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Job summary

Interim Public Health Lead (Health Protection)

£49,939 - £58,752

Fixed Term 1 year

Full Time

Wandsworth / Richmond

Our Public Health team is part of an excellent partnership offering better services across the London Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth.

We are seeking to appoint an Interim Public Health Lead for Health Protection to support Richmond and Wandsworth Councils to protect residents from health hazards arising from infectious disease and the environment. The two boroughs have different and dynamic populations presenting a fantastic opportunity to address a wide range of population health challenges. The interim Public Health Lead role is based in the Health Protection team, which covers infection prevention and control, national immunisation and screening programmes, weather preparedness, air quality, climate change and sustainability.

You will be part of a dedicated and friendly team that is embedded across all council departments and serving over half a million residents. We have an excellent track record of developing our public health staff, and many have gone on to take more senior roles in future careers. This is a 12 month fixed term contract.

About the role

This role will lead on the immunisation area of the Health Protection portfolio, applying specialist knowledge and public health skills to enhance resident protection against preventable diseases by supporting the uptake of childhood and adult immunisations. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary team, where you will learn and gain new experiences. You will be skilled in data analysis and robust communication, as well as effective stakeholder engagement and strategic problem-solving.

The role involves a number of key activities including:

1. Collating, analysing, interpreting and communicating epidemiological and statistical information from a variety of sources to understand population health needs and design evidence-based solutions to Public Health problems.
2. Managing multi-agency and multi-disciplinary partnerships with Council and NHS officers, local stakeholders, and regional and national bodies, such as NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
3. Supporting the development and delivery of Health Protection sections of long-term strategic plans and projects, such as the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies 2024-2029.
4. Creating written reports and delivering presentations on behalf of the Public Health department to Council, NHS and partnership groups.

The Public Health team have a hybrid-working arrangement, and are expected to attend some working days in person on a weekly basis in either the Wandsworth Town Hall or Twickenham Civic Centre office.

You will:

• Have substantial experience in public health or health-related posts
• Be able to analyse and interpret information for effective decision-making
• Be an excellent communicator in oral, written and presentation skills
• Be able to think strategically, creatively, analyse manage problems, and develop solutions.
• Be an effective team member with strong interpersonal, influencing and facilitation skills.
• Be flexible, pro-active and use initiative to prioritise and manage their own workload, working well under pressure and to tight timeframes with minimal supervision

Closing Date: 28/04/2025

Shortlisting Date: 6/05/2025

Interview Date: 13/05/2025

Test: 13/05/2025

Please upload a copy of your CV and supporting statement to apply for this role. You will be required to demonstrate how you met the skills and experience for this role using the job profile attached.

For an informal conversation please contact Melissa Barker, Interim Senior Public Health Lead, Health Protection Team via melissa.barker@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We offer a wide range of benefits such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays).

Date posted: 22 April 2025

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £49,939 to £60,515 a year

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number: F0061-25-0004

Leading on the delivery of key aspects of the Health Protection domain, as outlined in the Public Health Outcomes Framework, including but not limited to immunisation, screening and emergency and weather preparedness. Working with the Consultant in Public Health and Senior Public Health Lead to develop and coordinate public health programmes under minimal supervision. Assessing health needs, interpreting evidence, managing projects and undertaking partnership working to deliver outcomes and provide relevant advice to members and officers. Deputising for the Senior Public Health Lead as required.

