Working in Public Health
The Public Health Team moved from the NHS to Devon County Council in April 2013 when many of the functions of Public Health were made the responsibility of local authorities, following the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
In the Local Authority Public Health is responsible for Health Improvement, Health Protection, Healthcare Public Health supported by Public health Intelligence, Policy and Research in everything we do. Public Health has a Public Health Grant from the Department of Health and Social Care which allows the team to commission and deliver programmes of work to improve the health of the population.
Our aim is for people to live longer in better health. Each year there is an Annual Public Health report, written by the Director of Public Health, that reviews the health of the people of Devon and outlines recommendations that will contribute to reducing health inequities.
People join public health with a variety of backgrounds and start careers in many different roles including business support, commissioning and intelligence, programme management and system change. Examples include:
Public Health Consultants and Specialists
Public Health Consultants and Specialists come from many different backgrounds such as medicine, academia, sports science, health psychology and environmental health. They provide public health leadership in the areas of Healthcare public health, Health Improvement and Health protection. Some roles require Registration with UKPHR through a portfolio or the Public Health Training Programme.
Advanced Public Health Practitioners (APHPs)
The team come from many backgrounds and lead programmes of work to improve health.
Public Health Intelligence
Intelligence Analysts in public health explore, analyse, research, translate and present information that can inform decisions to improve population health and wellbeing. The team lead development of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment – Devon Health and Wellbeing
Public Health Commissioning
Commissioning services in public health means getting the best value for the people of Devon by assessing need locally, contracting with partners to meet needs, and influencing support from other organisations. The team is responsible for the strategic administration and contract management of public health funded activity.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response
The emergency preparedness, resilience and response functions sit within the public health team and provide leadership for incidents and events across the council and wider system and align closely with the local authority health protection functions.
Public Health staff work within a wider public health family with posts within the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Academia and the NHS.
Career Opportunities
There are a variety of roles across Public Health including consultants and specialists, analysts, commissioners and emergency response.
Our Stories
It’s essential to be able to work collaboratively in public health and I really enjoy this aspect of my role. Particularly working together to bring projects to life and see them through to implementation.
– Harriet, Advanced Public Health Practitioner
Want to know more about the Public Health Team? Get in touch.
FAQs
The place to live
We’re lucky to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Whether you like the sea, the countryside or the city, find out why Devon is the place for you.
The place to work
Think you know local government? Think again. Modern. Flexible. Inclusive. Find a job that makes a difference and contributes to your local community, and gives you the flexibility and support you need.