Public Health Practitioner

Job Description

Job Title: Public Health Practitioner (3 posts)

Salary: £39,027 - £44,463 per annum (pro rata to hours worked where part-time)

Grade: E

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: 1 x Part-Time 30 hours per week 0.8 WTE (Wider Determinants of Health) and 2 x Full-Time (Health Improvement and Healthcare Public Health)

Flexible and hybrid working available; minimum of 2 days per week office working.

About the Department

Thurrock Council’s Public Health Team is committed to improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities across our communities. We work collaboratively with partners in health, social care, education, and the voluntary sector to deliver evidence-based interventions and strategies that make a real difference to local people’s lives.

About the Role(s)

There are three roles available requiring support across the team in various portfolios. Two of these are full-time (Health Improvement, Healthcare Public Health) and one is part-time (Wider Determinants of Health).

You will:

• Contribute to the work of the Public Health Team and assist with the local delivery of an agreed portfolio of public health work, ensuring public health objectives and service plans are met.

• Support the translation of key priorities set out within the Health and Wellbeing Strategy into effective strategic commissioning or implementation plans that improve the health of our population and reduce health inequalities.

• Support the translation of national, regional, and local strategic priorities into evidence-based Public Health strategy considering local need and Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) products.

• Contribute to the Thurrock JSNA, supporting delivery of appropriate Health Needs Assessments, identifying gaps in service provision, and supporting service developments as appropriate.

• Ensure that duties are carried out in partnership with local communities and vulnerable and hard to reach groups, helping them to act through provision of knowledge to tackle longstanding and widening health inequality issues, using community development approaches as appropriate.

• Contribute to the provision of support, to all relevant sectors, on the implementation of policies that contribute to the promotion of health and well-being and to ensure that the prevention/promotion agenda is at the forefront of key strategies and programmes that impact on the health and well-being of the population.

• To support the development and implementation of health improvement interventions targeting local communities, vulnerable groups, and underserved groups, helping them to take action to tackle longstanding health inequality issues, using community development approaches as appropriate.

Health Improvement and Commissioning

In this role, you will contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of evidence-based interventions across smoking cessation, substance misuse, mental health and gambling-related harm. Working collaboratively with internal teams, healthcare providers, voluntary and community sector organisations, and other key partners, you will help deliver prevention and early intervention programmes that reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for local communities. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who is passionate about public health, partnership working and making a positive difference to the lives of Thurrock residents through high-quality services.

Health Care Public Health

This workstream strengthens prevention‑focused, system‑wide approaches that improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities. It works closely with system partners to support key healthcare public health projects, including health equity initiatives and the commissioning and continuous improvement of commissioned programmes, such as the NHS Health Checks programme. The workstream collaborates with Health Intelligence colleagues to interpret insights from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment products, Health Equity Audits, the Director of Public Health Report, and contributes directly to the JSNA workstream in Thurrock. It provides specialist public health advice to inform commissioning and service development, supports the development of evidence‑based pathways and targeted interventions, contributes to governance and assurance processes through high-quality reporting, and helps maintain strong partnerships across system partners to enable collaborative, prevention‑focused approaches.

Wider Determinant of Health

This workstream plays a central role in improving health and reducing inequalities across Thurrock by tackling the wider determinants of health. It focuses on ensuring that the borough’s built, economic and social environments actively support better health outcomes for all residents. Bringing together healthy place‑shaping, the promotion of physical activity, development of healthier food systems, support for good health in work, and community health development, this workstream drives long-term, sustainable change across the borough. It involves working with and influencing a range of system partners supporting delivery of the work programme across a range of themed topic areas.

What We are Looking For

We are seeking enthusiastic Public Health Practitioners who can think strategically and work collaboratively across organisations and systems with:

• A degree in a Public Health-related subject or equivalent professional qualification.

• Substantial experience in a public health role within a complex public sector environment.

• Strong understanding of public health practice, health promotion models, and health inequalities.

• Ability to identify opportunities and translate ideas into a practical action plan.

• Excellent communication, partnership working, and influencing skills.

• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data and apply evidence-based approaches.

• Experience in commissioning, performance management, and project delivery.

• Understanding of and commitment to principles of equality and diversity and compliance with Thurrock Council policies.

Desirable:

• Registration as a Public Health Practitioner (UKPHR) or working towards it.

• Project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2).

• Negotiation and influencing skills

Benefits of Working with Us

• Generous annual leave entitlement

• Local Government Pension Scheme

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities

• Ongoing training and professional development

• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support

• Staff discounts and local offers

• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment only): 6th August 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): Sunday 23rd August 2026

Interview Dates: Tuesday 8th & Friday 11th September 2026

Additional Information

For questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Felicity Campbell– Public Health Specialist Practitioner

Email: Felicity.Campbell@thurrock.gov.uk

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council