Deputy Director of Public Health

Job description

Job responsibilities

This post is scale O (£77,732-£86,720) with a market supplement in line with NHS Agenda for Change Band8d, dependent on years of consultant experience, up to a maximum of £105,337 (reviewed annually).

Plus an additional market supplement of £5,716 per annum, thus the maximum total remuneration of up to £111,053.

Up to £8,000 relocation (subject to eligibility and prior approval).

A variety of flexible and hybrid working options are supported, including working part time.

Reports to Director of Public Health.

Responsible for Specialty Registrars in Public Health/Medical Trainees (GP and Foundation Year 2). Other team members as required, (may include line management of team members within the ICB). Allocated resources as required.

FPH AAC reference number: AAC0002492

The post holder is one of the most senior members of the Public Health Leadership team and will deputise for the Director of Public Health (DPH) to deliver the statutory public health functions across Norfolk, improving the health and wellbeing of residents, reducing health inequalities and protecting local communities from public health hazards.

They will work closely with the relevant departments across the county council as well as relevant stakeholders across the county and the region.

The specific lead responsibilities for this post will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate. They may vary over time and cover all domains of public health. The Deputy Director of Public Health will lead input and response in relation to a range of specialist public health functions, with responsibility for ensuring the delivery of associated strategies and business plans, and manage and supervise specialist teams, working on areas which over time could include:

• Healthcare public health - directing specialist public health activities in relation to the Integrated Care System, including population health management strategy and implementation within the ICB
• Addressing health inequalities - leading the development of strategy across Norfolk
• Public Health intelligence and epidemiology function - requiring interpretation and analysis of complex information, including the statutory requirements for a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment
• Health improvement and commissioning of public health services - directing specialist public health leadership on policy areas such as children and young people's health, mental health, healthy lifestyles, substance misuse, sexual health and the wider determinants of health
• Health protection - leading the specialist response to infectious diseases, emergency planning and resilience
• Public health aspects of children's and vulnerable adults safeguarding

The post holder will be a highly visible leader, not only in the organisation but also across the Norfolk system. A high level of communication skills is required, liaising with a range of stakeholders including the media, elected officials, chief executives, boards and committees and the general public.

A high level of leadership, tact and diplomacy is required, including an ability to understand other cultures, advise, challenge and advocate toenable effective working across organisationalboundaries and influencing without direct authority.

The post holder is a lead officer for partnership working at a senior level. Key contacts will include the NHS/ICB, Executive Directors within NCC, Norfolk Constabulary, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, Police and Crime Commissioner, District Councils and Voluntary/Community organisations, and in the future any (mayoral) combined authorities and new unitary authorities.

The postholder will be expected to be able to cope with multiple and changing demands, and to meet tight deadlines. A high level of intellectual rigour, political awareness, negotiation and motivational skills and flexibility are required.

The post holder will deal with complex public health issues, advise the health and wellbeing board and other strategic fora and make recommendations regarding services and patient care and play a full part in ensuring a public health delivery across NCC's priorities.

The specific lead responsibilities for this post will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate. The current postholder has a role embedded within Norfolk and Waveney ICB leading on healthcare public health, population health management and health inequalities and leading the provision of Public Health Norfolk advice to the ICB, as well as being a member of the Senior Management team in Public Health and the lead consultant for Information and analytics. This includes reporting to the ICB's Executive Medical Director, in addition to the line management and professional accountability to the Director of Public Health at NCC. However, the successful postholder may wish to discuss other portfolios with the new Director of Public Health, in line with their experience and interests.

The role of public health within Local Authorities clearly identifies the unique contribution which local authorities can make to improve the health and wellbeing of communities through:

• Developing clear long-term visions and strategies which will deliver maximum improvements in health and wellbeing in line with the Council's strategic objectives
• Developing or enhancing workstreams that address key priorities in the Public Health Strategic Plan - portfolios will be agreed with the postholder and can vary over time across the breadth of local authority public health
• Developing strong partner relationships and providing strategic leadership to ensure effective system approaches to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities in a complex and challenging partnership environment
• Supporting Members to engage effectively within the system and with their communities with respect to the population's health
• Supporting the Director of Public Health in their statutory duties
• Playing a leadership role in continuous improvement to improve outcomes for the local population and effectiveness of interventions and services
• Contributing to the department as a learning environment, supporting the development of staff and providing good quality supervision for trainees
• Providing specialist public health input into the review, commissioning and strategic direction of services.

