Health and Nature Lead Adviser(Ref: 5196)

This role is based in Northumbria Area Team, which covers the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Tyne and Wear and Teesside, and are based at Lancaster House, Newcastle upon Tyne. The geographic focus for this role will be Tees Valley and County Durham.Job description  

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened public awareness of the benefits of regular access to greenspaces which, studies have shown, have the potential to improve mental health and wellbeing. It has also highlighted inequalities of both access to greenspaces and the variable levels of mental health across different social groups. The National Health Service (NHS) could save over £2 billion in treatment costs if everyone had equal access to good quality green space. Green social prescribing (GSP) is the practice of referring patients to engage in environment and nature-based activities. It connects people to community groups and agencies for practical and emotional support and to improve health and wellbeing.

These posts will develop close working links with local and regional community partners and our health partners, in particular the National Academy of Social Prescribing, Sport England, Money and Pensions Service, Arts, Heritage and the NHS.

The role is to identify and offer nature-based opportunities in the natural environment (e.g. walking, cycling, community gardening, tree planting etc..) as one of the options available on prescription. You will support your Health and Environment Senior Adviser in working collaboratively with your local area teams in order to develop and cascade good practice and learning into Natural England’s other delivery programmes.

We are particularly looking for people who have some knowledge of the health care field and of working with diverse communities, who are also keen to apply their skills to a nature-based environment.

Key tasks:

• Support the Health and Environment Senior Advisers in their work with key health and environment leaders and organisations to embed green social prescribing and nature recovery into strategic health and social care plans (i.e. population health plans, integrated care systems, local nature recovery strategies.
• Advise and support local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, so that they can develop new nature-based activities and services alongside innovative partnerships.
• Engage with and support the National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP) regional hubs alongside partners from Sport England, Money and Pensions Service, Arts and Heritage and the NHS.
• Ensure the learning and evidence gathered from the seven Test and Learn Green Social Prescribing Pilots is captured and embedded into Natural England’s health and environment work.
• Advise and guide your local area teams on how to develop and shape Natural England’s health agenda delivery, which could include, for example, how to involve different audiences within our network of National Nature Reserves (NNR) and/or new developing nature recovery projects or through policies in the planning system.

Competencies

Competence 1  

Professional competency

Detail  

Personal Effectiveness

Description  

• Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (practitioner).
  • Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements to your team and Natural England and inspire others to act (practitioner).

Competence 2  

Professional competency

Detail  

Putting people at the Heart of the Environment

Description  

• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England (practitioner).
  • Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver your organisation’s vision, mission and aims (practitioner).

Competence 3  

Professional competency

Detail  

Work delivery

Description  

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (practitioner).
  • Understand and apply relevant policy, legislation, governance frameworks and strategies to your work (basic).

Competence 4  

Professional competency

Detail  

Technical Knowledge (STAR format is optional for this competency)

Description  

• Experience of working in the health sector and working with diverse communities;
  • Experience working on green prescribing schemes or similar projects linking people with nature to support health and well-being.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

• Name : Lydia Speakman
• Email : lydia.speakman@naturalengland.org.uk
• Telephone : 07554115627

Recruitment team

• Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@gov.sscl.com