Public Health Improvement Officer - Gambling

This is an exciting opportunity to lead Peterborough City Council’s developing public health response to gambling-related harm.

Gambling-related harm can affect individuals, families and communities, contributing to mental ill-health, debt, housing insecurity, safeguarding concerns and wider health inequalities. We are establishing this dedicated role to bring partners together and develop a coordinated, evidence-based approach to prevention and early intervention across Peterborough.

You will lead the development and delivery of Peterborough’s Gambling Harm Prevention Strategy and action plan. Working across the Council and with NHS, voluntary and community sector partners, you will:

• coordinate local delivery of the national gambling harms prevention programme;
• lead the implementation of a local Gambling Harms Needs Assessment
• establish and support effective governance and partnership arrangements;
• strengthen and/or establish early identification, brief intervention, signposting and referral pathways;
• develop training a training programme for frontline staff and Councillors;
• commission or deliver prevention activity, including targeted initiatives for groups and communities at greater risk;
• embed gambling harm within wider work on mental health, suicide prevention, debt, housing, safeguarding, substance use, licensing and community safety; and
• evaluate progress and prepare clear reports and briefings for senior leaders, elected members and partners.

This is a strategic, system-facing role rather than a frontline treatment post. You will have the opportunity to shape an emerging area of public health practice and establish a sustainable approach that is informed by evidence, independent of gambling industry influence and grounded in the experiences of local people.

You will join the Public Health Wider Determinants team within Peterborough City Council.

We are a supportive and collaborative team working to improve the conditions that shape people’s health. Our work recognises that good health is influenced not only by health services, but also by housing, employment, income, poverty, transport, planning, the local environment, community safety and access to support.

The team leads Peterborough’s Health in All Policies approach, working across Council directorates and with local and regional partners to ensure that health, wellbeing and health inequalities are considered in policies, programmes, commissioning and service design. Our current work connects public health with healthy places, housing, poverty, employment, planning, transport and other wider determinants of health.

This role will be an important part of that wider agenda. You will work with colleagues across public health and build strong relationships with licensing, housing, community safety, debt support, safeguarding, children's services, adult social care, NHS organisations and the voluntary and community sector.

You will join a team that values evidence, partnership working, practical action and the meaningful involvement of residents. We encourage people to bring new ideas, make connections across organisational boundaries and help translate public health evidence into changes that improve lives.

We are looking for someone who can combine public health knowledge and approaches with excellent programme, partnership and communication skills.

You do not necessarily need to have worked in gambling harm. You may have developed relevant experience through public health, health improvement, mental health, community development, substance use, safeguarding, health inequalities, commissioning or another prevention-focused area.

You will bring:

• a good understanding of public health, prevention,…