Senior Public Health Specialist - Healthy Children and Families Team (Substance Use)
Full Time, Fixed Term (12 months)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced public health professional to lead key work within the Healthy Children and Families Public Health Team, improving health outcomes for children and young people in Bristol.
Please note, hybrid working (mix of office and home based) is available for this post.
We expect this post to lead on substance use (drugs and alcohol) work for children, young people, and families, including:
* Overseeing the re-commissioning of our Young People’s Specialist Substance Misuse Treatment Service, managing all aspects of the commissioning cycle (needs assessment, service specification, consultation and engagement, procurement etc.).
* Supporting the development and performance management of newly commissioned substance use services for children, young people, and families.
* Providing public health leadership across the council and with partners, including the Integrated Care Board (ICS) and community sector, to ensure needs-led, evidence-based support for children and young people affected by substance use.
* Working in partnership with the Public Health tobacco team on approaches to reducing smoking and vaping among young people.
* Conducting ongoing needs assessments as part of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and ensuring findings are shared and utilised to inform responsive services.
* Supporting education settings, through the Healthy Schools Programme, to implement whole-school approaches to substance use, including improved Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education.
The role will also involve public health leadership in Youth Justice, particularly its intersection with substance use, including participation in the Youth Justice Partnership Board.
However, this is a generic post and work areas can change in line with service requirements and the skills and experience of postholders. Therefore, we are looking for someone with a broad range of public health skills, interests and experience, as well as an interest in the identified areas.
What do I need to have?
You will have a degree qualification or equivalent qualification relevant to the role. You will have significant public health experience knowledge and skills, particularly in relation to children, young people and families.
You will have programme management and project development skills and an understanding of commissioning services to improve outcomes. You will be able to demonstrate your ability to critically appraise public health evidence and an understanding of basic epidemiological theory and methods of assessing health needs. You will have experience of managing multiple workstreams and working in partnership as well as the ability to work under your own initiative.
As this is a fixed term post which will require the postholder to get up to speed quickly, some experience in young people’s substance use and commissioning would be helpful (although not essential).
Please note that this role is subject to a Standard DBS Check.
Why Bristol City Council?
At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.
Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.
How do I apply?
To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.
It is Bristol City Council’s practice to request references for candidates that have been offered a job. However, if you are applying for a job that requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check then we will request your references once you have been invited to an interview.
For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.
For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.
If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.
We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.
Interviews: 1st April 2025 (Microsoft Teams)
For further information: please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification or contact Charly Williams.
At Bristol City Council, we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We therefore welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.
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