Essex is many things – it is big, bold, ambitious, and confident. We are busy towns and cities, port communities, post war new towns and rural villages and we have the longest coastline of any county in Britain. We are a powerful economy and a net contributor to the country’s growth agenda.

The strength of Essex is its people, and our aim is to nurture a safer, better-connected society that empowers our residents and celebrates the county’s diversity. We are determined to improve the health and wellbeing of all people in Essex by raising the profile and importance of Public Health and by creating a culture and environment that reduces inequalities and enables residents of all ages to live healthier lives.

With an overall population of over 1.5 million we are an ageing and growing county with a higher proportion of people aged over 65 than the national average and a rising demand for adult social care and mental health services. There are some significant differences in life expectancy across the county between the most and least deprived areas. And some areas have among the highest rates of suicide in England.

Tackling these challenges is a central objective of Essex County Council as set out in our Levelling Up White Paper and guiding strategy Everyone’s Essex.

THE ROLE

As the Director of Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities you will be a pivotal figure leading on these issues at the heart of the health system working with three Integrated Care Systems across the county.  You will drive a focus on the wider determinants of public health. You will therefore need to be a system leader who will relish the opportunity to work with health partners, elected members, the voluntary sector, and communities to deliver better outcomes for all our residents. You will need to be able to make measurable improvements to health outcomes and reduce health inequalities and will be someone who thrives on a challenge and can work in new ways whilst applying your experience.

Reporting to the Executive Director of People, Policy, Economy, and Public Health enables an approach where public health in Essex is intrinsically connected to the broader economic growth, skills, and employability agenda. This innovative structure and ethos provide us with the best possible chance to tackle the longstanding health issues that exist in some of our communities. It also means that the role requires someone who fully understands – and can leverage the fundamental links between jobs, skills, housing, planning and public health and will jump at the chance to work in a pioneering way.

Performing a key role in the organisation, the Director of Public Health, Wellbeing & Communities will work closely with the Chief Executive and Corporate Leadership Team, particularly our Executive Directors for Adults and Childrens to ensure that our most vulnerable residents are well looked after and given the best chances in life.  You will have responsibility for driving this agenda through the statutory Essex Health and Wellbeing Board supporting the Cabinet member directly.

Given the scale and breadth of the role we are looking for an experienced Director of Public Health, but we will consider exceptional leaders looking for their first Director of Public Health role.

In addition, the portfolio extends far beyond the statutory public health responsibilities, to include various community teams that support the public health agenda, such as Active Essex, our traveller unit, and Trading Standards. This gives direct control over a number of key services and direct reach into our powerful network of community and voluntary bodies.