Job summary
Waltham Forest is looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our team as a maternity cover. The Public Health Officer will be responsible for the project management of various projects designed to improve school-aged children's health and wellbeing. This includes supporting Healthy Schools London and Asthma and Allergy Friendly Schools. The role may occasionally involve work to support projects in Early Years, including Best Start in Life, depending on priorities and capacity within the team. Examples of these discreet projects:
- Supporting local work to improve parents knowledge and skills
- Promote and support the Healthy Schools London programme
- Supporting public health projects that arise through the work of Community Safety
- Taking forward actions relating to schools within the Healthy Weight Strategy
- Supporting schools with improving the mental wellbeing of children and young people through existing and upcoming mental health projects
- Supporting work around school nursing and Better Start in Life
- Writing project specific literature reviews, business cases and funding proposals
Main duties of the job
The post will sit within the Public Health Team but will involve working closely with other departments and external project partners. Further to this you will work with a range of external stakeholders including schools, the NHS and voluntary sector partners and will need to establish and maintain a wide range of working relationships. You will need to develop a good understanding of the context of services in the borough which impact on health and health inequalities of children and young people.
We invite applications from individuals who:
- Have strong project management skills and experience of delivering and supporting public health initiatives, particularly in schools and other educational settings.
- Are skilled at managing relationships and negotiating across a wide range of organisations
- Understands the challenges faced by schools, local authorities and the Health Service
- Have experience of working on projects related to improving childrens health
- Who will contribute positively to the work of our dynamic public health team.
- Ideally the person will be familiar with working in Waltham Forest or a borough with a similar demographic profile.
Terms and conditions:
The below terms and conditions apply to this role:
Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/or vulnerable adults;
Satisfactory DBS check;
About us
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.
To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Public Health Officer will lead and support a variety of public health projects, centered
on improving school-aged children's health and wellbeing.
Working under the management of the Senior Public Health Strategist, the post holder will
also promote and support the Healthy Schools London programme and Asthma and Allergy
Friendly Schools in Waltham Forest. The role will involve close working with schools,
parenting forums, policy leads, health providers and other partners, including within the
community and voluntary sector. The role may occasionally involve work to support projects
in Early Years, including Best Start in Life, depending on priorities and capacity within the
team.
The role will involve contacting the Heads of Service and Senior Managers across Waltham Forest, and external
agencies and other organisations providing advice.
Work directly with colleagues internal and external, other providers and external agencies to
gather and exchange information and co-ordinate actions.
Develop sensitivity, persuasiveness, and negotiation and assertiveness skills to
communicate with diverse audiences in emotive circumstances. Deal with people at all
levels confidently, sensitively and diplomatically.
Provide specialist advice, guidance and support on issues within area of responsibility;
develop and maintain joint working and promote the Council position.
Consult with stakeholders to identify requirements. Communicate changes in policy and
working practice to contacts.
Work within a policy framework and regulatory guidelines, applying knowledge of systems,
procedures and best practice. Work to broad managerial direction, within a policy framework
and regulatory guidelines, to ensure performance standards are met within a framework of
policy and legislation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Public Health Officer will lead and support a variety of public health projects, centered
on improving school-aged children's health and wellbeing.
Working under the management of the Senior Public Health Strategist, the post holder will
also promote and support the Healthy Schools London programme and Asthma and Allergy
Friendly Schools in Waltham Forest. The role will involve close working with schools,
parenting forums, policy leads, health providers and other partners, including within the
community and voluntary sector. The role may occasionally involve work to support projects
in Early Years, including Best Start in Life, depending on priorities and capacity within the
team.
The role will involve contacting the Heads of Service and Senior Managers across Waltham Forest, and external
agencies and other organisations providing advice.
Work directly with colleagues internal and external, other providers and external agencies to
gather and exchange information and co-ordinate actions.
Develop sensitivity, persuasiveness, and negotiation and assertiveness skills to
communicate with diverse audiences in emotive circumstances. Deal with people at all
levels confidently, sensitively and diplomatically.
Provide specialist advice, guidance and support on issues within area of responsibility;
develop and maintain joint working and promote the Council position.
Consult with stakeholders to identify requirements. Communicate changes in policy and
working practice to contacts.
Work within a policy framework and regulatory guidelines, applying knowledge of systems,
procedures and best practice. Work to broad managerial direction, within a policy framework
and regulatory guidelines, to ensure performance standards are met within a framework of
policy and legislation.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of Health Improvement theory and methodology gained through a combination of
- education and experience.
- Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to childrens public health including healthy
- eating, physical activity, mental health, obesity, and immunisations.
- Understanding of different infrastructures within the education sector, Local Authority, NHS
- and partner organisations.
- Excellent partnership working and co-ordination skills
- Proven experience of purposefully working in collaboration with other agencies and
- stakeholders to promote positive outcomes for children and their families.
- Excellent project management skills and experience of delivering project elements within
- timescales.
