Senior Public Health Project Officer (Teenage Pregnancy)

Medway Public Health are looking to recruit someone who can lead and develop the Medway Teenage Pregnancy Agenda. They will take a wider determinants approach to develop a Medway Teenage Pregnancy Strategic Action Plan. The evidence-based strategic action plan will aim to equip young people to make well informed choices, reduce unplanned pregnancies in under 18’s and support young parents. They will develop and deliver a group programme for Medway teenage parents, supporting those who are not in regular contact with our Hubs.

Over the last 25 years the under-18 conception rate has fallen by over 60% with all councils achieving reductions, but inequalities remain. Teenage pregnancy has been linked to poor health and social outcomes for both the parent and the child, and Medway Council and Medway NHS Providers share key Local Area Agreement targets to reduce teenage pregnancy rates and improve outcomes for teenage parents and their children.

With recent announcements from government on the Best Start in Life strategy to Improve support for families from pregnancy through age five; the NHS 10-year plan includes a broader focus on children's health, aiming to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest areas and raise the healthiest generation of children ever and Medway’s move to be a Marmot City it will be an exciting time to be in this role.

The Job Description will tell you about thus exciting new role. You will be joining an established and highly productive programmes team who understand the benefits of collaborative working across organisational boundaries and disciplines.

You will be a key member of the Public Health team and have a critical role in supporting effective communication and stakeholder engagement between members of the Medway Teenage Pregnancy Strategic Action Plan Implementation Group, Young Parents, and the wider communities in Medway.

Your role will support and foster strong relationships with members of the multi-agency Medway Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and Implementation Group. A central part of the role will be working with young parents’ groups to ensure action is grounded in the experiences of young parents in Medway. You will have plenty of opportunity to work with the Public Health team to take a life course approach to health.

You will use your excellent communication, negotiation, consultation and influencing skills to meet the needs of a wide range of audiences and stakeholders. Fostering strong relationships with members of the multi-agency Medway Teenage Pregnancy Strategic Action Plan Implementation Group.

You will use your experience of collaborating to create new solutions to complex problems by promoting innovation and the sharing of ideas, practices, resources, leadership and learning. You will have a critical role in supporting effective communication and stakeholder engagement between members of the Medway Teenage Pregnancy Strategic Action Plan Implementation Group, Young Parents, and the wider communities in Medway.

You will use your skills and experience of working with young people to develop and deliver a group programme for Medway teenage parents, supporting those who are not in regular contact with our Hubs. The programme will provide relevant and meaningful group work, play sessions and access to key local services.

In the application form you will be asked to provide us with a Personal Statement of why you think you have the knowledge, skills and experience to really succeed at the role. It helps us

make a decision about inviting you to interview if you provide examples that evidence the criteria outlined in the job description.

We will be particularly looking out for knowledge and experience in the development and implementation of strategy and action plans; partnership and collaboration skills; experience of research, evaluation and report writing, evidence of improving health for children; partnership working across disciplines; evidence-based practice; and obviously extensive knowledge of teenage pregnancy and young parents.

If you would like more information and an informal chat about the role, please contact Sofie Wheeldon – sofie.wheeldon@medway.gov.uk

The successful post holder will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

We are seeking a Senior Public Health Project Officer (Teenage Pregnancy) to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. This means that the salary you will be offered will be at level A unless, based on an assessment against the CPF criteria, you demonstrate that you are meeting the criteria of level B or C. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.

When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:

Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.

Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.

Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.