Behavioural Science Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main responsibilities

1. Contribute to the overall work programme of the Somerset Public Health Team, including the delivery of the Improving Lives Strategy (2018-2029), County Plan and the Public Health Outcomes in the Public Health Outcomes Framework which relate to the wider determinants of health, and tackling health inequalities (Including but not limited to housing, education, employment, poverty).

2. Influence work with partners and providers to reinforce the adoption of behavioural science approaches.

3. Manage the technical tasks assigned from either the Behavioural Science Specialist or the lead consultant including supporting with a range of research and administration activities underpinning the planning, implementation, and evaluation of behavioural science initiatives.

4. Support the development of interventions across Somerset Council business areas to optimise service design, programme delivery and key outcomes using behaviourally informed approaches and interventions.

5. Lead on and contribute to the writing of high-quality reports, including systematic reviews, literature reviews and reports, gathering evidence from a variety of sources including peer reviewed journals, policy/strategy documents, and grey literature.

6. Lead on the critical appraisal of behavioural science evidence (both qualitative and quantitative) to identify specific drivers for behavioural change interventions.

7. Support the Behavioural Science Specialist with the synthesis and interpretation of evidence and insights to inform methodology and theory selection.

8. Support project teams who are delivering agreed interventions with the analysis, development, implementation, evaluation and review of interventions.

9. Provide project management approaches to project teams designing and delivering interventions

10. Collect, interpret and disseminate findings to senior managers, commissioners, elected members and stakeholders through verbal and written presentations as required.

11. Understand, uphold and promote the aims of the councils equality, diversity and inclusion policies; health, safety and wellbeing of self and others; and Organisational values in everything you do. Equality and Diversity practice covers both interaction with staff, serviceusers and communities and includes challenging discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for all.

Contacts and Relationships

The post will take a role in developing and sustaining inter-agency and interdisciplinary plans for the adoption of behavioural science approaches. This will be in partnership with a range of agencies in the statutory, non-statutory, voluntary and private sectors. This requires demonstrable influencing and negotiating skills in a complex field across other agencies and voluntary organisations. Within the public health team, will have key relationships with Health Promotion Managers Specialists, and Consultants.

Resources

The total budget for public health is £22m. This post will not have direct responsibility for this spend but will contribute to the allocation of resources from budgets through discussions with their line manager and ensure the effective use of these and the wider public health budget is used to maximise the impacts on health and wellbeing adopting behavioural science approaches.

Further information specific to this job

The successful candidate has a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children and young people they are responsible for or come into contact with. Somerset Council is subject to Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English will be an essential requirement for customer-facing roles. This job requires a criminal background check (DBS) via the disclosure procedure.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to a minimum of Masters
• degree level in a behavioural science
• e.g. Psychology, Health Psychology,
• Behavioural Economics.
• Evidence of formal research skills
• training

Desirable

• Membership of a professional body

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Self-motivated with proven ability to work
• proactively and independently under the
• guidance of senior colleagues.
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work effectively across different teams
• and departments in a collaborative manner.
• Politically aware.
• Flexible and self-motivated to improve the health
• and well-being of the population of Somerset
• High level of organisation and time management
• skills and ability to prioritise workload and work to
• deadlines.
• Able to respond to a changing pattern of demand
• at work which can be unpredictable and
• unplanned requiring constant shifts of priority.
• Able to influence and motivate others.
• Adaptable approach to meet the needs of
• the service.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of conducting literature reviews using robust methods
• (preferably as part of a research team).
• Experience in critically appraising research.
• Skilled in quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Understanding of the use of behavioural science to inform intervention
• development.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present a range of complex data as part of literature reviews, reports and presentations.
• Knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of different data sources.
• Knowledge of research and evaluation methods for understanding the
• effectiveness of behaviour change interventions.
• Skilled in writing up research findings (to academic journal publication standard).
• Experience of using a variety of behavioural science tools and
• approaches e.g. Behaviour Change Wheel or Behavioural Insights.
• Experience of building and maintaining productive relationships, including those with stakeholders and partners.
• Experience of successfully leading, developing and implementing projects or programmes.
• Experience of developing effective verbal and written communication of public health messages for the public
• Good organisational skills and ability to delegate effectively.

Desirable

• Proven practical experience of applying behavioural insights to real world issues, preferably with or for public sector organisations.
• Understanding of local government cultures, pressures, and processes.
• Experience of organising and delivering training.
• Presentation of research at academic conferences and/or journal publications.
• Strong, effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Well-developed written, presentation and report writing skills, using effective language to convey ideas and arguments convincingly and the ability to simplify technical and complex information.
• Proficient ICT skills including using web-based applications.
• Ability to identify and respond to the political context updating the Public Health Consultants, Deputy Director of Public Health or DPH where necessary.
• Ability to manage expectations and tensions, including having difficult or challenging conversations.
• Good partnership working skills.
• Ability to make considered logical and rational decisions in a timely manner and communicate them clearly.
• Hold a UK driving license or have access to transport and be able to attend / participate in meetings across Somerset.
• Ability to speak fluent English as stated in Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016).

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset County Council

Address

County Hall

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY

Employer's website

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