Job summary
The NHS England Director for Public Health within the Medical Directorate will provide professional public health leadership across NHSE. This Director must be a credible leader, providing professional advice to the NHS, the Chief Medical Officer, DHSC, UKHSA and where relevant, internationally. The Director for Public Health links through their Office of Professional Standards with all Responsible Officers in NHS England, and in due course, in ICBs as designated bodies in respect of professional public health standards throughout the NHS. The Director also relates closely with the Regional Directors of Public Health and their teams. An important part of the relationships is linking with the Association of Directors of Public Health, the Faculty of Public Health and individual DPH leaders in roles that relate to ICBs and the wider NHS. The director also acts as a deputy Director in support of the national Medical Director, NHSE. The role leads the professional standards for Public Health in NHS England and leadership support to the prevention, health and justice, inequalities, emergency planning/health protection and specialist commissioning functions within NHS England. The role also provides professional leadership to screening and immunisation services where public health consultants practice and leads the professional standards for registrars in public health throughout NHSE. Please note that the reason for the fixed term of the contract is short-term vacancy.
Main duties of the job
The role is accountable for professional public health leadership across NHSE. The team working directly to this Director is (a) a professional standards and external relationships responsibility and (b) oversight and accountability to the NHS National Medical Director for several functions including public health advice to specialist commissioning, to other health services and reduction of health inequalities. Support is also provided to the national screening and immunisation, data and evidence analysis and preventive services. The post also has overall leadership in the way public health influences the parts of the NHS beyond the identifiable and small public health resource. o Establish clear quality standards and governance for the main professional public health functions including appraisal, revalidation, CPD and training o Develop and oversee the implementation of a NHS Public Health workforce strategy o Lead the national public health support and relationship building with the ICBs and ICPs. We need to take further steps to develop population health management approaches that address inequalities in access, experience and outcomes, with a sharper focus on prevention. Public health will play a vital role in this and the post is ideally placed with key partners such as Local Government, NHS Confederation, CQC and NICE. The post holder will also work closely to support ICSs, which will help communities to have healthier lives with better outcomes.
About us
In August 2022, NHS England announced the creation of a new single organisation (combining the responsibilities of NHS England, Health Education England and NHS Digital).
Our operating model represents a strong shift to regional delivery supported by expert corporate teams. Local health systems are supported by our integrated regional teams who play a major leadership role in the geographies they manage.
We are jointly committed to creating and maintaining a fair and supportive working environment and culture, where contributions are fully recognised and valued by all and staff feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities. As employers we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health and well-being of all our staff. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution, supports us to be an Employer of Choice and ultimately enables our employees to support the effective care of our patients.
The seven integrated regions of our joint enterprise will work with local systems to support and improve how care is provided to patients and communities. These regions will be supported by the corporate centre providing expertise and developing policy. The focus will be on guiding and managing the delivery of services through local integrated health systems, sustainability and transformation partnerships, and devolution areas.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The NHSE Director for Public Health is accountable for professional public health leadership across NHSE. The Director must be a credible leader, providing professional advice to the NHS, the Chief Medical Officer and Department for Health and Social Care, the UKHSA and where relevant, internationally.
Key objectives include:
- Lead and strengthen the public health function within the NHS, acting as the most senior public health leader with a comprehensive approach to public health functions.
- Identify and deliver on the opportunities to maximise the health impact to the population of England of NHS programmes, partnerships and services in particular ensuring strong public health input to the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan;
- Ensuring high quality public health inputs to national clinical services from prevention programmes through to specialist commissioning
- Upholding professional public health standards as the national Head of Profession for NHS Public Health, ensuring strong links with the GMC, UKPHR and GDC
- Act as a deputy to the National Medical Director for the NHS
- Strengthen joint work between national and regional teams and build on emerging relationships with the Integrated Care Systems specifically the public health inputs to ICBs and ICPs.
- Nurture good partnerships with key external interests including OHID, UKHSA, ADsPH, the LGA, the UK Faculty of Public Health, Clinical Royal Colleges, local government and academic partners at national level
- Support the development of good relations between NHS England and the wider public health system including Directors of Public Health and senior local government leadership; Office for Health Promotion and Chief Medical Officer team, Chief Executive and Directors of the UKHSA, GMC and Faculty of Public Health
- Act as required in support of the Chief Medical Officer for England.
- Support a cohesive public health professional network to enhance the role of public health within NHS England and the wider NHS.
- Ensure that the NHS is secured as a training location for public health professionals and work is in train to ensure the whole assets of the NHS are deployed for training to mutual benefit of the specialty and the NHS.
- Ensure effective revalidation arrangements for medical and non-medical public health specialists in NHSE.
- Identify the responsibilities and accountabilities of the NHS in protecting the population particularly in contested areas of protection practices. Implement an agreed model of delivery with external partners particularly UKHSA.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The NHSE Director for Public Health is accountable for professional public health leadership across NHSE. The Director must be a credible leader, providing professional advice to the NHS, the Chief Medical Officer and Department for Health and Social Care, the UKHSA and where relevant, internationally.
Key objectives include:
- Lead and strengthen the public health function within the NHS, acting as the most senior public health leader with a comprehensive approach to public health functions.
- Identify and deliver on the opportunities to maximise the health impact to the population of England of NHS programmes, partnerships and services in particular ensuring strong public health input to the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan;
- Ensuring high quality public health inputs to national clinical services from prevention programmes through to specialist commissioning
- Upholding professional public health standards as the national Head of Profession for NHS Public Health, ensuring strong links with the GMC, UKPHR and GDC
- Act as a deputy to the National Medical Director for the NHS
- Strengthen joint work between national and regional teams and build on emerging relationships with the Integrated Care Systems specifically the public health inputs to ICBs and ICPs.
