Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Context

The purpose of this role is to provide support with a range of research and project management activities underpinning the planning, implementation, and evaluation of behavioural science initiatives. The role will require proactive and effective joined up working with a range of colleagues in other departments within the Council, as well as close working with the wider Public Health Team

Job Purpose

The Behaviour Change Officer role will support the Behavioural Science Unit in the systematic application of behavioural science across North Yorkshire Council. The postholder will work across NYC directorates to support with a range of research and project management activities underpinning the planning, implementation, and evaluation of behavioural science initiatives across priority business areas.

Operational Management

• Work as part of the Unit to support the synthesis and interpretation of evidence and insights to inform methodology and theory selection.
• Support the Behavioural Science Specialist (BSS) in the planning, development, and implementation of interventions, using project management approaches.
• Support the BSS in the evaluation and review of behaviour change interventions.
• Lead on and contribute to the writing of high-quality literature reviews and reports, gathering evidence from a variety of sources including peer reviewed journals, policy/strategy documents, and grey literature.
• Critically appraise the behavioural science evidence (qualitative and quantitative) to identify specific drivers for behaviour change interventions to inform local initiatives.

Resource Management

• Responsible for the effective prioritising and organising of own workload.
• To monitor project budgets as appropriate
• Participate in reflective practice as part of own professional development.
• Maintain professional registration including requirements for continuing professional development as appropriate.
• Responsible for limiting actions to within professional competencies and raising with line manager if duties fall outside of these areas.
• Ensure their behaviours and those of their managers comply with the Councils Behaviour and Skills Framework
• Undertake additional duties, in agreement with the line manager and consistent with the grade of the post.

Partnerships

• Ensure the involvement of stakeholders and the public to co-develop and implement behaviour change programmes.
• Establish and provide consultation and directly contribute to the application of behavioural science knowledge and skills to key priorities and projects.
• Contribute to the planning, development, and delivery of behaviour change training programmes.
• Identify, develop, and support the use of appropriate tools and resources by colleagues for the application of effective behaviour change approaches.
• Understand the current capability and capacity within teams (conducting needs analysis where appropriate) and feed into plans to deliver behaviour change training to a range of professionals.
• To participate and contribute to research networks.
• Participate and contribute to an internal PH Directorate programme of CPD.
• Participate in the annual Individual Performance Review and Development process.
• To attend relevant professional meetings and conferences, when possible.

Strategic Management

• Contribute to the annual Service Performance Plan

Communications

• Support the development of internal and external communisations which seek to communicate complex behaviour change related information to the public and professionals in a variety of different formats and channels e.g., presentations, reports, and social media.
• Contribute to the dissemination of knowledge on the application and impact of behavioural science in public health practice.
• Prepare and deliver reports and presentations for key stakeholders on the implementation and learning from specialist behaviour change interventions as directed by the behaviour science specialist.

Systems and Information

• To undertake needs assessments, audits, evaluations and monitoring as required
• To assess the effectiveness of behaviour change initiatives through the analysis of data
• To be aware of and disseminate relevant behaviour science practice developments/research findings to facilitate evidenced based practice.
• To participate in the identification and undertaking of research, as well as the application of research to practice.
• To analyse and evaluate health data and effectiveness of behaviour change initiatives and programmes.
• To comply with the Councils policies and supporting documentation in relation to Information Governance this includes Data Protection, Information Security and Confidentiality.

Job responsibilities

Job Context

The purpose of this role is to provide support with a range of research and project management activities underpinning the planning, implementation, and evaluation of behavioural science initiatives. The role will require proactive and effective joined up working with a range of colleagues in other departments within the Council, as well as close working with the wider Public Health Team

Job Purpose

The Behaviour Change Officer role will support the Behavioural Science Unit in the systematic application of behavioural science across North Yorkshire Council. The postholder will work across NYC directorates to support with a range of research and project management activities underpinning the planning, implementation, and evaluation of behavioural science initiatives across priority business areas.

Operational Management

• Work as part of the Unit to support the synthesis and interpretation of evidence and insights to inform methodology and theory selection.
• Support the Behavioural Science Specialist (BSS) in the planning, development, and implementation of interventions, using project management approaches.
• Support the BSS in the evaluation and review of behaviour change interventions.
• Lead on and contribute to the writing of high-quality literature reviews and reports, gathering evidence from a variety of sources including peer reviewed journals, policy/strategy documents, and grey literature.
• Critically appraise the behavioural science evidence (qualitative and quantitative) to identify specific drivers for behaviour change interventions to inform local initiatives.

