Health improvement practitioners play an important role in helping people take control of their health and wellbeing decisions
As a health improvement practitioner, you'll support and advise individuals and communities on a range of health and lifestyle issues, such as healthy eating, physical activity, weight management and stopping smoking. Your aim is to encourage positive behaviour change, improve wellbeing and help reduce health inequalities.
You may work in a variety of community settings, providing one-to-one or group support at a local level. You could also develop and deliver health improvement programmes, run awareness campaigns alongside partner organisations and support public health initiatives linked to government priorities.
The role forms part of the wider public health workforce. Health improvement practitioners work across the NHS, local authorities, charities and community organisations, helping to improve the health of individuals, communities and wider populations.
Job titles can vary and may include:
- public health practitioner
- stop smoking practitioner
- wellbeing practitioner.
Types of health improvement
It's possible to work across several areas of health improvement or to specialise in one area such as:
- alcohol or substance misuse
- children's and young people's health
- healthy eating and weight management
- long-term health conditions such as diabetes or dementia
- mental wellbeing
- physical activity
- sexual and reproductive health
- smoking cessation
- social isolation and loneliness.
Your work could focus on a specific section of the community, such as older people, children, disabled people or specific groups experiencing health inequalities.
What do health improvement practitioners do?
You'll need to:
- lead community engagement activities to improve health awareness and empower individuals and communities to make healthier choices
- provide one-to-one and group-based support using behaviour change approaches and motivational techniques to promote healthier lifestyles
- work with and support a range of statutory, voluntary, charitable and community organisations to deliver health improvement initiatives
- run training sessions, workshops and awareness campaigns on topics such as mental wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, smoking cessation and long-term health conditions
- foster and develop local partnerships to help reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes
- identify local health needs and contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of health improvement programmes
- provide specialist advice, information and resources to schools, community groups, healthcare professionals and partner organisations
- ensure that projects and initiatives are based on current evidence, public health guidance and best practice
- monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of programmes and maintain accurate records and reports
- promote preventative health approaches and support public health initiatives at local and national level
- produce health promotion materials and digital content, including leaflets, posters, online resources and social media campaigns.
Health improvement practitioner salaries
- Health improvement practitioners in the NHS are usually employed on Agenda for Change (AfC) pay bands and commonly start at Band 5, where salaries range from £32,073 to £39,043.
- With experience, you could progress to Band 6 roles, where salaries range from £39,959 to £48,117, particularly in specialist or supervisory positions.
- Senior practitioners and strategic leads may earn salaries ranging from £49,387 to £56,515 (Band 7) or above.
- Many practitioners also work in local authorities, charities and community organisations, where salaries are often broadly comparable to NHS pay bands but vary depending on the employer and funding arrangements.
Salaries vary depending on your employer, location, experience, specialist area and level of responsibility.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
How many hours does a health improvement practitioner work?
Working hours are typically 35 to 40 hours per week and usually follow standard office hours. However, some evening and weekend work may be required when delivering community programmes, outreach activities or training sessions.
Flexible, part-time and hybrid working opportunities may be available, depending on the employer.
How do you become a health improvement practitioner?
Many employers look for a degree in a relevant subject, although equivalent qualifications and experience may also be accepted. Relevant subjects include:
- community or youth work
- environmental health
- health and social care
- health promotion or health studies
- nutrition or dietetics
- psychology
- public health
- sociology, social policy or community development
- sport and exercise science.
Some employers may also accept a foundation degree or HND, particularly when combined with relevant community or public health experience.
A public health practitioner degree apprenticeship is also available. Opportunities are advertised through the Find an Apprenticeship website and may vary depending on employer demand and training provision. Apprenticeships combine paid work with part-time study, allowing you to train on the job.
Although not essential, a postgraduate degree can be helpful and may give you an advantage, especially when combined with relevant experience. Some more senior posts, particularly those involving working at a strategic level, may require a postgraduate degree or significant equivalent experience. Relevant Masters courses include health promotion, public health or health development.
Search for postgraduate courses in public health.
Some people become health improvement practitioners as a second career, often moving from roles in community work, environmental health, health coaching, medicine, nursing, social work, teaching, wellbeing services or public engagement.
What skills does a health improvement practitioner need?
You'll need:
- excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with individuals, community groups and partner organisations and deliver effective public health messages
- motivational skills to support people in making healthier lifestyle choices and improving their wellbeing
- teamworking skills to work in partnership with local authorities, NHS teams, charities and community organisations on health improvement initiatives
- presentation and training skills to deliver workshops, awareness campaigns and group sessions on public health issues
- project planning, research and evaluation skills to help develop, deliver and monitor health improvement programmes and measure outcomes
- an understanding of equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility issues when providing health advice and information and helping to reduce health inequalities
- organisational and problem-solving skills to manage workloads, coordinate projects and respond effectively to local health priorities.
Where can you get health improvement work experience?
You can gain experience through volunteering, work shadowing, internships or part-time work with organisations such as NHS trusts, local authority public health teams, charities, community centres and wellbeing services. Experience in outreach work, youth work, health campaigning, social care or community support can also be useful. Some universities offer public health placements as part of related degree courses.
As work experience opportunities aren't always widely advertised, it's worth making speculative applications to local organisations. Employers will expect you to demonstrate an interest in public health and community wellbeing, so being proactive and getting involved in local projects and initiatives can help strengthen your applications.
While direct experience in health improvement isn't always essential for entry-level roles, employers usually look for evidence of working with diverse communities, supporting wellbeing initiatives or promoting healthy lifestyles.
Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.
Who employs health improvement practitioners?
The main employers of health improvement practitioners in the UK include:
- local authority public health teams
- NHS trusts
- integrated care systems (ICSs), which bring together NHS organisations, local councils, and voluntary groups
- charities and community organisations.
Other employers include:
- public health and wellbeing services
- charities and voluntary organisations, such as the British Red Cross, Mind and Cancer Research UK
- community interest companies and social enterprises delivering health improvement programmes
- organisations involved in physical activity, wellbeing and health promotion initiatives
- universities and research organisations
- prisons and secure settings
- schools, colleges and youth services
- national public health bodies such as the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID), Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland).
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Where can a career as a health improvement practitioner lead?
With experience, you can progress to specialist, supervisory or strategic roles, such as senior health improvement practitioner, public health practitioner or health improvement manager. Career development often involves greater responsibility for projects, staff, partnership working and public health strategy. Some practitioners move into related areas such as training, research, consultancy or public health programme management.
Most training is carried out on the job and may include behaviour change techniques, safeguarding, community engagement, health promotion and programme evaluation. Many employers support continuing professional development (CPD) through training courses, conferences, workshops and further qualifications.
Additional qualifications are available through organisations such as the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) or local public health bodies. These cover areas such as smoking cessation or alcohol awareness. Some practitioners study for postgraduate qualifications in public health or health promotion to support career progression. You may also choose to gain voluntary registration with the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR).
Progression can depend on your qualifications, specialist knowledge, experience of managing projects or teams, and willingness to move between organisations or geographical areas. Promotion opportunities may be more limited in smaller organisations, so gaining experience across different public health settings can be helpful.