in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, the equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine practice
- Must meet minimum CPD requirements in line with the Faculty of Public Health or other recognised body standards
- Membership of the Faculty of Public Health (MFPH) by examination, exemption or assessment
Desirable
- Accredited Clinical Supervisor (Faculty of Public Health)
- Masters degree in Public Health or equivalent
Additional information
Essential
- May be required to join on call arrangements relating to Public Health Emergencies or Outbreak of infectious diseases.
- The postholder may be required to drive across the City and will require the use of their own vehicle in some instances.
- This is a hybrid role and will require the post holder to work at least two days per week, on average, in the office.
- Further information about the Professional Status of Consultants, Faculty of Public Health Competencies and a structure chart can be found in the job description.
Behaviours
Essential
- Driving Positive Change - has a future focused approach that can easily respond to different and changing demands. Possesses a positive attitude so that they may adapt to the pace of change. Embraces new technologies and new ideas.
- Trust and Respect - creates mutual trust and remove barriers to help develop a highly collaborative and respectful team. Values feedback and respectfully listens to other peoples opinions.
- Strong Leadership - Leads by example, and through their behaviours and positive professional approach to work. Encourages team motivation and achievements. They actively challenge bad behaviour, respect other peoples views, and are open, transparent and supportive.
- Acting with integrity and behaving responsibly - Takes ownership of their work, responsibility for their actions and decisions and accountable for their performance and development.
- Acting with integrity and behaving responsibly is key to ensure the Council and its employees achieving an excellent reputation with residents, partners and businesses.
- Building relationships to work well together - Works to reach common goals; sharing information, supporting colleagues, welcoming feedback, building good relationships and partnerships to improve productivity and effectiveness. Applies an inclusive approach to staff, customers, residents and the community as a whole to deliver efficient and effective services
Experience
Essential
- Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to lead complex change programmes across organisational boundaries, influence leaders, including CEOs and motivate partners to improve population health.
- Commitment to work within a political system irrespective of personal political affiliations
- Public Health Expertise:
- In-depth knowledge of clinical quality assurance, quality improvement, evaluation methods, and evidence-based public health practice, including ability to assess effectiveness of interventions and measure outcomes.
- Strong understanding of interfaces between health, social care, and key partners, including wider determinants of health.
- Analytical Skills: Skilled in synthesising data from multiple sources for surveillance and assessment of population health, including leading JSNA and applying qualitative and quantitative data (including health economics) to inform policy, commissioning, and service improvement.
- Policy and Strategy Development: Ability to design and implement strategies and policies, develop inter-agency plans, and contribute to procurement processes, informed by robust evidence and evaluation frameworks.
- Health Protection: Competence in risk assessment and response coordination for communicable disease control and environmental hazards, including consideration of climate-related risks.
- Communication and Influence:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences, including councillors, NHS, and community stakeholders and advocate for public health priorities.
- Research and Innovation: Experience in applied research, critical appraisal, evaluation frameworks, and influencing research agendas to meet local needs and contribute to teaching and learning activities.
- Leadership and Resilience: Capacity to lead responses in unplanned circumstances, inspire commitment to prevention, and manage complexity effectively.
- Professional and Ethical Practice: Commitment to ethical standards, transparency and public health advocacy, maintaining CPD and appraisal in line with FPH requirements
Desirable
- Communication and Influence:
- Experience in media engagement to deliver effective health behaviour and health promotion messages.
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).