The public health team is located within the Adult Social Services department. Norfolk County Council is an approved training location for FY2 and GP Trainees and Specialty Registrars in Public Health. Norfolk and Waveney ICB is also an approved training location for Specialty Registrars in Public Health.

Organisational charts reflect the current organisation of the public health department, though re-organisations may be undertaken from time to time with changes to teams and line management arrangements and responsibilities.

Act with full delegated authority on behalf of the DPH, as agreed. Be a senior representative of public health within Norfolk County Council and represent Norfolk County Council across the wider system. Provide expert advisory capacity on public health knowledge, standards and practice, across the spectrum of public health.

Influence external agencies in their public health policy decisions by working with complex professional, managerial and population groups, and other organisations in the statutory, non-statutory and private sectors.

Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems to underpin public health action across disciplines and organisations, leading collation and interpretation of relevant data.

Direct strategy, policy development and ensure delivery of business plans and interventions in specialist portfolios in areas including health protection, health intelligence, health improvement and public health specialist advice to the ICB.

Lead the development and implementation of national, regional and local policies, developing inter-agency and interdisciplinary strategic plans and programmes, with delegated Board or organisational authority to deliver key public health targets.

Direct the provision of expert public health advice and leadership to support and inform an evidence-based approach within ethical frameworks for commissioning and developing high quality equitable services.

Manage a team of senior staff including specialist Consultants in Public Health and specialist teams. Contribute to training Specialty Registrars in Public Health, FY2 and GP trainees and professional development of other staff.

Be an authorised senior officer signatory, budget or delegated budget holder, or be required to monitor or contribute to the formulation of department/ service budgets and financial initiatives.

Undertake research or audit and translate research findings into public health practice.

Public health consultants work as system leaders at strategic or senior management level or at a senior level of expertise such as epidemiology or health protection. The combination of leadership and managerial skills together with high level of technical skills and knowledge gives them a unique skill set essential for improving the health and wellbeing of populations.

Consultants have the same professional status irrespective of local line management arrangements and have experience in various areas of public health practice.

It is envisaged that this role will be full time 37 hours per week, or pro rata for part time working. Following appointment there will be a meeting at no later than three months with the line manager to review and revise the job plan and objectives of the post holder. A formal job plan will be agreed between the post holder and the line manager three months after commencing the post and at least annually thereafter.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Delivery of successful change management programmes across organizational boundaries.
• Experience of using complex information to explain public health issues to a range of audiences.

Desirable

• Media experience demonstrating delivery of effective health behaviour or health promotion messages.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills and operational nous
• Able to demonstrate and motivate organisations to contribute to improving the public's health and wellbeing through mainstream activities and within resources
• Ability to lead and manage the response successfully in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Analytical skills able to utilize both qualitative (including health economics) and quantitative information
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement strategies and policies
• In depth understanding of the health and care system and the relationships with both local and national government
• In depth knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, quality improvement, evaluations and evidence based public health practice
• Strong and demonstrable understanding of interfaces between health, social care and key partners (dealing with wider determinants of health)
• Understanding of the public sector duty and the inequality duty and their application to public health practice

Qualifications

Essential

• In line with legislation, inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists at the point of application.
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice
• Any public health speciality registrar applicants who are currently on the UK public health training programme and not yet on either the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interview*
• If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT. Read the shortlisting notes below for additional guidance.
• Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body
• MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment, or equivalent.
• Applicants going through the portfolio registration routes (GMC or UKPHR) are not eligible to be shortlisted for interview until they are included on the register. The six-month rule does not apply to these portfolio route applicants.

Desirable

• Masters in Public Health or equivalent

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk County Council

Address

County Hall

Martineau Lane

Norwich

Norfolk

NR1 2DH

Employer's website

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