Healthy Living Practitioner

Job Description

• Suffolk County Council
• Address: Wellington Family Hub, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2PB coveringIpswich South/ West and central Suffolk, community-based working
• Salary: £28,598 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: 1 x 37 hours per week or 2 x 18.5 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent

At Suffolk County Council, every role is an opportunity to create positive change. As a Healthy Living Service Practitioner within our Children and Community Health Services (CCHS) team, you'll play a key role in supporting children, young people and families to improve their health and wellbeing outcomes.

Reimagine the possibilities

Your role and responsibilities

As a Healthy Living Practitioner, you will work directly with children, young people and families helping reduce barriers to healthy lifestyles and support sustainable behaviour change. You'll be delivering evidence-based interventions and support programmes that promote healthier lifestyles, long-term wellbeing and reducing health inequalities across Suffolk.

• Deliver healthy living and healthy weight interventions to children, young people and families.
• Provide one-to-one and group-based support programmes.
• Identify families who may benefit from additional early intervention and preventative support.
• Work collaboratively with schools, early years settings, health colleagues and community partners.
• Support the development of community-based healthy living initiatives.
• Promote positive lifestyle choices from preconception through to adulthood.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to quality assurance processes.
• Undertake referrals and signposting to appropriate services.
• Contribute to service improvement through user feedback, research and evaluation activities.

You will need

We're looking for someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have:

• experience of working directly with children, young people and families
• knowledge of healthy living and wellbeing-related topics
• excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• experience of collaborative and multi-agency working
• the ability to organise and prioritise workloads effectively
• an understanding of safeguarding and child protection responsibilities
• a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• a positive, resilient and flexible approach to work.

A Level 3 Healthy Living-related qualification and experience of Suffolk Signs of Safety and Wellbeing principles would be advantageous.

If you don't meet every requirement but feel you have the skills and experience to succeed, we would encourage you to apply.

The team

Children and Community Health Services (CCHS) promotes the safety, wellbeing, health and learning of children and young people across Suffolk. We work in partnership with families, communities and professionals to provide prevention and early intervention services that help children achieve the best possible outcomes.

The Healthy Living Service supports children and young people aged 0-19 years, or up to 25 years for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), helping families establish and maintain healthy lifestyles through sustainable positive change.

Empowering everyone

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Mica Edwards for a casual conversation. You can contact them by emailing Mica.Edwards@suffolk.gov.uk or by calling 01473 265395.

How to apply

Step 1 – Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).

1. What skills and experience can you bring to the team? How do these relate to the role?

2. Are you committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and if so, how can you evidence this?

3. Provide an example of how you have motivated a child or family to make positive lifestyle changes. What approach did you use and what was the outcome?

Step 4 - Upload a CV (without name and personal details).

Please note: Without a supporting statement and CV, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.

For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.

Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.

Closing Date: 11.30pm 30 September 2026.
Interview Date: 9 October 2026 at Wellington Community Centre (Family Hub), 52 Chevalier Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2PB.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid

About us

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).