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Senior Public Health Practitioner – Substance Misuse and Alcohol

DBS Required

£23.55 per hour

37 hours per week

Main purpose of role

Senior Public Health Practitioner – Substance Misuse and Alcohol

The postholder will have a key role in improving health and well-being and reducing health inequalities for the Sunderland population in line with the local priorities, Healthy City Plan and the joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA).

The postholder will provide public health expertise on substance misuse and alcohol within the system, partner organisations and the wider health and social care system.

The postholder will be expected to lead on the commissioning, development and implementation of an agreed range of public health programmes relating to substance misuse and alcohol and plan, monitor, evaluate and respond to need ensuring prevention and early intervention is embedded across the local system.

Key responsibilities

To provide specialist public health leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating substance misuse and alcohol public health programmes to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities across the life course.

To lead on development of multi-agency and integrated

population, community, family and individual level primary,

secondary and tertiary substance misuse and alcohol prevention programmes working across council departments, organisations, partnerships, and communities.

Responsible for the substance misuse and alcohol budget. This includes commissioning/ performance management of the adult substance misuse service, oversight of the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG), inpatient detox, rehab placements and Individual Placement and Support (IPS).

Provide specialist public health leadership on areas such as reducing drug related deaths, alcohol licensing, Balance Northeast and attending the Northeast Drug and Alcohol Leads Network and any ad-hoc regional meetings.

Key tasks

The following list is typical of the duties the postholder will be expected to perform. It is not necessarily exhaustive and other duties of a similar nature and level may be required from time to time.

The Postholder will:

Work alongside the Public Health Consultant and the Public Health Lead to deliver service improvements to ensure the local authority achieves its key performance indicators.

Lead on the development, implementation and evaluation of substance misuse and alcohol evidence based public health and health improvement programmes and service plans and translating national policy, latest evidence base, regional and local policies into local action.

Provide public health leadership in relation to substance misuse and alcohol and provide advice and guidance to our officers and other stakeholders.

Lead the systemwide approach to the substance misuse and alcohol across Sunderland, working with internal and external partners.

Provide strategic leadership of the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment Grant, Sunderland Drug and Alcohol Harm Reduction Partnership, drug related deaths, Licensing and other related work programmes in relation to substance misuse and alcohol.

Commission and performance manage the adult substance misuse service in accordance with agreed procedures, ensuring contract monitoring activity is effectively documented using different tools and key contract performance indicators, and ensuring outcomes and quality measures are monitored for compliance with specification requirements.

Oversee the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant, Inpatient Detox and Individual Placement and Support and complete any monitoring and financial returns to the national team.

Develop and contribute to specifications and contracts for services as required, working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure they meet all our requirements, accurately reflect commissioning intentions and respond to relevant legislation, guidance and procurement regulations.

Working alongside the Chair, coordinate the Sunderland Drug and Alcohol Harm Reduction Partnership and prepare reports for the Living Well Delivery Board,

Lead the production of relevant chapters of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and undertake or contribute to consultation, equity audit, integrated impact assessment, service review and evaluation, as required.

Undertake effective community, public and stakeholder engagement activities to inform public health programmes.

Write and contribute to reports which will vary in length and complexity, summarise reports and disseminate their findings.

Present complicated and /or sensitive information and issues to non-specialist and specialist audiences.

Work with colleagues within and partner organisations and public health networks to share and develop practice in relation to improving health and wellbeing.

Ensure that evidence-based practice is promoted and that organisations are influenced to deliver and embed a range of public health programmes.

Responsible for staff/equipment

The postholder will provide day to day management and oversight for public health project officer within the Public Health Team.

This will include co-ordination of work, provision of advice, appraisal, training and continuing professional development, recruitment, selection, and discipline.

Other duties/specific policies e.g. DBS

The postholder must carry out their duties with full regard to the our Equal Opportunities Policy, Code of Conduct and all other Policies.

The postholder must comply with the our Health and safety rules and regulations and with Health and safety legislation.

The postholder must act in compliance with data protection principles in respecting the privacy of personal information held.

The postholder must comply with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the management of records and information.

To comply with the principles and requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR in relation to the management of records and information and respect the privacy of personal information held.

Interested Please apply