Resource Management

• Responsible for the effective prioritising and organising of own workload.
• To monitor project budgets as appropriate
• Participate in reflective practice as part of own professional development.
• Maintain professional registration including requirements for continuing professional development as appropriate.
• Responsible for limiting actions to within professional competencies and raising with line manager if duties fall outside of these areas.
• Ensure their behaviours and those of their managers comply with the Councils Behaviour and Skills Framework
• Undertake additional duties, in agreement with the line manager and consistent with the grade of the post.

Partnerships

• Ensure the involvement of stakeholders and the public to co-develop and implement behaviour change programmes.
• Establish and provide consultation and directly contribute to the application of behavioural science knowledge and skills to key priorities and projects.
• Contribute to the planning, development, and delivery of behaviour change training programmes.
• Identify, develop, and support the use of appropriate tools and resources by colleagues for the application of effective behaviour change approaches.
• Understand the current capability and capacity within teams (conducting needs analysis where appropriate) and feed into plans to deliver behaviour change training to a range of professionals.
• To participate and contribute to research networks.
• Participate and contribute to an internal PH Directorate programme of CPD.
• Participate in the annual Individual Performance Review and Development process.
• To attend relevant professional meetings and conferences, when possible.

Strategic Management

• Contribute to the annual Service Performance Plan

Communications

• Support the development of internal and external communisations which seek to communicate complex behaviour change related information to the public and professionals in a variety of different formats and channels e.g., presentations, reports, and social media.
• Contribute to the dissemination of knowledge on the application and impact of behavioural science in public health practice.
• Prepare and deliver reports and presentations for key stakeholders on the implementation and learning from specialist behaviour change interventions as directed by the behaviour science specialist.

Systems and Information

• To undertake needs assessments, audits, evaluations and monitoring as required
• To assess the effectiveness of behaviour change initiatives through the analysis of data
• To be aware of and disseminate relevant behaviour science practice developments/research findings to facilitate evidenced based practice.
• To participate in the identification and undertaking of research, as well as the application of research to practice.
• To analyse and evaluate health data and effectiveness of behaviour change initiatives and programmes.
• To comply with the Councils policies and supporting documentation in relation to Information Governance this includes Data Protection, Information Security and Confidentiality.

Person Specification

Occupational Skills

Essential

• Willingness to manage an unpredictable workload.
• Self-motivated
• Enjoys working as part of a team.
• Ability to cope with uncertainty and change demonstrating resilience.
• Good communication skills

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of theoretical concepts in behavioural science.
• Knowledge of research and evaluation methods for understanding effectiveness of behaviour change interventions.
• Knowledge of main approaches to evidence reviewing and synthesis including the use of peer-reviewed and grey literature.
• Experience of managing projects to deadlines.
• Experience of conducting evaluations.
• Experience of effective collaborative working with a range of professionals and groups.
• Experience of developing, delivering, and evaluating training
• Experience of undertaking needs assessments design, methods and data interpretation and analysis
• Experience of identifying and using of multiple sources of evidence (including qualitative and quantitative sources of evidence) to inform interventions.
• Practical experience of using IT systems and range of software for data analysis.

Desirable

• Experience of using behavioural science theories and frameworks to develop interventions to change behaviour at individual, community, and population level.
• Experience of working in a local authority or other public sector organisation e.g., NHS.

Qualifications

Essential

• Undergraduate degree in psychology, social science, or related discipline
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Masters in health psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society or Masters in Behaviour Change or Behavioural Science/Science or related body.

Occupational Skills

Essential

• Willingness to manage an unpredictable workload.
• Self-motivated
• Enjoys working as part of a team.
• Ability to cope with uncertainty and change demonstrating resilience.
• Good communication skills

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of theoretical concepts in behavioural science.
• Knowledge of research and evaluation methods for understanding effectiveness of behaviour change interventions.
• Knowledge of main approaches to evidence reviewing and synthesis including the use of peer-reviewed and grey literature.
• Experience of managing projects to deadlines.
• Experience of conducting evaluations.
• Experience of effective collaborative working with a range of professionals and groups.
• Experience of developing, delivering, and evaluating training
• Experience of undertaking needs assessments design, methods and data interpretation and analysis
• Experience of identifying and using of multiple sources of evidence (including qualitative and quantitative sources of evidence) to inform interventions.
• Practical experience of using IT systems and range of software for data analysis.

Desirable

• Experience of using behavioural science theories and frameworks to develop interventions to change behaviour at individual, community, and population level.
• Experience of working in a local authority or other public sector organisation e.g., NHS.

Qualifications

Essential

• Undergraduate degree in psychology, social science, or related discipline
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Masters in health psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society or Masters in Behaviour Change or Behavioural Science/Science or related body.

Employer details

Employer name

North Yorkshire Council

Address

County Hall

Racecourse Lane

Northallerton

North Yorkshire

DL7 8AE

Employer's website

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)