Job Introduction
This is an exciting and challenging role, providing public health expertise and leadership for a programme of work to improve people’s health through the design of the built environment (placemaking, urban planning, strategic transport) across three local authorities and social housing.
This role sits within the shared Public Health team that serves three neighbouring local authorities: Milton Keynes, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire, and is hosted by Milton Keynes City Council.
You’ll work closely with professional colleagues across these councils, who all also have significant plans for growth. You’ll ensure better integration of health into these plans to improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities. For instance, Milton Keynes City Council has recently introduced a Health Impact Assessment for all major new housing developments and has restricted the development of new takeaway food outlets near schools.
The permanent post reports to the Head of Public Health (Built Environment and Housing) and will be part of a friendly team of four people.
Interviews will be W/C 4 November
Main Responsibility
- Work with urban and transport planning experts to influence the development of the built environment to support people’s health and wellbeing and to reduce health inequalities. This will entail close working with planning and strategic transport professionals to understand how decisions are made in their work areas, and identifying major opportunities for health.
- Undertake evidence and case study reviews to identify best practice for integrating health considerations into urban and transport planning and disseminate the findings with key local stakeholders.
- Develop a high-level of expertise in Health Impact Assessment and lead the public health response (formal written response, liaising with planning colleagues and developers) of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) for which training will be provided.
- Lead the formation of significant health and planning policies (e.g. Supplementary Planning Documents) and the health-contribution to other major planning policies (e.g. Local Plan, Local Transport Plan).
- Train other public health team members in health impact assessment methods, links between the built environment and health; planning processes/rules and the opportunities for public health to influence.
The Ideal Candidate
- The role is open to individuals with significant senior experience in planning/place making/strategic transport, or public health. The ideal candidate will have a professional background in at least one of these areas and a demonstrable interest in the other.
- A background in public health whilst helpful is not necessary, and appropriate support will be offered to a successful candidate without a public health background. Masters-level education and/or relevant professional qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience in public health or closely related area with an excellent understanding of the principles and practice of Public Health. Or masters-level education and/or relevant professional qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience in urban planning or closely related area with a good understanding of the principles and practice of planning combined with a demonstrable interest in public health
- Excellent ability to collate, analyse and synthesise data and/or evidence to produce intelligence that informs decision making, policy development, practice and/or evaluation. Be able to draw out pragmatic actionable recommendations for local use from analysis of data, evidence or guidelines.
- Programme or project management experience and the ability to lead, with support, cross sector work-streams, manage risk, political challenge, and deliver effective stakeholder engagement.
- Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), and ability to communicate to different audiences both technical and non-technical across the council, external organisations, stakeholders, members of the public and councillors.
- An ability to understand, work with and learn from people with different professional backgrounds will be important. A high level of tact, diplomacy and political awareness is also required and an ability to understand other cultures (i.e. planning, strategic transport and place making), to enable effective working across disciplines and influencing without direct authority.
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.
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.
