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Health promotion specialist
Hours
30-40 per week
Starting salary
£21,200 + per year
If you can communicate well with a wide variety of people and you want to raise awareness of health issues, this could be the job for you.
Health promotion specialists aim to improve the health of the population through education.
In this job you will need to be persuasive but tactful. You will need to be able to inspire and motivate people. You will also need good project management skills.
To get into this job you would usually need experience with community groups, plus a degree in a relevant subject such as health studies. Experience in fields like nursing and social work may also help you.
WorkDesc
The work
As a health promotion specialist, your work can focus on:
- institutions, including schools, workplaces and prisons
- specific groups of the population, such as older people or disabled people
- a particular issue, like drug use or healthy eating.
As a health promotion specialist, you would raise awareness and educate people on issues such as:
- the importance of a balanced diet, and taking regular exercise
- the dangers of smoking or excessive drinking
- the risk of coronary heart disease and cancers
- mental health, sexual health, and drug misuse.
You may be involved in a variety of activities to promote good health, including:
- working on public health campaigns such as screening and immunisation
- developing a strategic approach to improving public health (influencing local, regional and national policy)
- working in partnership with agencies such as the NHS, voluntary organisations, local authorities and the police
- researching how much the public know about particular health issues
- producing publicity materials such as leaflets, brochures and videos
- organising exhibitions and events and working with the press
- running training courses and workshops.
You could also be involved in providing information and advice to key people like managers in health authorities and local councils. You will also work closely with other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses and health trainers.
HoursDesc
Hours
Your core working hours are likely to be 9am to 5pm, however, regular evening or weekend sessions may also be involved when working with the community.
You would be office-based, but would spend much of your working day visiting other organisations and working in different locations in your community.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries can be between £21,200 and £27,500 a year
- Experienced specialists may earn up to £40,200.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You will usually need a relevant degree, plus work experience with community groups. Subjects of particular relevance include health studies, health promotion and public health. However, psychology, social sciences, education and sports science could also be useful. You can search for degrees on the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website, and you should check directly with course providers for entry requirements.
Alternatively, you may be able to get into health promotion as a second career based on your professional experience in an area such as medicine, nursing, midwifery, health visiting, teaching, community or social work.
If you have no previous experience in health promotion or a related area, you could contact the health promotion unit or voluntary services coordinator at your local NHS Trust for information on voluntary opportunities.
Some employers may also want you to have a postgraduate qualification such as an MSc in Health Promotion or Health Development. Course titles can vary, so make sure you get detailed information from the university you wish to study with.
A driving licence may also be necessary.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you start work in health promotion, you will usually receive on-the-job training from your employer. You could also take a Certificate in Health Promotion offered by the Open University, which is at a similar level to the final year of an honours degree.
If you do not have a relevant postgraduate qualification, you may be encouraged to work towards an MSc in Health Promotion on a part-time or day release basis. To work as a senior practitioner involved in leading projects and strategic planning, a postgraduate diploma or MSc is likely to be seen as essential by employers.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a health promotion specialist you should have:
- an understanding of public health issues and how raising awareness can improve health
- good spoken and written communication skills
- the ability to relate to people of all backgrounds
- a tactful and persuasive manner
- the ability to influence and motivate people
- good organisational and time management skills
- project management skills
- good research and analytical skills
- motivation and perseverance
- an interest in health issues.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare 
Innovation House
Bridgend Road
Llanharan
CF72 9RP
Tel: 01443 233 333
www.nliah.wales.nhs.uk
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Skills for Health
Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
Health Scotland
Woodburn House
Canaan Lane
Edinburgh
EH10 4SG
Tel: 0131 536 5500
www.healthscotland.com
HSC Public Health Agency
www.publichealth.hscni.net
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You will find most job opportunities within local NHS Primary Care Trusts. You could also work for local authorities and charities.
Health promotion units tend to be small and you may need to relocate to take up a more senior position.
Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press and through Jobcentre Plus offices. You may find the following useful for vacancies and further reading (links open new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
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