Job Introduction
This is a new and challenging role, providing strategic leadership for a new programme of work to improve people’s health by improving the built environment and working with the social housing sector.
The post will be based in Milton Keynes and will sit within the shared public health team that serves three neighbouring local authorities: Milton Keynes, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire.
Main Responsibility
The successful candidate will be responsible for two portfolio areas and manage two public health principals. As a senior member of the public health team, they will work with and draw on the skills and expertise of the wider public health team to deliver the work programme.
The built environment portfolio will work to integrate health into urban planning and place making within the three councils. The local environment has a significant impact on people’s health. For example, urban design and planning has a very large influence on how physically active people are – as well facilitating (or inhibiting) social interaction; influencing air pollution levels; and affecting the incidence of road traffic injuries. The scope to improve health at scale through good design is likely to far exceed what can be achieved through individual-level behaviour change programmes.
All three councils have significant plans for growth as part of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. Milton Keynes Council has introduced Health Impact Assessment for all major new housing developments and has restricted the development of new takeaway food outlets near schools in recent years. Better integration of health into these plans is a core part of the public health team’s strategy to improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities.
The social housing portfolio will build on a pilot that has identified key opportunities for partnership working with the social housing sector (e.g. win-win opportunities: smoking cessation that improves health also reduces the risk of damage to the fabric of the building and the risk of non-payment of rent due to financial pressures). Across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes, housing associations provide homes to around 50,000 residents. Tenants tend to live in more deprived areas and experience poorer health. Working effectively with these organisations and their tenants presents an important opportunity to address health inequalities.
The Ideal Candidate
This is a highly complex senior leadership role that requires a high level of negotiation skills, motivational ability and the flexibility to deal with complex issues that affect people’s health and wellbeing. A high level of tact, diplomacy and political awareness is also required and an ability to understand other cultures, to enable effective working across organisational boundaries and influencing without direct authority.
The role is open to individuals with significant senior experience in social housing; or planning/place making/strategic transport; or public health. The ideal candidate will have a professional background in at least one of these areas. A background in public health whilst helpful is not necessary, and appropriate support will be offered to a successful candidate with a public health background. Whilst the role is based in the public health team, the emphasis will be on working with others from different backgrounds (planning, transport, place making, social housing). An ability to understand, work with and learn from people with different professional backgrounds will be important.
Please also see the role profile.
For an informal conversation please contact oliver.mytton@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Interviews will be held the week beginning the 21 February 2022
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 19.7%
- 27 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
- Holiday Purchase Scheme
- Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, Apprenticeship Programmes (junior and senior), coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Health Cashplan
- MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
- SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
- Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles)
- Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs)
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements
- Childcare Subsidy
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes is a diverse, multi cultural, adrenaline packed expanding city with so much to offer on its door step. From beautiful open spaces, a busy theatre district, large shopping centre to a number of cultural and leisure facilities.
Milton Keynes Council has an array of responsibilities, such as: education, housing, highways and social services. Altogether, the council provides over 240 services to the citizens of Milton Keynes, and to meet such an extensive and diverse range of challenges we must be innovative and dynamic to provide services successfully to meet the increasing demands that will accompany the growth of Milton Keynes. How better to contribute to that continued success than through a unique and rewarding career with us. If you want to make a difference and experience a fulfilling job measured on outcomes and results with great work-life balance, make a move to Milton Keynes Council.
