Director of Public Health

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a statutory leadership role in a high performing, forward-looking council that is committed to prevention, neighbourhood health and reducing inequalities. As an active member of the Executive Leadership Team you will support the Chief Executive in setting, delivering and monitoring the vision, strategic direction and core values of the Council, providing a clear sense of direction, optimism and purpose.

We're looking for an influential, forward-thinking public health leader who is on the GMC/GDC Specialist Register or UKPHR with significant senior leadership experience, a proven track record of leading large-scale change, outstanding partnership building skills and a passion for improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged communities.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for:

• Leading on the continuing development and implementation of the strategic vision for health and wellbeing across the borough.
• Delivering the council's statutory responsibilities to improve health and ensuring that council priorities reflect this.
• Working collaboratively with partners across the NHS, UKHSA, ICB/ICS, voluntary sector and regional partners to deliver integrated local solutions.
• Providing robust stewardship of the Public Health Grant, ensuring resources are aligned to the greatest needs and deliver maximum impact.
• Leading the Public Health team, delivering specialist advice and interventions across the whole life course.

About us

Hartlepool is a vibrant and energetic town with growing prospects. As an authority we want to make Hartlepool the best it possibly can be and want dedicated, driven and committed staff to help us to achieve this.

Hartlepool Borough Council is structured into 5 departments: Adult and Community Based Services; Childrens & Joint Commissioning Services; Development, Neighbourhoods & Regulatory Services; Finance, IT & Digital Services; and Legal Governance & HR Services. Collectively, these departments provide vital services to the public.

For further information about Hartlepool Borough Council, the Council plan and the services we provide, please visit our website at or contact us on .

Job responsibilities

Hartlepool is a relatively small but dynamic area with considerable public health challenges and opportunities. It has a well developed sense of identity and a proud history as a prosperous maritime, engineering and mining location. Having seen tough times, it is bouncing back with thriving educational, creative and business sectors, a waterfront development and green open spaces. There is a well established partnership working with coterminous or adjacent public sector bodies and voluntary organisations concerned with health and wellbeing. A major push towards regeneration of the built environment attracts inward investment and jobs. Public health is recognised to be everyone's business and we are developing a Health in All Policies approach. The Public Health Team is key to delivering on our ambitions to improve the health of our residents.

The fundamental purpose of the postholder is to provide the leadership to drive improvements in the health and wellbeing of the residents of Hartlepool, to reduce inequalities in health outcomes and working in collaboration with UKHSA to protect local communities from threats to their health through infectious diseases, environmental and other public health hazards. In delivering the key responsibilities described below, the postholder is expected to demonstrate a high level of expertise in the Faculty of Public Health Competencies (Appendix 1) and the person specifications (Appendix 2).

a) Support the Chief Executive and Councillors in developing and delivering the Council's strategic agenda

b) Be the chief officer and principal adviser on public health to the Council, local communities and local partners

c) Operate strategically as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and across the Council influencing policy and practice.

d) To commission, and or deliver services which are effective, value for money and meet quality standards.

e) To act as a leader across the local system of public services, influencing change and enabling a culture of continuous improvement in health and wellbeing, innovation and evaluation.

f) Utilise the public health resources imaginatively and cost effectively across all domains of public health in order to improve health and wellbeing of local communities and reduce inequalities in health outcomes.

g) Be accountable for both the shaping and delivery of the Health and Wellbeing agenda taking account of the national agenda and benchmarking (using the national outcomes frameworks; public health, NHS and social care).

h) Deliver an independent annual report on the health and wellbeing of local communities for publication by Hartlepool Borough Council, to stimulate debate and/or action by the Council and partners.

Person Specification

• Understanding of NHS and local government cultures, structures and policies
• Understanding of social and political environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the media) and the ability to present to mixed audiences and the media
• Practical experience in facilitating change
• Travel, including that the role may involve travel on a regular or occasional basis. It is a condition of employment that the role holder can exercise satisfactory travel mobility to fulfil the obligations of the role.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Public health specialty registrar applicants who are currently on the UK public health training program and not yet on the GMC Specialist Register, GDC Specialist List in dental public health or UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interview.
• 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.
• 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.
• MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment, or equivalent.
• Must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date).
• In accordance with the Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body.

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.

Executive Director of Adult Services and PH