Health Education/Promotion Officer

Also known as:

Health Education Specialist

Introduction

Health education/promotion officers aim to improve public health by increasing the knowledge and understanding of health issues such as diet, exercise and hygiene. They provide advice and information to individuals or community groups, through the use of presentations, exhibitions and the media.

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Work Activities

Health education/health promotion officers (both titles are used and cover similar duties) try to prevent people becoming ill. They do this by increasing people's awareness of health issues, such as the importance of exercise and the dangers of smoking.

Health education officers play an important role in the development of health policies. For instance, some may work closely with professional colleagues in local health authorities. This helps them to find out the sort of health information that is needed most in a particular area.

Some health education/promotion officers may specialise in a particular field, such as sexual health (helping prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases). The information may be targeted at schools, industry, clubs or other community organisations. They use a number of methods to communicate to the public, including:
• workshops and talks
• special events and exhibitions
• talking to the local media.

In addition to direct involvement with the public, health education/promotion officers advise and train others to deliver health education. For example, medical workers, teachers and social service staff may be involved with health education/promotion.

Travel throughout the local area is usually a requirement of the job.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You need enthusiasm, motivation and the ability to communicate with a wide range of people. You must also have analytical research skills, to interpret and identify priorities for health programmes, for example.

Good administrative skills will help you to organise campaigns and events effectively.

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Pay and Opportunities

National Health Service (NHS) employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities.

In the NHS, health education/promotion officers usually start on Band 5 of the Agenda for Change pay scale. From April 1, 2008 this has been £20,225 - £26,123 a year. Those with management responsibilities can earn up to £38,352 a year.

Health education/promotion officers usually work a basic 37-hour week, Monday to Friday. However, early starts, late finishes and weekend work might be required, especially when there are special events to organise or attend.

Most health education/promotion officers work for regional health authorities. However, opportunities are expanding in local authorities, industry and the voluntary sector.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Relevant experience is in areas such as teaching, psychology, the health service, community or social work.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter a relevant degree course, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course, eg, Access to Science.

You don't usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider.

Open and distance learning is available from the Open University, with a Level 3 Certificate in Promoting Public Health (K311).

For entry to postgraduate courses in health education and promotion, course providers often prefer applicants to have a degree in a health-related subject, although other degrees may be acceptable.

A Certificate in Health Promotion is also available from the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health.

• 32% of people in occupations such as health promotion specialist work part-time.
• 27% have flexible hours.
• 10% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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