Public Health Specialist

Public Health Specialist (Social Determinants of Health)

Closing date: 6th July 2026

Salary: £55,101 pro rata (£33,060 for 22.2 hours per week)

0.6 WTE, Fixed-term for 2 years.

Role summary

The social and economic landscapes we live in play a vital role in our chances of leading a healthy life. Inequalities in these ‘social determinants’, such as access to education, good employment, transport, suitable housing, and green spaces explain many of the inequalities that exist in health outcomes for different populations across Somerset.

Many Council functions, such as housing, planning, and environmental health, have their roots in public health. We want to work towards embedding health and health equity in all policies by strengthening the role of public health in shaping policy and practice across these service areas that have an essential role in reducing social and health inequalities. 

There is also growing evidence on how commercial determinants (private sector activities) impact health outcomes. The Council has influence on some of these activities through the discharge of their licensing and planning decisions and in the goods and services which it procures itself.

Somerset Council is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and innovative Public Health Specialist for 0.6WTE, fixed term for 2 years. This is an exciting new role where you will apply a broad range of Public Health knowledge and skills, such as critical appraisal, analysis and evaluation of data and needs, and partnership working to address the social determinants of health and inequalities, and create healthier places, in collaboration with the wider somerset public health team. Somerset Council also has an NIHR HDRC centre, providing further opportunities to maximise the impact of this individual post holder and the support of a wider research team in embedding health equity work.

You will be educated to master’s level, or have comparable professional experience with a proven track record of delivering programmes that have had demonstrable impact on health and well-being outcomes. You will be an enthusiastic team player who is able to influence and advocate across the public health team and with a wide range of stakeholders to optimise the public health gain for our local population. It would be advantageous to have demonstrable prior knowledge and experience of planning, housing and employment functions, and where health can be embedded successfully.

The shared vision for health and wellbeing in Somerset is for people to live healthy and independent lives, supported by thriving and connected communities with timely and easy access to high-quality and efficient public services when they need them.

Somerset is a large geographical county with urban centres, market towns and vast rural areas.  The county has appropriately 577,349 people, with the population expected to increase by 12% by 2041 and the 65+ group expected to grow by 35%.

What you’ll do - key responsibilities

You will be:

• Able to operationalise public health strategies and priorities
• Confident working collaboratively on complex, system issues, with experience of building and maintaining relationships across a range of services and sectors
• Confident in using data to determine needs and critically appraising evidence to deliver or commission interventions across a health and care system
• Positive, committed, adaptable and organised
• An advocate for the impact of health inequalities and social determinants of health on Somerset’s population and the need for change

What we’re looking for – knowledge, experience & skills

Essential

• Master’s degree or equivalent.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the statutory, policy and strategic commissioning framework within which specialist services operate and their context within local government and the health and wellbeing system.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of using data and evidence to support policy change and commissioning to improve health and wellbeing.
• Evidence of work related continuing professional development in public health.
• 5 years’ experience of implementing public health programmes and working in partnership across multiple agencies.
• Experience of undertaking clinical and quality audits and challenging poor practice.
• Demonstrable experience of partnership working, including the ability to influence and, where required, lead multi-agency projects and initiatives with particular reference to standard setting and whole service commissioning.
• Good understanding and ability to develop and implement effective performance management and quality assurance frameworks.
• Computer literate, using MS Office suite of programmes.
• Collaborative in their approach to working with partners, both internal and external.
• Has a positive attitude towards improving outcomes for health and wellbeing.
• Promotes the need for change and acts as a role model for change.
• Positive, committed, adaptable, thorough and confident approach.
• Ability to work to deadlines and to motivate others to work effectively and demonstrate a duty of care.
• Ability to work in a team and contribute to shared goals.
• Able to challenge practice effectively.
• Innovative and creative approach to service improvement and value.
• Customer- and Communities- focused.
• Personal Integrity.
• Drive and self-motivation – “can do” attitude.

Desirable

• Track record of operating corporate projects and providing clear advice on policy options and policy development and delivering projects on time and within budget.
• An understanding and commitment to effective customer and community engagement leading to service redesign and change management.

Additional Information  

• This is a part-time position for 0.6 WTE.
• This is a fixed-term position for a 2-year period.

• Flexible and hybrid working (1-2 days per week in the office).

• 33 days of annual leave (pro-rata, additional to bank holidays)

• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Rachel Handley, Public Health Consultant, via email at rachel.handley@somerset.gov.uk.  

A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.