- Nurture good partnerships with key external interests including OHID, UKHSA, ADsPH, the LGA, the UK Faculty of Public Health, Clinical Royal Colleges, local government and academic partners at national level
- Support the development of good relations between NHS England and the wider public health system including Directors of Public Health and senior local government leadership; Office for Health Promotion and Chief Medical Officer team, Chief Executive and Directors of the UKHSA, GMC and Faculty of Public Health
- Act as required in support of the Chief Medical Officer for England.
- Support a cohesive public health professional network to enhance the role of public health within NHS England and the wider NHS.
- Ensure that the NHS is secured as a training location for public health professionals and work is in train to ensure the whole assets of the NHS are deployed for training to mutual benefit of the specialty and the NHS.
- Ensure effective revalidation arrangements for medical and non-medical public health specialists in NHSE.
- Identify the responsibilities and accountabilities of the NHS in protecting the population particularly in contested areas of protection practices. Implement an agreed model of delivery with external partners particularly UKHSA.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) Or Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
- 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
- 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 [see 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
- Masters in Public Health or equivalent
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Expert knowledge and experience of leading national and international approaches to health protection and evidence of securing improved outcomes
- Advanced understanding of the UK parliamentary and policy making system, the NHS and local government
- Significant Board level experience in the public, voluntary and community or private sector
- Experience of working nationally and globally in complex political and social environments
- Experience of working on large scale organisational change, transition and transformation in a form that achieved tangible benefit for the organisation's workforce and the public
- Experienced Consultant in Public Health or Health Protection with experience of working at a senior and strategic level in the health system
- Experience of strategic leadership of significant public health incidents
- Understanding of the public sector duty and inequality duty and application of those duties to tackling inequalities in health outcomes.
Desirable
- Knowledge of methods of developing quality assurance, quality improvement and evidence-based clinical and public health practice
- Demonstrable understanding of the national and international public health system, political environment and evidence-based approach to decision making
Skills Capabilities & Attributes
Essential
- Exceptional ability in strategic thinking in a complex and rapidly changing political environment - managing competing priorities
- Proven skill in managing highly sensitive and/or complex problems in, and external challenge to, large public and/or private sector organisations
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral
- Excellent analytical skills, able to identify patterns and trends, where specialist advice is needed and why, be a fast thinker and a good decision maker
- Able to operate at pace in a fast-changing complex environment to manage competing priorities effectively
- Extensive public health leadership skills
Value and behaviours
Essential
- Proven appreciation and acknowledgment of the range and complexities of diversity in the UK. Self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers. Cultural competence including cultural sensitivity and awareness.
- Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do.
- Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public.
- Values diversity and difference; operates with integrity and openness
- Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, look for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation.
- Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same.
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
- Self-awareness in teams of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness.
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel across multiple sites where required
Faculty of Public Health: Competencies Expected of all Public Health Consultants and Specialists
Essential
- Use of public health intelligence to survey and assess a population's health and wellbeing
- Assessing the evidence of effectiveness of interventions, programmes and services intended to improve the health or wellbeing of individuals or populations.
- Policy and strategy development and implementation.
- Strategic leadership and collaborative working for health.
- Health Improvement, Determinants of Health, and Health Communication.
- Health Protection.
- Health and Care Public Health.
- Academic Public Health
- Professional, personal and ethical development.
- Integration and application for consultant practice.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) Or Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
- 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
- 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 [see 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
- Masters in Public Health or equivalent
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Expert knowledge and experience of leading national and international approaches to health protection and evidence of securing improved outcomes
- Advanced understanding of the UK parliamentary and policy making system, the NHS and local government
- Significant Board level experience in the public, voluntary and community or private sector
- Experience of working nationally and globally in complex political and social environments
- Experience of working on large scale organisational change, transition and transformation in a form that achieved tangible benefit for the organisation's workforce and the public
- Experienced Consultant in Public Health or Health Protection with experience of working at a senior and strategic level in the health system
- Experience of strategic leadership of significant public health incidents
- Understanding of the public sector duty and inequality duty and application of those duties to tackling inequalities in health outcomes.
Desirable
- Knowledge of methods of developing quality assurance, quality improvement and evidence-based clinical and public health practice
- Demonstrable understanding of the national and international public health system, political environment and evidence-based approach to decision making
Skills Capabilities & Attributes
Essential
- Exceptional ability in strategic thinking in a complex and rapidly changing political environment - managing competing priorities
- Proven skill in managing highly sensitive and/or complex problems in, and external challenge to, large public and/or private sector organisations
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral
- Excellent analytical skills, able to identify patterns and trends, where specialist advice is needed and why, be a fast thinker and a good decision maker
- Able to operate at pace in a fast-changing complex environment to manage competing priorities effectively
- Extensive public health leadership skills
Value and behaviours
Essential
- Proven appreciation and acknowledgment of the range and complexities of diversity in the UK. Self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers. Cultural competence including cultural sensitivity and awareness.
- Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do.
- Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public.
- Values diversity and difference; operates with integrity and openness
- Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
- Consistently looks to improve what they do, look for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation.
- Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same.
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
- Self-awareness in teams of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers with cultural sensitivity and awareness.
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel across multiple sites where required
Faculty of Public Health: Competencies Expected of all Public Health Consultants and Specialists
Essential
- Use of public health intelligence to survey and assess a population's health and wellbeing
- Assessing the evidence of effectiveness of interventions, programmes and services intended to improve the health or wellbeing of individuals or populations.
- Policy and strategy development and implementation.
- Strategic leadership and collaborative working for health.
- Health Improvement, Determinants of Health, and Health Communication.
- Health Protection.
- Health and Care Public Health.
- Academic Public Health
- Professional, personal and ethical development.
- Integration and application for consultant practice.
Additional information
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).