1. To lead on key areas of the health protection portfolio including immunisation, screening, emergency and weather preparedness, outbreak response and quality assurance.
2. Plan, organise, implement and evaluate Public Health projects relating to specific topic areas, including support for commissioning of services and associated pathways, in order to improve outcomes for residents.
3. Apply specialist Public Health skills, knowledge and experience in a multiagency and multidisciplinary environment.
4. Use Public Health skills to support the Integrated Care System (ICS) and wider health and social care partners on specific topic areas, including influencing partners to ensure that Public Health priorities and principles are reflected in commissioning plans.
5. Manage multi-agency and multi-disciplinary partnerships with Council and ICS officers, GPs, local stakeholders, neighbouring local authorities and regional and national bodies, such as NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
6. Support the development of long-term strategic plans and projects on behalf of the boroughs in relation to Public Health issues which impact on a range of community agencies and strategic partnerships, and work with partners to enable appropriate implementation.
7. Use specialist expert skills, knowledge and experience to collate, analyse, interpret and communicate epidemiological and statistical information from a variety of sources, including Government statistics and public consultations, and to make judgements about a range of possible solutions to Public Health problems such as tackling inequalities.
8. Identify and assess the health and healthcare needs within the boroughs, leading on specific Health Needs Assessments, using a range of highly specialist quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
9. Analyse and manage immediate and longer-term hazards and risks to health at a local level, including outbreaks, incidents and cases of contamination and communicable disease.
10. Identify, implement and evaluate Public Health interventions and models of service provision.
11. Create written reports and deliver presentations on behalf of the Public Health department to Council, and partnership groups, conferences and seminars in order to influence major stakeholders.
12. Ensure that effective communication, including media and social media, is developed by the staff/teams, in line with Borough requirements.
13. Commission, oversee or participate in Public Health research projects and audits as well as contribute to, respond to and advise on the development of patient and public surveys.

1. To contribute to the continuous improvement of the services of Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnerships.
2. To comply with relevant Codes of Practice, including the Code of Conduct and policies concerning data protection, handling complaints and health and safety.
3. To adhere to security controls and requirements as mandated by Richmond and Wandsworth procedures and local risk assessments.
4. To promote equality, diversity, and inclusion.
5. To understand both Councils duties and responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults.

The profile is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the duties the post holder will carry out. Other reasonable duties commensurate with the level of the post, including supporting emergency and priority situations, will form part of the role.

Effectively manage a delegated budget for specific commissioned services and/or projects, with supervision from Senior Public Health Lead. Write bids to secure funding for Public Health and partnership projects.

The post holder is accountable to the Senior Public Health Lead and Consultant in Public Health and will deputise for represent as appropriate in matters related to health protection or as requested.

Initiate, develop and commission training and education programmes for the benefit of health and other professional staff and evaluate effectiveness.

The post holder may be expected to work flexibly across two locations Wandsworth Town Hall and Richmond Civic Centre.

The Shared Staffing Arrangement will keep its structures under continual review.

The post holder will be expected to participate in the organisations staff appraisal scheme and departmental audit and ensure appraisal and development of any staff for which responsible.

• Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in public health, course relevant to public health or equivalent knowledge gained through, post-graduate training or Degree in Public Health and equivalent post graduate knowledge gained through experience.
• Registered with a relevant public health body or working towards this is desirable eg UKPHR.

• Understanding of social and political environment, including national and local policy, strategies, and guidance.
• Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics, health protection and health care evaluation.
• Substantial experience in public health or health-related posts.
• Experience of using project management models and delivery.
• Experience in health protection such as leading on screening and immunisation programmes, extreme weather preparedness and emergency planning etc.

• Excellent communicator in oral, written and presentation skills.
• Excellent report writing skills with ability to translate complex information and create high quality written material, including statistical tables, for a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information for effective decision making, undertake literature review and critically assess evidence.
• Ability to think strategically, creatively, analyse manage problems, and develop solutions.
• Effective team member with strong interpersonal, influencing and facilitation skills.
• Flexible, pro-active, uses initiative, prioritises, manages own workload, and works well under pressure and to tight timeframes with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work autonomously and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to carry out research and evaluate research carried out by others.
• Commitment to undertaking continuous professional development (CPD).
• Computer literate with ability to produce reports, presentations, spread sheets, databases.
• Ability to manage budgets and prepare bids for external funding.

Employer name: Richmond and Wandsworth Councils

Address: Town Hall Room 238, Wandsworth High Street, London, SW18 2PU

Employer's website: https://recruitment.richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk/