Public Health Principal - Public Mental Health and Healthy Ageing

Job Introduction

A brilliant opportunity for a Public Health Principal to join a shared Public Health team to lead on Public Mental Health and Healthy Ageing, reporting to our Head of Public Health Programmes.

You’ll be based in Milton Keynes and will work across the three unitary authorities of Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes (BMK). The Public Mental Health and Healthy Ageing Team works with partners to improve the mental health and wellbeing and support healthy ageing of residents across the three authorities.

Current priorities for mental health include leading on suicide prevention, this includes the monitoring and evaluation of the BMK Suicide Prevention Action Plan and work to reduce stigma. Current priorities for healthy ageing include addressing digital isolation and ensuring that services that support health behaviours are accessible to older adults.

You’ll lead a small team and ensure that prevention is championed to improve mental wellbeing, promote healthy ageing and reduce mental health inequalities.

Experience of working in complex health and care systems and the ability to work strategically with partners is essential for this role. Experience in the public mental health or healthy ageing field would be beneficial.

This role is may suitable for home working, following an assessment.

Interviews for this role will be held on 16 October.

Milton Keynes City Council is a modern and friendly place to work. Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk

Main Responsibility

• Lead the strategic development and implementation of public health programmes for public mental health and healthy ageing that will improve outcomes for the growing and ageing population of Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes.
• Work with and influence the work of partners across the Integrated Care System (ICS) to deliver on priorities identified in relevant national and local strategies; using data, insights and evidence to ensure that interventions are targeted at those at higher risk of poor mental health or need more support to age well.
• Responsible for key areas of public mental health work including suicide prevention, prevention and early intervention, and reducing stigma; working with health, social care and voluntary sector partners to address social isolation, as well as support for carers and for dementia.
• Influence local priorities to promote healthy ageing such as physical activity, falls prevention, addressing digital isolation, and ensuring that services that support health behaviours are accessible to older adults.
• Manage the public mental health budget, ensuring that interventions are based on evidence and deliver value for money; advocating for aligning resources to prevention, early intervention, and recovery in a financially challenged system.
• Line management of the Public Health Practitioner – Public Mental Health, agree and monitor their work plans, and support their professional development to ensure effective delivery of public mental health and healthy ageing initiatives, and support wider public health programmes as necessary.
  
  

The Ideal Candidate

• An in-depth understanding of current public mental health and healthy ageing policies and priorities.
• Ability to think strategically and influence partners across the system.
• Strong project and programme management skills.
• Translate and interpret data and complex information in a way that can be understood by partners and communities.
• Lead a team and work independently.
• Demonstrate that their values and expectations align to those of MKCC.
  
  

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
  
  

Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

Our roles are either designated ‘site based’ or ‘home based’. ‘Site based’ roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst ‘home based’ roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.