PROFESSION

Health Promotion Officer

Name:
Jo Elliott

Degree:
BA(Comb HONS) & Postgraduate
Diploma in Health Promotion

Employer:
Harborough District Council

Typical Day
Advantages
Qualifications
Resources

A day in the life of a...
Health Promotion Officer

Job Description
A Health Promotion Officer helps individuals to understand matters affecting their health, manage projects designed to address particular health issues and address groups of clients about health matters

A day in a life of a Health Promotion Officer
One day is never the same as another. I co-ordinate Health Awareness days in a workplace, offer Walk Leader Training, run Stop –Smoking Groups in secondary schools, co-ordinate a steering group for an Exercise Referral Scheme and promote Food Safety Week.

3 great things about being a Health Promotion Officer

1.	Meeting lots of different types of people

2.	Making a difference to people’s lives (quitting smoking; becoming more active etc)

3.	The opportunity to plan & carry out training

3 not so great things about being a Health Promotion Officer

1.	You are expected to be an expert on all aspects of health

2.	Trying to prove that your work makes a difference –evaluation is very difficult

3.	Having to accept that you cannot always change a person’s behavior

Qualifications recommended you gain

An experience of dealing with people is vital. People rarely come straight from college or university and Health Promotion/Public Health qualifications are useful but can sometimes be gained once in post (this is becoming less usual) A reasonable ability to write reports and make presentations is also important

3 opportunities and experiences you recommend you gain?

1.	Volunteering in some way-Walking For Health Scheme; Exercise Referral scheme mentors etc

2.	Spend some time with a public health/health Improvement specialist

3.	Keep a regular update on public health issues

Salary range?
Local Authorities pay less than the NHS Typical Local Authority range-£18000-£26000 Typical NHS range £20000-£30000