- Experience of using project management techniques to deliver both outputs and outcomes in
- a large organisation.
- Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating health promotion activities for children,
- young people and families.
- Excellent report writing and data management skills.
- Experience of leading projects within a school setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of the diverse communities of Waltham Forest and the
- different strategies available for working with hard to reach groups.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write clear and concise reports and
- communicate effectively with a wide range of people including other professionals, parents
- and carers and skills sufficient to plan, monitor, evaluate and present information or
- programmes.
Qualifications
Essential
- A degree level qualification, or a professional qualification of an equivalent level, in a
- relevant subject, such as public health, population health, health policy, public health
- nutrition, health promotion etc.
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
Experience
Essential
- Work within a policy framework and regulatory guidelines, applying knowledge of systems,
- procedures and best practice. Work to broad managerial direction, within a policy framework
- and regulatory guidelines, to ensure performance standards are met within a framework of
- policy and legislation.
- Plans own time and co-ordinates the work of others. Plan, organise and deliver interventions
- and actions. Responsible for professional advice, assessments or referrals.
- Exercise professional judgement in assessing stakeholder requirements, potential risk and
- quality assurance of service. Monitor and evaluate performance / service delivery, ensuring
- all parties are informed of progress / issues as required. Thinking creatively to ensure high
- performance in the service.
- Provide support to customers, colleagues and other stakeholders through applying
- knowledge of systems, procedures and best practice.
- Responsible for meeting performance standards within a policy framework and regulatory
- guidelines. Accountable for proper use and security of information, resources, equipment
- and/or facilities within area of responsibility.
- Use initiative to deal with complex issues and respond appropriately in an unpredictable
- work environment. May involve isolated working outside core hours. Occasionally the post will be expected to work from other locations
Additional Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent ICT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the ability to use these to
- support and enhance work
- Ability to use initiative, organise and prioritise work, meet tight deadlines and to work both
- independently and as part of a team.
- Good negotiation skills and able to deal with conflict
- High standards of personal integrity
- Orientated to achieving results
- Self -motivated and innovative
- Ability to cope with conflicting demands and pressures
- Displays an awareness, understanding and commitment to the protection and safeguarding
- of children and young people
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of Health Improvement theory and methodology gained through a combination of
- education and experience.
- Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to childrens public health including healthy
- eating, physical activity, mental health, obesity, and immunisations.
- Understanding of different infrastructures within the education sector, Local Authority, NHS
- and partner organisations.
- Excellent partnership working and co-ordination skills
- Proven experience of purposefully working in collaboration with other agencies and
- stakeholders to promote positive outcomes for children and their families.
- Excellent project management skills and experience of delivering project elements within
- timescales.
- Experience of using project management techniques to deliver both outputs and outcomes in
- a large organisation.
- Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating health promotion activities for children,
- young people and families.
- Excellent report writing and data management skills.
- Experience of leading projects within a school setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of the diverse communities of Waltham Forest and the
- different strategies available for working with hard to reach groups.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write clear and concise reports and
- communicate effectively with a wide range of people including other professionals, parents
- and carers and skills sufficient to plan, monitor, evaluate and present information or
- programmes.
Qualifications
Essential
- A degree level qualification, or a professional qualification of an equivalent level, in a
- relevant subject, such as public health, population health, health policy, public health
- nutrition, health promotion etc.
- Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
Experience
Essential
- Work within a policy framework and regulatory guidelines, applying knowledge of systems,
- procedures and best practice. Work to broad managerial direction, within a policy framework
- and regulatory guidelines, to ensure performance standards are met within a framework of
- policy and legislation.
- Plans own time and co-ordinates the work of others. Plan, organise and deliver interventions
- and actions. Responsible for professional advice, assessments or referrals.
- Exercise professional judgement in assessing stakeholder requirements, potential risk and
- quality assurance of service. Monitor and evaluate performance / service delivery, ensuring
- all parties are informed of progress / issues as required. Thinking creatively to ensure high
- performance in the service.
- Provide support to customers, colleagues and other stakeholders through applying
- knowledge of systems, procedures and best practice.
- Responsible for meeting performance standards within a policy framework and regulatory
- guidelines. Accountable for proper use and security of information, resources, equipment
- and/or facilities within area of responsibility.
- Use initiative to deal with complex issues and respond appropriately in an unpredictable
- work environment. May involve isolated working outside core hours. Occasionally the post will be expected to work from other locations
Additional Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent ICT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the ability to use these to
- support and enhance work
- Ability to use initiative, organise and prioritise work, meet tight deadlines and to work both
- independently and as part of a team.
- Good negotiation skills and able to deal with conflict
- High standards of personal integrity
- Orientated to achieving results
- Self -motivated and innovative
- Ability to cope with conflicting demands and pressures
- Displays an awareness, understanding and commitment to the protection and safeguarding
- of children and young people
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.