Public Health Practitioner – Degree Apprenticeship

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Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Public Health Practitioner – Degree Apprenticeship

Fixed Term Contract – 3 Years + 4 months (40 months)

We have an excellent opportunity available for a Public Health Practitioner Apprentice to join our team at Wokingham Borough Council, on a full time, fixed term contract.

As a Public Health Practitioner Apprentice your role will cover ‘Healthy Behaviours, this will include monitoring and promoting health and wellbeing to ensure fairer health outcomes between different communities and groups (health inequalities). This also involves supporting protection measures to protect the public from environmental hazards and risks.

The central aim of the Public Health service in Wokingham is to improve the health of local residents, reduce avoidable differences in health and to support residents to make positive health choices.

The Council’s Equality Plan 2021-2025 recognises how equality, diversity and inclusion are essential to the way we operate for our community, as a community leader, a service provider and an employer. We would encourage applicants from underrepresented groups within our community to apply, and examples of experience within your application can be lived experience.

The Public Health Apprenticeship Programme

The Public Health Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship is a practice-focused course offering a grounding in public health across different settings, including wider determinants of health, such as education, transport, and housing. Successful graduates will be eligible to register on the UK Public Health Register as a Public Health Practitioner and complete the programme with a BSc (Hons) Public Health. The Public Health Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship is a three-year undergraduate programme that includes work-based and academic learning. This apprenticeship is for someone who has not yet undertaken an undergraduate degree and/or has not yet undertaken a professional registration (e.g. UKPHR, UKVRN).

Benefits:

Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

⭐Generous Annual Leave entitlement of 25 days (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays

⭐Local Government Pension Scheme (actual contribution details to follow)

⭐GP Helpline 7 days a week

⭐Employee Assistance Programme with a 24/7 Your Care confidential helpline

⭐Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines

⭐Free Onsite Gym (located at Shute End, Wokingham)

⭐Salary Sacrifice Schemes – including Car and Cycle to Work

⭐Local & Lifestyle Discounts – savings on shopping, entertainment, restaurants, and more

⭐Move through Menopause Course

⭐Sports & Social Group Activities – running, football, cricket, and more

⭐Learning & Development Opportunities

⭐Employee Networks

⭐And more!

Key responsibilities:

• To support the development, delivery and project management of a defined public health programme such as physical activity.

• Support the undertaking of technical, statistical, quantitative, and qualitative public health analyses including health needs assessments, production of joint strategic needs assessment chapters, health impact assessments and health equity audits in conjunction with partners.

• To assess the evidence of effectiveness of health and wellbeing interventions, programmes and services

• To support the commissioning of Public Health services in specified policy areas, ensuring they deliver value for money and are cost effective.

• Contribute to the commissioning process by writing evidence-based service specifications that address the findings of needs assessment, supporting the procurement and management of contracts for public health services and conducting service evaluations and reviews.

• Support the development and delivery of public health strategies.

• Creatively develop and deliver community engagement activities and health promotion materials.

Candidate requirements:

We are looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic individual wanting to expand their skills and knowledge and develop a career in Public Health. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential, the ability to analyse issues, problems and be solution focused, working to tight deadlines.

Access to transport to be able to move around the borough to visit partners and providers is required.

Apprenticeship requirements:

• 96 UCAS Tariff Points

• Applicants require a minimum English and Maths GCSE at Grade C/4 or above or equivalent.

• Must not yet have undertaken any undergraduate degree and/or has not held professional registration (e.g. UKPHR, UKVRN). Ability to undertake an undergraduate degree in Public Health.

• Excellent team working skills.

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a wider team.

• Must be a UK citizen OR EEA citizen for previous 3 years on 1st day of apprenticeship OR, non-EEA citizen are eligible if they have permission from the UK government to live in the UK (not for education purposes) and have been a resident in the UK for at least the previous year before the start of the apprenticeship. 

Apprenticeship Information:

• The Public Health Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship is a three-year undergraduate degree course and programme that includes work based and academic learning.

• This programme is delivered 100% online, students attend through day release, the equivalent of one day per week throughout the duration. Learning is designed to fit around off the-job hours.

• Applicants should be prepared to undertake 3 years of study. The successful candidate should be available to start August 2026, formal course induction is week commencing 7th September 2026 (TBC) with modules due to commence week commencing 14th September 2026 (TBC).

Our area:

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. We have a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

Wokingham Borough Council has committed to becoming a Marmot borough to embed prevention, early intervention and address inequalities in all aspects of our work. This is especially important given the significant and continued growth of our Borough and the diversity of its residents.

Alternatively, for an informal discussion about the role please contact our team via email Joseph Howorth, Advance Public Health Practitioner - joseph.howorth@wokingham.gov.uk

Closing date: Tuesday 2nd June 2026 11pm

Interview date: W/C 8th June 2026

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer. 

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.

If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.