Health promotion specialist

You'd motivate and educate people to improve their health, and also run campaigns to raise awareness of health issues.

You'd focus 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

• drug misuse

You might work with individuals on a one-to-one basis, or you may help specific groups in the population, such as older people or people with disabilities. You might be based in schools, workplaces or prisons.

As well as giving advice to people on how to make lifestyle changes, you would work on more strategic activities to promote good health.

Your tasks might include:

• working on public health campaigns such as screening and immunisation

• developing new ways to improve public health and influence local, regional and national policy

• working in partnership with the NHS, voluntary organisations, local authorities and the police

• researching what the public knows about particular health issues

• producing publicity materials such as leaflets, brochures and videos

• organising exhibitions and events and work with the press

• running training courses and workshops

You’d inform and advise key people like managers in health authorities and local councils. You’d also work closely with other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses and health trainers.

Being persuasive and tactful are important for this job so you can inspire and motivate people.

Green job    

By encouraging people to use more active forms of transportation or eat healthier foods, you'll be benefitting the environment. Find out more about green jobs. 

• NHS Careers - more about the role of the public health practitioner in the National Health Service

• NHS Education for Scotland – Training for the healthcare workforce including higher education and professional development