Senior Public Health Practitioner for Alcohol and Drugs

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC622868

Salary Range: £48,948 - £54,423 per annum

Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)

Hours per week: 37 (a minimum of 30 hours may be considered)

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 5 May 2026

Early applications are encouraged as we may close the advert ahead of the stated closing date.

The Role:

Joining our well-established and dynamic team as a Senior Public Health Practitioner for Alcohol and Drugs, you’ll be supported to develop your career in Public Health. You’ll play a vital role in addressing health inequalities and preventing ill-health in our communities by delivering key ambitions within our Public Health Strategy. As part of the wider Hampshire Public Health team, you’ll work in a collaborative and innovative environment that values continuous improvement and impact.

What you’ll do:

• Lead and deliver four key public health programmes within the alcohol and drug portfolio that includes:
  • Focus on children and young people. Commissioning work in education settings and reviewing a wider offer of support; identifying and developing responses to specific high-risk groups e.g. young people at risk of exclusion, young people in the criminal justice system and pathways for early intervention for children and young people.
  • Prevention and early intervention. This includes system wide improvements to reduce alcohol and drug related harm; development and commissioning of training programmes for the wider workforce; oversight of communications and engagement with the public. 
  • Alcohol licensing. Fulfilling public health responsibilities around alcohol licensing including partnership working with districts, police and trading standards.
  • Gambling: Co-ordinating a local public health response to gambling-related harms by assessing population need, targeting high risk communities, and prioritising effective interventions. 

• Work in a matrix structure to support the wider Public Health team’s functions and priorities, in line with the Public Health Strategy.
• Monitor and evaluate public health programmes using intelligence, data analysis and evidence-based approaches.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with a range of professionals and organisations.
• Work alongside an existing Senior Public Health Practitioner who supports all-age commissioned services.

What we’re looking for:

• A Master’s degree in a Public Health or related field.
• A good understanding of public health principles and practice, with strong experience in a public health setting.
• Knowledge and experience in:
  
  • Drugs and alcohol agenda.
  • Preventive and harm reduction approaches for children and young people in a range of settings including across education settings.
  • Working in partnership with a range of organisations on complex and diverse work programmes.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and present complex datasets, to ensure an evidence-based approach resulting in clear measurable outcomes.
• Strong communication and partnership-building skills with a range of partners across health, social care and the community and voluntary sector.
• Ability to manage and prioritise multiple complex and diverse priorities effectively and simultaneously.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Senior Public Health Practitioner for Alcohol and Drugs role, team and our values. The section ‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.

Why join us?

• Be part of a supportive and forward-thinking team that values innovation and collaboration.
• Make a real difference in reducing alcohol, drug and gambling related harm across Hampshire alongside a range of partners.
• Access to ongoing professional development.
• Work in a role that offers variety, challenge, and impact in high-profile areas of public health.
• Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice. 
• A competitive benefits package that includes generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here.   

Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK before applying.

Travel Requirements:

You may be required to visit other locations within Hampshire, and therefore need to have the ability to travel, as necessary.

Values Based Recruitment:

We are passionate about our values:

• Collaborative: Working together, combining talents and sharing resources to shape decisions and actions, and to maximise health outcomes.
• Equalities-driven: Reducing inequalities and promoting equity in all we do, so that no one is left behind as we strive for better health and wellbeing.
• Outcome focussed: Prioritising our work based on evidence, effectiveness and value for money to improve quality outcomes and prevent ill health.
• Sustainable: Being future-focussed. Creating lasting change in local systems and communities. Developing our work through a climate change lens to achieve health and climate benefits. 

We practice values-based recruitment in Public Health and invite you to evidence how you demonstrate our values in your application. The interview for the role will also be values based and will explore how you will be able to contribute to these.

Additional Information:

Senior Public Health Practitioner for Alcohol and Drugs Candidate Pack

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

For general enquiries, please contact care.careers@hants.gov.uk
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Ileana Cahill, Public Health Principal on ileana.cahill@hants.gov.uk