Public Health Programme Lead - Children and Young People’s Public Mental Health

37 Hours Monday to Friday - Occasional evening or weekend work.

Make a lasting difference to the health and wellbeing of Gateshead residents.

Who We Are And What We Stand For

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might just be the perfect match.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Championing health. Changing lives.

The Public Health Service at Gateshead Council works to improve population health and reduce inequalities by putting prevention, evidence and partnership at the heart of decisionmaking. We lead delivery of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Health in All Policies approach, working across the Council, NHS and wider system to address the wider determinants of health. Using strong public health intelligence and insight, we support action across the life course, from children and young people to adult wellbeing, prevention and health protection, ensuring services are targeted where they will have the greatest impact.

Creating healthier communities, together.

We are looking for an ambitious and experienced Public Health Programme Lead to join our Public Health and Wellbeing Team at Gateshead Council. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the development of innovative, evidence-based programmes that improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities and support communities to thrive.

Working across a range of partners, you will play a pivotal role in identifying population health needs, shaping policy, commissioning services and driving strategic change. You will use data, research and local intelligence to influence decisions, develop effective interventions and ensure our Health and Wellbeing Strategy delivers meaningful improvements across the life course.

Public Health Programme Lead - Children and Young People’s Public Mental Health Support the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Working with the Advanced Practitioner this role will facilitate collaborative working with key stakeholders across the health, education and voluntary sector partners to implement the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Needs Assessment recommendations, prioritising prevention, and embedding mental health outcomes into a Health in All Policies approach.

If you are passionate about tackling health inequalities, skilled at building partnerships and motivated by creating healthier futures for our communities, we would love to hear from you.

What You'll Get To Do

Establish local intelligence on the health needs of the Gateshead population and lead on the development and updating of health needs assessments and other public health tools.
Work with Consultants and Senior Management Team to ensure effective and efficient commissioning / joint commissioning of Public Health services and achievement of national performance indicators.
Implement local and national public health policy in Gateshead, with emphasis on the policy objectives of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and their implementation.
Lead the identification and dissemination of good practice and provide strategic input to the development and delivery of Gateshead Council’s corporate objectives.
Chair relevant programme/partnership groups representing Gateshead Council, which have the responsibility for the delivery of Public Health outcomes.
Compile regular reports on progress as required by local, regional and national stakeholders including the Health & Wellbeing Board, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Strategic Partnership Boards, etc.
Develop and manage an annual spending plan to underpin the delivery of the public health programme. Ensure expenditure of funds is undertaken in line with the regulations and financial processes of both the Local Authority and the Department of Health and Social Care
Liaise with other Council directorates and partnerships in developing and monitoring cross partnership and sub regional commissioning arrangements, developing new service interventions or policy initiatives.
Work with Knowledge and Intelligence colleagues to ensure the gathering of performance and monitoring information as required by national and local stakeholders (for example, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Commissioning Board, the North East Knowledge Information Team).
Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Council and other stakeholders (e.g. NHS), service providers and our communities, to ensure engagement in public health and wellbeing priorities.
Work with colleagues in the Health Determinants Research Collaborative to develop and take part in research and evaluation activities to support programmes of work.

What You'll Bring

A strong understanding of public health, including relevant legislation, national policy, health improvement approaches and tackling health inequalities.
A postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject (or equivalent experience), alongside the skills and enthusiasm to drive improvements in public health and wellbeing.
Experience using data, intelligence and evidence to assess population needs, monitor outcomes and inform decision-making.
A proven track record of partnership working, building effective relationships across organisations to influence change and improve health outcomes.
Experience commissioning, planning and delivering services or programmes in a complex, multi-agency environment.
Strong strategic thinking and project management skills, with the ability to turn priorities into effective action and deliver results on time and within budget.
Confidence influencing, negotiating and working with a wide range of stakeholders, from community groups to senior leaders and partner organisations.

What’s In It For You

Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation

How To Apply

You can apply online using the apply now button below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications.

We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.

If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via

Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.

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Public Health Programme Lead - Children and Young People's Public Mental Health