Director of Public Health (Exec 1)

Job Category : Interims

Location :London Borough of Hillingdon

Hours Per Week : 36.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 09:00

End Time : 17:00
Salary: £610.15

The Director of Public Health is a statutory Chief Officer of the authority and is the Council and wider system leader for assessing and improving the health and wellbeing of residents, reducing inequalities in health outcomes and protecting local communities from public health hazards including infectious diseases and environmental threats.

As the leader for health, the Director of Public Health is the principal advisor on health and wellbeing matters to elected members, officers and partners, with a leadership role spanning health improvement, health protection and healthcare public health.

The Director of Public Health is required to be a visible system leader in Hillingdon Health and Care Partnership (HHCP) and will contribute available resources directly under the DPH control and influence HHCP resource allocation to ensure that the local public health system proactively tackles the health, care and wider determinants that affect health and wellbeing in Hillingdon communities. This will include working with local communities, to develop solutions in response to challenges that affect health and contribute to health inequalities.

1. 
   Statutory Responsibilities

The statutory responsibility and purpose of the post holder is to provide leadership, deliver key functions described below. The post holder is expected to demonstrate a high level of expertise in the Faculty of Public Health Competencies (Appendix 1) and the person specifications (Appendix 2).

The Director of Public Health is responsible for:

• Delivering Hillingdon’s duties to protect and improve public health, and any functions and regulations to improve public health protection and health improvement delegated to the local authority by the Secretary of State
• Being the chief officer and principal adviser for public health to the Council, system partners, and local communities, influencing policy and practice
• Supporting the Chief Executive and Councillors in developing and delivering the Council’s strategic agenda and maintain their confidence, and the confidence of national, and regional partners
• An effective role as statutory member of the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board; to advise on the development of the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy that sets out the priority assessed needs of the population, and for shaping the health and wellbeing agenda; using the national outcomes frameworks; public health, NHS and social care
• Being an active participant at Place through strategic participation as a leader within HHCP, contributing and directing the priorities for population health improvement, influencing change and enabling a culture of continuous improvement in health and wellbeing, innovation and evaluation.
• Exercising the functions of Hillingdon Council to plan for, and respond to emergencies that present a risk to the publics’ health

1. QUALIFICATIONS

Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List or UK Public Health Register(UKPHR)

If in the above Register / List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine practice

Public health specialist registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers

2. STATUTORY or ROLE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e., be up to date) in accordance with the Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body

3. EXPERIENCE

Minimum of three years’ experience of public health practice at senior level

Experience of working in complex political and social environments

Scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars etc

4. KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

High level of understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation

Full understanding of and commitment to addressing relationships and cultures of organisations that impact on the wider determinants of health

Full understanding of and commitment to delivery of improved health through mainstream NHS activities

Understanding of NHS and local government cultures, structures and policies

Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice

Understanding of social and political environment

Understanding of interfaces between health and social care

Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data

Good presentational skills (written and oral)

Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies

Excellent staff and corporate management and development skills

5. COMPETENCES

Passion to make a difference

Acts as a role model to others demonstrating a commitment to improving outcomes for residents, working with partners to continually improve and develop services.

“Can do” positive attitude

Demonstrates commitment to working collaboratively at a senior level, remaining positive and motivated and overcoming obstacles and barriers to change.

Leads and inspires others

Identifies and nurtures talent, providing individuals with the scope and support necessary to reach their full potential – understanding and respecting diversity within teams and encouraging innovation.

Credibility

Takes corporate responsibility and remains accountable for all aspects of service delivery. Guides and coaches’ others towards sound decision making, whilst demonstrating the ability to make quick and measured decisions when necessary.

Drives improvement

Acts as a role model to others, listening to and respecting input from others and creating a culture of continuous improvement – identifying and positively overcoming barriers to change.

Strategic thinker

Understands and examines the wider public sector and business environment, contributing to new business strategies and acting as a source of expertise.

Decision maker

Makes sound decisions based on the advice and guidance of subject experts whilst taking ultimate accountability for that decision.

Team Player & networker

Encourages and enables collaborative ways of working across different teams and functions, ensuring that wider organisational business needs and priorities are met.

Management

Motivates a team to deliver their business objectives by delegating effectively and directing when necessary, communicating business needs clearly and meaningfully, and leading by example.

CommunicationCredibly promotes the needs of the business to a wider audience, acting as champion for those needs using tact and negotiation to achieve business objectives.