Lead Health Protection Nurse/Practitioner in Cardiff

This post is Fixed Term for 18 months due to the needs of the service. The Communicable Disease Inclusion Health Programme (CDIHP) delivers an integrated approach to reducing infectious disease and health inequalities among vulnerable and marginalised populations across Wales. The Sexual Health Programme focuses on preventing and managing communicable diseases linked to sexual health and improving outcomes for those most at risk.

Main duties of the job

• Lead, support, and develop a team of Health Protection Nurses/Practitioners (HPNPs) to deliver high-quality, equitable sexual health protection services.
• Contribute to policy development, surveillance, clinical governance, and service improvement.
• Work collaboratively with programme leads and partners to design and implement effective interventions.
• Promote professional development, supervision, and reflective practice within the team.
• Act as a key link between operational staff and senior leadership, ensuring alignment with Public Health Wales' strategic aims.

About You

You will be a registered health protection nurse/practitioner with:

• Significant experience in sexual health, communicable disease, or public health practice.
• Proven leadership and team management skills.
• Strong communication, partnership, and problem-solving abilities.
• A commitment to tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.

About us

We are Public Health Wales - the national public health agency in Wales. Our purpose is 'Working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help everyone in Wales live longer, healthier, happier lives. Together with our partners, we work to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations. Our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the leading source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. In a world facing complex health challenges, our work has never been so important. We are guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that values equality and diversity. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and are supportive of flexible working arrangements, including part-time roles and job sharing.

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Person Specification

• Registered Nurse level one or Allied Health Professional registered with a UK statutory regulator (e.g. HCPC) or Registered with UKPHR or Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB).
• Educated to Masters level in relevant field, or equivalent specialist experience.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Qualification in leadership and/or management.
• Postgraduate teaching experience/qualification.

Experience

• Extensive experience working in the field of health protection, infection protection and control or other similar/equivalent clinical/Environmental Health services at Band 7 level as a minimum.
• Extensive experience in the identification and implementation of service audit.
• Proven knowledge and experience in the identification of areas requiring policy development.
• Demonstrate ability to lead the development of relevant policies/guidelines/protocols.
• Extensive experience in presenting to a wide variety of audiences in both formal and informal settings.
• Experience of research and development.
• Experience of leading professional projects.
• Experience in change management.
• Experience of engagement and participation in a variety of audits at both regional and national level.

Skills

• Demonstrable leadership and management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to represent a team and liaise with other professional organisations.
• Ability to innovate, lead, and implement change.
• Ability to engage and motivate others.
• Proficient in problem solving.
• Competent in the use of IT (word processing, spreadsheets and databases).
• Ability to co-ordinate/lead a range of public health activities involving other professionals and agencies.
• Ability to prioritise own workload effectively so that work programme targets are met.
• Effective verbal and written presentation and reporting skills.
• Able to forge strong links and networks to work collaboratively with others both inside and outside the NHS.
• Evidence of formal publication of scientific work, poster and/or oral presentations.
• Financially astute/business aware.
• Experience in performance monitoring and management.

Knowledge

• Evidence of relevant leadership experience.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice and its application.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of wider professional nursing practitioner issues.
• Familiarity with Health Protection and/or Infection Prevention Control areas of work.
• Awareness and understanding of wider nursing practitioner issues both internally and externally to Public Health Wales.
• Working knowledge of appropriate Extensive specialist practical and theoretical knowledge of health protection.
• Knowledge and understanding of organisational strategic frameworks and their implementation.
• Involvement in organisational professional issues.

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated and reliable.
• Ability to work independently and as part of the Health Protection Team.
• Ability to respond to unpredictable workloads and meet deadlines.
• Professional and approachable.
• Resourceful and adaptable.
• Welsh speaker.

Other

• Ability to travel between sites in Wales frequently.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.