South West London Creative Health Lead

Job Description

Salary range: Grade 12 £52,738 - £53,919 p.a (pro rata) plus fantastic benefits
Contract: Fixed Term (24 months from start date, with potential to extend if funding is received)
Hours of work: 8FTE 28.8 hours per week
Location: The role requires work across South West London boroughs (Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Sutton, Richmond and Wandsworth) and SWL ICB

South West London Creative Health Lead

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and passionate individual to take on

the role of Creative Health Lead within the South West London health and care system.

This role, which is supported by Arts Council England and The Baring Foundation, is

part of the National Centre for Creative Health’s Creative Health Leads Programme,

which supports the integration of creative health across health and care systems.

Creative Health Lead roles in health and care systems will provide a strategic

advantage in achieving the objectives set out in England’s 10 Year Health Plan through creative health, and will contribute to addressing the wider determinants of health in local communities.

While sitting within London Borough of Croydon, this role will work across SWL partner boroughs (Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth) and SWL ICB to achieve Key Performance Indicators identified by each partner. The role will also support overarching strategic aims for the region, including embedding creative health in prevention and neighbourhood health workstreams and improving social prescribing mechanisms for creative health activity.

The role will report to the SWL Creative Health Working Group – made up of culture, creative health and public health representatives from all partners – to monitor progress towards KPIs, highlight areas or workstreams for potential growth or collaboration, and share learning amongst partners. The role will benefit from an honorary contract with and strong leadership from SWL ICB’s Health Improvement team.

The successful candidate will be an imaginative and self-motivated individual with a passionate belief in the power of culture and creativity to benefit the lives of individuals and communities. You will have an excellent understanding of SWL local health and/or

cultural ‘ecosystems’ and be in a position to build on existing relationships and take

an ‘asset-based’ approach to further developments. You will be familiar with the international evidence base for Creative Health, have experience designing and delivering work on the ground, as well as be an experienced strategic thinker with the ability to influence stakeholders, including high-ranking senior leaders.

Working with partners, the role aims to:

• Develop a model for effective connections between health, social care and cultural sector across South West London
• Improve understanding of the evidence base and potential for creative health to contribute at a neighbourhood, place and system level within health and social care, with a focus on health inequalities
• Support mapping of existing creative health provision and a mechanism for this to be regularly updated and shared with health and social care colleagues
• Ensure partner service plans and strategies feature creative health as a delivery plan, including referral pathways, commissioning opportunities and collaboration options
• Identify funding solutions to enable sustainable creative health programmes within the health and social care system
• Expand creative health’s use within social prescribing programmes
• Expand creative health’s use within specific priority areas, such as major conditions pathways and neighbourhood health plans

The deadline for applications is 23:55 on Friday 27 November 2026. Interviews are anticipated to be held on Wednesday 9 December 2026.

To view the South West London Creative Health Lead role profile please Click here.

About us

Croydon Council's Priorities

Croydon Council is committed to maintaining a sustainable financial position, listening to residents, and delivering high-quality, sustainable services.

Croydon Council is focused on:

• Creating a cleaner and safer Croydon.
• Supporting a thriving town centre and local high streets.
• Delivering a fair deal for residents.
• Improving roads and journeys across the borough.
• Creating places people are proud to call home.
• Backing families, children, young people and adults.

Equal Opportunities Statement

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Subject to business needs, we are pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby employees attend the workplace for part of their working week and work remotely for the remainder.

Croydon Council is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant. We guarantee an interview to eligible current and former members of the UK Armed Forces who meet the essential criteria for the role.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the advertised role.

Croydon Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to share this commitment.

The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where the role requires one.