Public Health Practitioner (Research)
Team: Public Health
Job Family: CBG12 - Advising
Salary: £43,920 - £48,872 per annum pro rata
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.
Contract Type: Hybrid - Fixed Term - 2 years.
Closing Date: 5th January 2025
Interview Dates: w/c 13th January 2025
About the role
Central Bedfordshire Council has an exciting role for a motivated and enthusiastic officer to promote and support research across the Council, influencing the delivery of better value and improved outcomes through the use of evidence-based practice.
This post holder will work with a range of senior colleagues across the Council to develop the research culture and infrastructure, capacity and capability for research, supporting the Council to deliver its aims, including improving residents’ wellbeing.
Main accountabilities
To identify and understand research opportunities and research capabilities with Central Bedfordshire.
To establish and develop a network of officers and residents (‘public participants’) to support research in Central Bedfordshire.
To improve the use of evidence, data and research to inform decision making within the Council and make best use of limited resources.
To improve awareness of the value of evidence, data and research amongst Council staff through the development of a network and a programme of training events.
To identify and support a small number of staff who have a desire to do research to apply for external funding or other opportunities to develop their research skills.
To develop and deliver information and training in evidence, data and research for elected members and senior officers.
To explore with the Corporate Management Team and executive members of the Council what a ‘research active’ local authority would look like, and identify the structures and capabilities needed to support research.
To develop and strengthen links with our local university, the University of Bedfordshire (and their Public Health Department), and with the wider Public Health team in order to improve the use of evidence to inform decision making and services in Central Bedfordshire
To join and participate in a national network of Local Authority Research Practitioners to identify and learn from best practice in other local authorities.
Qualifications and Experience
The suitable candidate will have:
- Experience in research and a good understanding of research processes and practices, particularly how they relate to public health and local authorities.
- Knowledge, skills and abilities to work closely with senior officers across directorates to influence changes in their practice, cultures and structures to support the use of evidence, data and research to inform decision making, policy and/or practice.
- The ability to communicate a passion for research, evidence and data, translating technical opportunities into action.
- Understanding of the principles and practices of research and data governance, and how these can be strengthened across CBC.
- Experience of partnership working and influencing both internal and external partners to improve outcomes.
Our Offer
We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page
Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer. We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.
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You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack.
Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.
For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Martin Westerby at martin.westerby@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 4615.
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To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.
Our National Careers Service team offer a free weekly workshop covering CV writing and how to complete the statement sections of the Central Bedfordshire Council online application form. This MS Teams workshop is open to anyone from the UK and lasts around 1.5 hours. Please book your place here.
More information about this service can be found here: Support getting into work or learning | Central Bedfordshire Council