Senior Health Improvement Practitioner
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
- Hours / week
- 37.5
- Posted
- 11/09/2026
- Closes
- 28/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This Senior Health Improvement Practitioner role focuses on reducing health inequalities in Plymouth, specifically targeting smoking cessation among marginalized groups. The post holder will influence positive lifestyle choices, deliver public health services, and work with diverse clients using various interventions. It involves partnership working, health needs assessments, and contributing to public health priorities.
Key responsibilities
- Carry out specialist one-to-one and group interventions for behaviour change.
- Liaise with partners to help reach target populations and communities, actively seeking out Hard to Reach populations.
- Develop, promote and co-ordinate health activities and community engagement events to deliver health promotion.
- Monitor and evaluate outcomes through specified processes, procedures and systems.
- Be responsible for the line management of junior staff, providing day-to-day management and supervision.
- Collect data regarding purchasing and invoicing to support managers budgetary requirements.
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of public health/health improvement, acquired through training, extended courses and experience to degree level equivalent
- Evidence of relevant professional registration; eg NMC/HCPC/SW England
- Evidence of continuing professional/personal development in health improvements/ behaviour change/public health.
- Evidence of competency in IT skills/ECDL or equivalent
- Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues/diagnosis and the effect on the individual, this includes impact to their physical health
- Knowledge and understanding of the psychology of behaviour change
- Knowledge of the benefits of health improvement interventions
- Understanding of determinants of health and health inequalities
- Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
- Able to work out of hours with notice e.g. evenings and weekends
- Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team and manage own caseload
- Relevant experience of working in the community and/or public health setting and/or health promotion
- Experience of delivering and supporting health promotion initiatives
- Experience of motivating participants to effect behaviour change
- Experience of working with a wide range of people and groups using a strength based approach
- Experience of working with statutory, public and voluntary sector bodies
- Experience of delivering training to a varied group of delegates.
Desirable criteria
- Has achieved the NCSCT Stop Smoking Practitioner qualification.
- Health promotion certificates such as Brief Interventions for Alcohol, Mental Health First Aid. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training(ASIST)
- Training Qualification
- Motivational Interviewing qualification
- Student Nurse Assessor/Supervisor qualification
- Knowledge of social marketing and health needs assessment
- Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodology
- Understanding and commitment to Community Development approaches
- Relevant experience of working with individuals with mental health issues
- Group work leadership and facilitation skills
- Multimedia communication, marketing and presentation skills.
- Experience of managing a caseload
- Training skills including training needs analysis and evaluation.
- Demonstrate project planning and management skills/experience including monitoring and evaluation of projects
- Student Nurse Mentorship
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 5 at £29,970 – £36,483 a year, across England.
This advert: £32,073 – £39,043 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 17d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Livewell Southwest
Senior Health Improvement Practitioner
The closing date is 28 September 2026
Job summary
37.5 hours per week.
18 months
Fixed Term Contract
An exciting opportunity has
arisen to join the Wellbeing Team to reduce health inequalities amongst the
most disadvantaged in our City. The Wellbeing team deliver public health
services within Plymouth, including a wide range of activities under the Public
Health Outcomes Framework.
As part of the national drive
towards a smoke free nation, this post will focus on smoking
cessation, particularly amongst marginalised groups & those with complex
needs. You will seek to influence, improve and promote positive lifestyle choices & behaviours, leading to better health outcomes and a reduction in
preventable ill health.
The post will involve working
with a diverse range of clients in various settings using different
interventions & modalities to identify possible risks to health. The focus
will be on smoking cessation, but the successful post holder will be expected to
work across all the prevention workstreams.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
**Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are s
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