Advanced Public Health Practitioner

Are you a public health professional looking to progress your career to the next level?

Are you able to apply your skills in a fast-paced public health environment and lead and influence significant public health programmes?

If so, West Sussex Public Health team would like to hear from you.

The Public Health Department is a progressive multi-disciplinary department committed to improving health and tackling inequalities in West Sussex. The Department's key role is to "protect and improve lifelong health and wellbeing of everyone in West Sussex, by commissioning evidence-based services and empowering people to make healthier choices."

Public Health also works closely with local agencies and partnerships to ensure the widest possible participation in the health and health care agenda.

The Opportunity

Salary: £48,226 to £51,356 per annum
Working Pattern: Full time - 37 hours per week
Location: Based at County Hall, Chichester with hybrid working options
Contract type: Fixed Term until 01/10/2027.
Interview Date: w/c 12th January 2026

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Drug, Alcohol, and Inclusion Health Team, which supports key areas for the local authority, including drug and alcohol-related services, domestic abuse, and homelessness and complex needs. As an Advanced Public Health Practitioner, you will lead the workstream focused on preventing substance-related deaths. Your responsibilities will include:

• • Establishing strong governance and clear processes for sharing information before, during, and after case reviews.
  • Developing simple notification systems and a triage process to identify cases for full review.
  • Coordinating regular multi-agency panel meetings to review cases, identify causes, and spot emerging trends.
  • Agreeing and monitoring actions to prevent future deaths, ensuring accountability and fostering a culture of learning.
  • Evaluating the impact of the panel and driving continuous improvement.

You will play a key role in forging partnerships with and influencing key stakeholders and will support public health Leads to develop, and hold, the overview of implementation, monitoring and quality of key public health programmes. You will work with partners to ensure the programmes are aligned with the broader context and are visible as well as tailored to reduce health inequalities and improve health and wellbeing.

What are we looking for?

Some of the key skills and experience required for this role include:

• Strong, pragmatic problem-solving skills allowing you to anticipate problems and resolve issues independently. You will also challenge existing practices and identify innovative solutions.
• Highly developed analytical and judgemental skills to diagnose, research, analyse and interpret highly complex or technical information. This will include written reports and briefings focused on different stakeholders with the outcome to improves services for everyone.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders, and to create and maintain effective working relationships.
• Applying professional project and programme management skills to analyse and make judgements based on best practice guidance and evidence to address complex issues.
• Effective people management skills, including performance management skills and the ability to provide direction and support to individuals and teams.
• Experience of working and leading programmes within a multi-agency environment and identifying, developing, and delivering business improvements.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Working for us

As an employer we recognise our employees are central to everything we do. To recognise this, we want to help support your development and provide a great place to work. So, upon joining us, you will have access to a range of benefits including:

For a full list, please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further information

The reference number for this role is CAFHE06054.

For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Dan Barritt - Public Health Lead at

For issues or queries regarding your application please contact .

To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter. In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Candidates are encouraged to include in their cover letter what they understand are the key challenges related to drug and alcohol-related deaths.

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to 3 years referencing and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.