Senior Health Trainer

Thurrock Council; Grays; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

LGPS

Hybrid working

Training & development

Wellbeing support

Staff discounts

Inclusive environment

Job summary

Thurrock Council is seeking two Senior Health Trainers to lead a dedicated Health Trainer team within the Healthy Lifestyle Service. You will supervise Health Trainers, deliver evidence-based health improvement interventions, and support residents to set personalised goals and sustainable lifestyle changes.

The role focuses on tackling health inequalities by engaging with communities and partner organisations, while maintaining data quality and service performance.

Qualifications

• Minimum level 3 diploma or certificate in health and social care, health or nutrition
• Evidence of training and working experience in behaviour change techniques such as motivational interviewing and MECC
• NCSCT accredited skills practitioner certificate and related training

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and supervise Health Trainers to ensure a high-quality service.
• Deliver evidence-based health improvement interventions (e.g., smoking cessation, healthy eating, NHS checks, alcohol brief interventions).
• Assess clients, develop personalised goals and action plans, and support sustainable lifestyle changes.
• Tackle health inequalities by engaging with communities and partner agencies.
• Maintain accurate recording, monitoring and reporting of client outcomes and data quality.
• Support ongoing development of the Healthy Lifestyle Service and strengthen referral pathways.

Skills

Health improvement

Team leadership

Coaching

Motivational interviewing

Behaviour change

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Health & social care diploma

MECC training

NCSCT certificate

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Health Trainer (x 2 posts)

Salary: £47,130 - £53,757 per annum (pro rata if part-time)

Grade: F

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

About the Department

Thurrock Healthy Lifestyle Service is a key part of the local authority's Public Health Team, dedicated to supporting residents to improve their health and wellbeing. Our service provides practical, one-to-one and group support to help people make positive lifestyle changes, particularly those from disadvantaged or hard-to-reach communities.

Health Trainers work closely with individuals to assess their current lifestyle, set achievable health goals, and develop personalised action plans. They offer guidance and motivation on a range of health issues, including healthy eating, physical activity, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and improving emotional wellbeing. Health Trainers also signpost clients to other relevant services and community resources as needed.

Our team is committed to reducing health inequalities by engaging with local communities, building trust, and empowering people to take control of their own health. We work in partnership with other health and social care professionals, voluntary organisations, and community groups to ensure a holistic approach to health improvement.

About the Role

As a Senior Health Trainer, you will be responsible for:

• Leading, motivating and supporting a team of Health Trainers, providing day-to-day supervision, training, performance management and professional development to ensure a high-quality service.
• Delivering evidence-based health improvement interventions, including smoking cessation support, healthy eating and weight management advice, NHS health checks, alcohol brief interventions, and wider behaviour change programmes.
• Working directly with residents as well as acting as a specialist support for clients with complex needs, to conduct health assessment needs, develop personalised goals and action plans, and support them to make sustainable lifestyle changes that improve their health and wellbeing.
• Tackling health inequalities by proactively engaging with communities, local organisations and partner agencies to reach individuals and groups most at risk of poor outcomes.
• Ensuring accurate recording, monitoring and reporting of client outcomes, maintaining high standards of data quality, information governance, health and safety, and service performance.
• Supporting the ongoing development of the Healthy Lifestyle Service, by identifying opportunities for service improvement, strengthening referral pathways and acting as an ambassador for the service across Thurrock and partner organisations.

This role offers the chance to make a real difference by leading and developing a dedicated Health Trainer team, helping improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities and empower local communities to make lasting lifestyle changes. Through leadership, partnership working and evidence-based interventions, you will play a key role in supporting residents achieve better health and wellbeing.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who has:

• a minimum of 2 years' experience working in health/health improvement or closely related field.
• a minimum of 2 years' experience leading a team and/or management/mentoring of junior staff or volunteers,
• strong coaching, motivational interviewing and communication skills.
• experience in the assessment, monitoring and application of behaviour change to support a quit attempt or other lifestyle change.
• experience of identifying key stakeholders, developing effective relationships, and working in partnership with both internal and external partnerships.

Essential qualifications:

• Minimum level 3 diploma or certificate in health and social care, health or nutrition for health or equivalent experience in relevant health improvement field
• Evidence of training and working experience in behaviour change techniques such as motivational interviewing and Making Every Contact Count (MECC)
• Minimum National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training (NCSCT) accredited skills practitioner certificate and additional, relevant NCSCT training modules.

DBS Check: a Standard check is required.

Benefits of Working with Us

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 21st October 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 1st November 2026

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Tina Lincoln - Healthy Lifestyle Service Manager

[e-mail] | 01375 652401

About Us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council