Deputy Head of Service - Weight Management
TheDeputy Head of Service Weight Management & Lifestyle provides technical,operational and pathway leadership for the weight management, physical activityand wider lifestyle elements of the One You Kent Service.
Sittingas one of two Deputy Heads of Service (alongside the Deputy Head for StopSmoking), the postholder is accountable for the daytoday operationalperformance, quality, workforce leadership and delivery of weight managementand lifestyle services. This includes ensuring services are safe, evidencebased,outcomefocused and aligned with national guidance, best practice and localcommissioning priorities.
Workingin close partnership with the Head of Service, this role translates strategicdirection into highquality operational delivery, providing subjectmatterexpertise in weight management and behaviour change. The postholder willoversee performance against pathwayspecific KPIs, line manage Operational TeamLeads, and play a key role in service development, pathway improvement andpartnership working, particularly across primary care, community settings andpriority populations.
Main duties of the job
The role provides technical and operational leadership for the weight management, physical activity, and lifestyle pathways within One You Kent, ensuring delivery is aligned with national guidance, evidence-based practice, and behaviour change principles. It oversees intervention models, practitioner competence, training, and quality assurance to maintain consistent service standards.
It leads day-to-day operational delivery and performance management, using data to monitor KPIs, identify risks, and drive service improvement. The post holder contributes to reporting requirements and supports the development of impact reporting and communications to demonstrate service outcomes.
The role includes line management of Operational Team Leads, with responsibility for supervision, performance management, and workforce development through training, coaching, and continuous professional development, ensuring consistent ways of working across teams.
It contributes to service development and improvement, including pathway redesign and innovation, and supports the mobilisation of new approaches for priority groups and communities.
The post holder works in partnership with a range of stakeholders including primary care, local authorities, VCSE organisations, and community groups to strengthen referral pathways and support sustained behaviour change.
About us
One You Kent is Kents free, countywidelifestyle and wellbeing service, supporting adults to make positive,sustainable changes to improve their health and reduce the risk of longtermconditions. The service provides evidencebased support including smokingcessation (whole of Kent), weight management, physical activity and healthylifestyle interventions (East Kent only), delivered through a strengthsbased,personcentred approach. Working closely with GP practices, Primary CareNetworks, local authorities and community and voluntary sector partners, OneYou Kent is embedded within local communities to ensure support is accessible,inclusive and responsive to local need. The service plays a key role inreducing health inequalities across Kent through partnership working, communityengagement and flexible delivery models.
Job responsibilities
The role provides technical and operational leadership for the weight management, physical activity, and lifestyle pathways within One You Kent, ensuring delivery is aligned with national guidance, evidence-based practice, and established behaviour change principles. It holds responsibility for maintaining oversight of intervention models, practitioner competence, training, and quality assurance to ensure consistently high standards of service delivery.
Operationally, the role leads the day-to-day delivery of weight management and lifestyle services, driving performance against key performance indicators relating to referrals, engagement, programme completion, and outcomes. It uses performance data and insight to identify variation, manage risk, and highlight opportunities for improvement. The post holder contributes to monthly and quarterly reporting in line with commissioner requirements and supports the development of annual impact reporting and associated communications to evidence service outcomes.
The role includes line management responsibility for Operational Team Leads, providing leadership, supervision, and performance management. It supports workforce development through structured training, coaching, reflective practice, and ongoing professional development, while ensuring consistent standards, processes, and ways of working across all delivery teams.
In addition, the role plays an active part in service development and improvement, contributing to the evolution of the weight management and lifestyle service model to ensure it continues to meet population need. This includes leading or supporting service improvement initiatives, pathway redesign, and innovation activity, as well as assisting in the mobilisation of new delivery approaches for priority groups and communities.
A key aspect of the role involves partnership and system working, with responsibility for building and maintaining strong relationships across primary care, local authorities, leisure services, VCSE organisations, and community groups. It supports effective referral pathways into and out of lifestyle services to sustain behaviour change and represents the pathway at relevant operational stakeholder meetings.
The post holder is also responsible for governance and assurance, ensuring compliance with information governance, safeguarding, health and safety, and clinical governance requirements. This includes contributing to audit processes, assurance activity, and quality reporting in line with organisational frameworks.
The role includes deputising for the Head of Service when required to ensure continuity of service delivery, as well as undertaking additional duties appropriate to the role as service needs evolve.
Person Specification
Experience
* Strong technical knowledge of weight management, physical activity and behaviour change interventions.
* Experience in an operational leadership role within public, community or lifestyle services.
* Experience of managing staff and/or team leads.
* Experience delivering services to priority or inclusion health groups.
Qualifications
* Degree or postgraduate qualification in public health, health promotion, nutrition, physical activity or related field.
* Strong technical knowledge of weight management, physical activity and behaviour change interventions.
* Recognised qualification in weight management, nutrition or physical activity.
Job Specific Requirements
* Ability to travel independently across Kent.
* Willingness to work flexibly to meet service needs.
* Willingness to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Full-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working
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