Healthier Weight (and Nutrition) Co-ordinator

Ards and North Down Borough Council; Newtownards; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local governmental organization in Northern Ireland seeks a Healthier Weight Coordinator to promote healthier weight outcomes. The role involves developing and implementing action plans, engaging stakeholders, and working within various council departments. Ideal candidates should have a relevant degree or extensive experience in health promotion and public health, along with strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• At least two years of relevant experience managing various projects.
• Experience facilitating health-related initiatives.
• Development of working partnerships with diverse groups.
• Regular report writing and recommendations.
• Engaging communities in one-on-one or group settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the Action Plan for the Healthier Weight initiative.
• Monitor implementation and encourage stakeholder participation.
• Report progress to the leadership groups.
• Establish and manage stakeholder engagement processes.
• Identify and address gaps in delivery.

Skills

Knowledge of public health and obesity

Excellent communication skills

Excellent organisational skills

Performance monitoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Qualification in environmental/public health, nutrition, health promotion, or community development

Tools

Microsoft Office applications

Job description

Overview

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Healthier Weight (and Nutrition) Co-ordinator

Directorate: Community and Wellbeing, however, may be required to work in any Directorate across the Council

Department: Environmental Health, however, may be required to work in any Department across the Council

Location: Church Street, however, may be required to work at any location throughout the Borough

Reports to: Environmental Health Manager (Health and Wellbeing)

Salary Scale: PO1 SCP 29-32

Car User Status: Casual

PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF THE POST

The Healthier Weight (and Nutrition) Coordinator will be responsible for the delivery of the Community Plan (The Big Plan) workstream that includes Ards and North Down’s selection as an early adopter site for a Whole Systems Approach to Healthier Weight, Northern Ireland wide initiative.

This role will involve following the Leeds Becket Model in relation to whole systems approach to develop and deliver a fully operational and collaborative Action Plan. The role will promote shared ownership of healthier weight outcomes across the borough, strengthening partnership working, community involvement and inter-agency delivery.

The role will work collaboratively with the Food Control team in the Council implementing initiatives connected with healthier weight projects and programmes.

Principal duties and responsibilities

1. Develop and deliver an Action Plan based on the existing WSA systems map, ensuring regular review and adaptation.
2. Monitor the implementation of the Action Plan; and encourage increased participation in WSA HW initiatives by utilising a co-production approach and engaging a range of stakeholders, reporting progress to the leadership group.
3. Using Public Health England guidance and tools, alongside any supplementary tools provided by Public Health Agency (PHA), to implement this initiative and to monitor progress.
4. Report progress to the WSA HW Leadership Group, the Strategic Community Planning Partnership and Ards and North Down Borough Council including through Progress Monitoring Reports and Performance Scorecards.
5. Facilitate quarterly meetings of the WSA HW Workstream Group and ensure that Stakeholders feel engaged and that it is representative of all relevant service providers.
6. Establish and manage additional WSA HW sub-groups/task and finish groups as appropriate and report on their activities to the WSA HW Workstream Group and other relevant community planning workstream groups.
7. Develop a mechanism to regularly engage with communities and service users to enable effective co-production and consultation processes that ensures the voices of all people across Ards and North Down area heard and influence delivery.
8. Establish links to other health related groups (e.g. South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, Education Authority, Sport NI) to facilitate effective co-production and consultation processes that future proof healthier weight actions, and report on these to the WSA HW Leadership Group.
9. Support the implementation of Food Standards Agency (FSA) nutritional guidance including the delivery of the Calorie Wise scheme by engaging with a range of stakeholders including businesses and representing the Council in regional and national WSA HW networks.
10. Liaise with internal council partners, particularly those that have a front facing service, including Leisure, Food Control, Health and Wellbeing and Community Development, to develop joint working practices to maximise the outreach and impact of WSA HW work.
11. Identify and address gaps in delivery or policy through collaborative approaches.
12. Support the adoption and implementation of relevant nutritional guidance across services and partners.
13. Develop shared performance indicators and a dashboard to track impact and to assess the impact of actions and interventions against these.
14. Liaise with internal Council departments to align health objectives across services.
15. Represent the Council on the WSA HW shared learning Network as coordinated by PHA.
16. Research and coordinate policy development in line with this workand disseminate it across the partnership.
17. Identify funding opportunities and secure necessary resources to support the work of the Partnership.
18. Oversee the effective and efficient management of records and document retention procedures to ensure compliance with all council and funder policies and audit procedures.
19. Prepare and deliver reports and presentations relating to WSA HW work in the district for relevant elected member groups, management and other groups as required.
20. Co-ordinate communication of the WSA HW across the Borough.
21. Promote a whole system, inter-agency response to obesity and weight at a local level.

1. To comply with and promote equality, health and safety in accordance with Council Policies and legal requirements.
2. To undertake any other appropriate duties as may be allocated from time to time in accordance with the general nature of the post.

Note: The post holder may occasionally be required to work outside normal office hours including evenings and weekends when required

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The person specification provides information on the qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills required to carry out the duties of the post.

The essential criteria will be used for shortlisting and as part of the selection process.

CATEGORY

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

QUALIFICATIONS

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

OR

Five years of relevant experience, as outlined below, if a Bachelor’s degree is not held.

Qualification in environmental/public health, nutrition, health promotion, or community development.

EXPERIENCE

At least two years of relevant experience in all of the following areas (or five years of relevant experience in all of the following areas if a Bachelor’s degree is not held):

• Successfully managing and delivering a variety of projects simultaneously and achieving results to meet timeframes, with external agencies.
• Experience working on and facilitating health-related initiatives
• Development of successful working partnerships with a wide range of groups and individuals.
• Regular report writing and making appropriate recommendations.
• Engagement with individuals/communities in a one to one and / or group setting

Experience of Whole Systems Approach to Healthier Weight; FSA nutritional guidance; Co-production; and Public health policy

KEY SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of public health and obesity
• Competence in the use of Microsoft Office applications including email, spreadsheets and databases.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a wide range of audiences
• Excellent organisational skills
• Experience of performance monitoring

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Be available to work outside normal office hours including evenings and weekends when required.
• A full current driving licence valid in the UK (minimum Category B) with access to a form of transport that will allow fulfilment of the duties of the post or have access to a suitable form of transport which will enable the post holder to meet the requirements of the post*

(It should be noted that the post will involve travel across ANDBC, and beyond).

*The above alternative (access to a suitable form of transport), is a ‘reasonable adjustment’ specifically for applicants with disabilities, who as a result of their disability, are unable to hold a valid driving licence.

The selection panel reserves the right to enhance the shortlisting criteria to facilitate the process when necessary.