Public Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Officer

The role is based in North East Essex with a need to travel to Colchester and surrounding areas on a regular basis.
Please note this is a fixed term contract / secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months.
The Opportunity
This is an exciting new role for people who share our passion for improving the lives and wellbeing of the people of Essex, as well as our values of compassion, collaboration and respect.
With demonstrable experience in Public Health and project management, you will play a key role in our commitment to suicide prevention. Suicide rates in some parts of Essex have historically been higher than the national average, so this role presents a real opportunity for the right candidate to make a difference in these areas. Essex County Council (ECC) aspire to become an outcome focussed and evidence based commissioning authority.
This role will be responsible for the delivery of professional and expert support to the North East Essex Suicide Prevention Programme. Working jointly within Economy, Investment and Public Health (EIPH) and Suffolk and North East Essex (SNEE) ICB you will support stakeholders to deliver a new, more flexible and collaborative approach.
The role will lead on a range of smaller projects and activities, as well as maintaining business as usual activity and supporting an agile approach to resourcing.
It will involve some complexity in working to support a number of specific agendas and support Senior Managers on any number and combination of thematic programmes and projects dependant on strategic priorities arising from the overarching Southend Essex and Thurrock Suicide Prevention Partnership Board.
The successful postholder will work both face to face and virtually with partners and stakeholders in the Colchester and Tendring geography including Primary Care Networks and GPs; local District and Borough Councils, Essex Police, acute hospitals and the Voluntary Sector and Community Groups, and would benefit from a mature infrastructure for the agenda being in place at time of recruitment, i.e. an established partnership board (governance) and data programme.
Accountabilities
Work with a range of senior managers in Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities and, where necessary, from across ECC and with partners and stakeholders, to define requirements and deliver activity ensuring best Value For Money, and sustainable outcomes.
Provide day-to-day support as part of a matrix managed team for specific pieces of activity - both planned and reactive; for example writing reports or business cases or co-ordinating activities that deliver specific project documentation.
Provide subject matter expert advice and guidance as required for thematic programmes and projects within the North East Essex Suicide Prevention Programme.
Support senior managers to ensure that prioritised activities can be planned, specified and met in terms of capacity and capability and delivered to a high standard.
Build relationships and work in collaboration (for example with, but not limited to, CCGs and District/Borough/City Councils) not only to deliver levels of integrated activity, but also to identify any further opportunities and efficiencies across organisations.
Deliver specific projects and activities that further the continuous improvement of high performing, sustainable and cost effective services or place shaping activities and develop cross functional links.
Support the development of, and use, a range of tools and techniques that ensure activity is consistent, effective and efficient and that an audit trail is maintained.
Respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities ensuring that risks and opportunities are identified and managed and comply with all external and internal regulation: support responses to calls for contributions to consultation responses.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
The Experience You Will Bring