Job descriptions
Posts in local authorities
With the planned move of senior public health posts away from the NHS, FPH have developed a specimen job description and guidance for local authorities on the appointment of a director of public health, intended to assist local authorities in establishing functions and responsibilities. These can be downloaded here:
- Guidance for local authorities on the appointment of a director of public health [word 263KB]
- Director of public health – job description [word 370KB]
It should be noted that these are working drafts and will be updated in line with the publication of official guidance and operating frameworks. A specimen job description for consultants in public health is also being developed.
The job descriptions below will be revised in 2012 in light of the changing public health system in England. These job descriptions will continue to be applicable to the other constituent countries.
Consultant in Public Health Medicine
This specimen generic job description is intended to assist employers in the UK in establishing the role:
- Consultant in Public Health Medicine [word 594KB]
Updated CCDC and CPH job descriptions / person specifications
Employers must review posts and decide if they need a medically qualified CCDC or if the post can be open to those from any background with suitable qualifications. It should be noted that a number of consultant posts in health protection open to those from a wide range of backgrounds have been established to date. **
- Consultant in Communicable Disease Control [word 350KB]
- Consultant in Health Protection** [word 428KB]
** Following consultation with a wide range of key players including the Health Protection Agency, the Public Health Environment Group, the Royal College of Pathologists, the BMA, AMICUS , ID physicians and other relevant colleges, specimen job descriptions and person specifications for a Consultant in Communicable Disease Control and a Consultant in Health Protection have been updated.
The changes have been made largely in the light of the new curriculum (pending approval by the GMC), Agenda for Change and so forth. The Faculty Board has now approved the two updated job descriptions (listed above).
During the consultation, a number of respondents indicated that they were unsure why two separate job descriptions for these two roles, one restricted to medically qualified practitioners and the other open to those from any background with suitable qualifications, were still needed.
The separate job descriptions have been retained because at present there is a continuing need for a subset of health protection posts that will cover the following:
- a requirement to “undertake prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of public importance ” and this is an essential requirement within the CCDC job description;
- the current requirement for a Designated Medical Officer (DMO) to be medically qualified in Scotland ;
- duties under HSG (93) 56 in England and WHC (93) 61 in Wales that require a medically qualified individual.
