SLHW Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer

**Posts based in Sligo and Donegal**

Location of Post

Health Promotion & Improvement Department.

There is currently 1 permanent whole-time vacancy available, base Sligo office, and 1 temporary higher appointment of 24 month duration, base Letterkenny office.

A panel may be formed for HSE North West as a result of this campaign for Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer, from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled.

Informal Enquiries

Anne McAteer, Health Promotion & Improvement Manager, Health Service Executive, 1st Floor, St Conal’s Building, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, F92 FW6Y. Anne.McAteer@hse.ie

087 6148812 for further information about the role.

Details of Service

Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health and wellbeing. Health promotion aims to do this by building healthy public policy; creating supportive environments; strengthening community actions; developing personal skills and reorienting health services.

Health promotion aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the general population and those populations at greatest risk of developing chronic disease.

Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officers act as enablers, negotiators, and advocates to build and leverage capacity within the HSE and with external stakeholders to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources to improve the health and wellbeing of the population. Health Promotion & Improvement staff provide knowledge, expertise, advice, and training on the application of evidence-based programmes across national policy priority areas.

The work of Health Promotion and Improvement is focused on:

• Building capacity of health services to support people to stay healthy and well through delivery of health promotion & improve training programmes.
• Providing knowledge, expertise, and support to ensure our health service and models of care deliver health and wellbeing gains for the population and particularly for those most at risk.
• Reducing onset of chronic disease and supporting those with chronic conditions to live better through the provision of smoking cessation services and dietetic services.

· Developing and promoting cross-sectoral partnerships and collaborative practice to advance health promotion initiatives and deliver improved health outcomes across key target populations.

• Supporting staff to enjoy improved health and wellbeing.

Health Promotion & Improvement will deliver services, under the remit of the Department of Public Health, to the IHAs including community and acute setting. It has strong links and strategic input from National Health and Wellbeing Office.

The work of Health Promotion and Improvement (HP&I) is defined and articulated through a range of government policy documents that have been translated into HSE Implementation Plans for delivery. Healthy Ireland (HI) Framework (2013) is the overarching policy document. Several policies and strategies have been published to progress specific priority areas including National Sexual Health Strategy, National HSE Mental Health Promotion Plan Stronger Together, National Physical Activity Plan, A Healthy Weight for Ireland - Obesity Policy and Action Plan, Tobacco Free Ireland, the National Substance Misuse Strategy, Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice.

Slaintecare sets out the need to develop community services ensuring integration of service across health and social care services. This involves a population health planning approach and Community Health Areas (CHAs) will be further developed providing these services to a population of 50,000 approx. The CHAs will also be complimented by community specialist teams (hubs) across a population of approximately 150,000 for those that have more complex needs. Through Enhanced Community Care and Slaintecare health promotion and improvement will be embedded at this level, delivering services to the population at community level in the region.

The management of health conditions and population health and wellbeing are core components in the CHA/ Community Specialist Team Hub models to ensure that communities are supported to stay well by assisting individuals to live well and live healthier lifestyles. The reform programme will involve building the capacity for Health Promotion & and Improvement officers and delivering services to the population at community network level within the CHO.

Each HSE Health Region is tasked with population specific planning, resourcing and delivery of health and social care services for the needs of its unique population. This will result in improved accountability and governance in terms of finance and performance, while also bringing decision-making closer to the frontline.

Health Regions will enable and empower staff to provide services that are:

· Integrated, locally planned and delivered

· Easier to access and navigate

· Available closer to home

Health Regions are geographically-based units with clearly defined populations. They align community and hospital services within specific areas. The HSE will retain a strong but leaner central organisation, with more service provision developed at a local level. The HSE West North West Region will manage and deliver all public health and social care services in this region.

Services in the Region

HSE Services working within this region include:

· Acute Hospitals

· Primary care services

· Community services

· Disability services

· Older Person Service’s

· Health and social care professionals

· Voluntary sector services

Reporting Relationship

The Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer will report to the Health Promotion & Improvement Manager (Grade VIII).

Key Working Relationships

The Senior HP&IO will work with a wide range of both external and internal stakeholders ensure the effective delivery of the National Health and Wellbeing Operational Plan, and the relevant Regional Operational Plans.

In conjunction with the HP&I team build and support existing relationships with the community and not for profit sector to ensure policy priority targets and key performance indicators are achieved.

Engage with and support HSE services including the Department of Public Health, community and acute services in the IHAs.

External stakeholders include, Local Authorities, Local Sports Partnerships; Schools; Section 39 agencies; LCDCs; CYPSCs, Community and Voluntary sector, and academia.

Purpose of the Post

The Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer has responsibility for delivery of agreed programmes of work aligned to Health Promotion & Improvement strategic priorities, management of staff and financial resources and performance management of their local team in line with HSE policies.

The Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer will be responsible for leading a local Health Promotion & Improvement function across the region to ensure the delivery of annual HSE National Service and Operational Plans in respect of Health Promotion and Improvement. These annual plans are informed by priorities set out in a range of government health and wellbeing policy and strategy documents that have been translated into HSE implementation plans.

The Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer may also have specific responsibility for a given policy priority programme or strategic initiative within their region.