Health Improvement Officer: Healthy Eating and Nutrition

Are you passionate about helping children and families eat well, be active and enjoy healthier lives? Would you like to use your nutrition knowledge to make a difference across Islington? We're looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Health Improvement Officer to join us on a permanent basis. You'll work with schools, early years settings, families and community partners to turn healthy eating messages into practical, positive changes for children and young people. You’ll build strong relationships with people across the borough and help develop and deliver initiatives that make healthier choices easier and more accessible.

As part of the role, you'll:

• help develop and deliver healthy eating and health improvement initiatives
• work with schools and early years settings to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles
• support the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, working with providers to ensure meals meet School Food Standards and are nutritious, appropriate and appealing to children and young people
• coordinate the Families for Life Champion programme, supporting parents to promote health and wellbeing within their schools and communities
• build positive working relationships with colleagues, families and partners across Islington
• help turn evidence and guidance around nutrition into practical support that works for children and families.

You'll bring a degree in nutrition, along with strong communication and organisational skills. You'll be comfortable building relationships with different people and working collaboratively to get things done. Attention to detail is important, but so is being able to use your initiative, manage your priorities and adapt your approach when needed. We want you to feel able to bring your knowledge, experience and ideas to the role.

You'll be joining work that has a clear purpose: supporting children and families across Islington to develop healthy habits and improve their health and wellbeing. If that sounds like something you'd like to be part of, we'd love to hear from you.

Working for the team, service and our organisation Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future. We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion.

We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination. We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act.

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment.

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.