Job responsibilities
Public Health
responsibilities and functions are provided by a specialist multidisciplinary
team working across the Borough of Sefton. The team works in partnership with other
local authority services, NHS and voluntary, community and faith sector
services. Sefton Public Health Service delivers on a wide range of statutory duties
and responsibilities to protect and improve population health.
Services include
identifying health needs of the population, advising on and commissioning
health services to meet those needs, providing evidence on the effectiveness of
treatments/interventions and highlighting the needs of the more socially
excluded and vulnerable, as well as health protection and broader healthcare
public health services which are also key component parts of our delivery.
The post
will provide a broad range of health protection project management and support with
a specific focus on reducing the harms associated with smoking and the use of
tobacco products. The post holder will take a lead role in identifying local
need and commissioning specialist services in line with that need and an
emerging smokefree generation agenda. The post holder will lead on
co-ordinating efforts to increase the focus of smokefree Sefton developing
collaborations with NHS and other key health partners to increase engagement
with priority groups including pregnant women, people using alcohol and other
drugs, homeless and rough sleeper populations and people living with mental ill
health.
The post
holder will oversee the commissioning, contract performance reviews and development
of local specialist smoking cessation and tobacco treatment services as well as
a range of tobacco harm reduction interventions, including but not limited to,
swap to stop programmes. The post holder will work closely with NHS smokefree
leads and represent the Local Authority public health response at Cheshire and
Mersey, Northwest and National Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
(OHID) forums and meetings.
In addition to core responsibilities the post
holder will contribute to the public health duties within the local authority
and will have a good understanding of local population needs for Sefton. The
post holder will, when required, be responsible for advising and briefing council
officers and Elected Members on all matters of public health, commissioning and
service performance.
Key
areas and responsibilities will include:
MAIN DUTIES
1. Surveillance and
assessment of the populations health and well-being
To source,
interpret and utilise the available evidence base, including in depth
analysis and interpretation of health data and effectiveness appraisal of
diverse public health interventions, in the context of conflicting views
between professionals and agencies. Contribute specialist topic information
to annual and public health reports, strategic documents and other reports as
required. Prepare and process communications (e.g. press releases) with the
media within overall guidelines set by the LA.
Identify public health needs using various methodologies e.g. health
needs assessment, equality impact needs assessments (EINAs), Health Impact
Assessment (HIA) and develop appropriate health outcome measures when
planning and commissioning projects or programmes to improve health and
reduce health inequalities.
2. Assessing the evidence of
effectiveness of health and healthcare interventions, programmes and services
Analyse and interpret national and local policy, data and national
evidence of effectiveness (from a variety of highly complex sources), to
develop, make recommendations and evaluate public health related projects or
programmes some of which may be contentious.
Support the development of a culture of continuous evaluation by
improving the efficiency and effectiveness of investment; identifying the
need for and commission/undertake/contribute to evaluations, research and
audits to assess the effectiveness of interventions, programmes and services.
Keep up to date with the evidence base of effective public health
practice in particular relating to specific public health topic areas, and
public health competencies (through literature searches, critical appraisal
of literature, conferences, journal clubs, professional body communications,
etc.)
3. Policy and strategy
development and implementation
Develop and co-ordinate multi-agency and partnership collaborative
work to engage and influence others, to identify and report on local need and
to improve health and wellbeing. Take responsibility for strategic planning;
leading the development, co-ordination and implementation of multi-agency
strategy and action plans.
Effectively manage a delegated budget for specific commissioned
services and/or projects, with supervision from senior public health staff. Write
bids to secure funding for PH and partnership projects.
Commission
services, as required, within allocated resources; ensuring that contracts
are successfully negotiated and implemented in line with identified needs.
Lead development of service specifications and performance management
arrangements with all providers that will ensure financial and performance
targets are met, that services offer value for money and are delivered
efficiently.
Using standard project management techniques set up and manage
specific projects or programmes to improve heath and reduce health
inequalities.
4. Leadership and
collaborative working for health
Influence statutory, community and voluntary sector partners to
optimise health gains and reductions in health inequalities.
Provide leadership, support and advice to internal and external
partners to inform investment decisions and strategic development to ensure
that a public health perspective informs policy development, strategic
commissioning and operational planning.
Provide highly specialist knowledge and expertise on health
improvement topic areas utilising excellent project management skills,
communication, partnership working, training, contributing to websites and
disseminating information to partner organisations.
Provide support and supervision for health and other professional
staff, in the development of interventions
to tackle public health issues and to address health inequalities. Initiate,
develop and commission training and education programmes for the benefit of
health and other professional staff and evaluate effectiveness, including
presentations to small groups, conferences, students, meetings and networks.
5.
General
Responsible for the
management of member(s) of the Public Health team, as allocated to the post
holder including direct line management and/or
project/matrix management of staff.
Deputise for the senior public health team as required and represent
the council at local, regional and national events; provide advice on
policies and practices, and strategic direction and support to the relevant partnership
boards and forums.
Use various software packages to enable reports, presentations, spread
sheets, databases, and artwork to be produced.
Responsible for chairing and minute taking at meetings as required.
Aware of NHS and council information governance/ best practice and
local guidelines. Demonstrate understanding by competently handing patient,
confidential and sensitive data at all times.
In the performance of all duties, and in particular in the support and
management of staff, to implement all council policies and procedures
necessary to meet customer care needs and to reflect the councils vision and
values.
To ensure that client information data is lawfully gathered, accurate,
up to date and only divulged in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998
and the local government common law duty of confidentiality. Failure to apply these duties can lead to
the individual or the Department facing court proceedings.
To undertake any other duties as directed from time-to-time to meet
the exigencies of the service.
