Staff Member Secondment Agreement

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board's Public Health Department require a specialist Public Health role that contributes to the planning, development, delivery and evaluation of partnership programmes and initiatives to promote health and wellbeing across all sectors. The post holder will support and lead specific health promotion initiatives and programmes in a range of different settings and with identified target groups, including community health development with a focus on Healthy Weight.

Responsibilities are at a local Public Health Team level, and the post holder is expected to work under the direction and guidance of Senior Public Health staff/Public Health Director who will agree specific work objectives on an annual basis according to local needs and priorities. The responsibilities of the role are to lead and drive successful delivery of public health programmes of work to reduce overweight and obesity which will include working with stakeholders from a wide range of organisations and to co-ordinate specific activity around healthy weight, working in partnership with UHB Communication teams and wider stakeholders.

They will be expected to implement national and local delivery plans in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan that will impact on a number of public, private and third sector organisations - such as Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales and Good Food and Movement, and to advise on and influence the development of local and organisational policies. The current contract was put in place until 30th September 2025 with Bristol City Council for a seconded member of staff.

The renewal has not been commenced until now because CAV UHB Public Health Team were unable to put this post out as a permanent post, and therefore the secondment cover was renewed for a further 12 months. There was no alternative cover available in the Team and there was limited time to make alternative arrangements.

A delay in the procurement process also contributed to the delay in the renewal. Under the Procurement Act 2023, there is an exemption under Schedule 2 Part 1, paragraph 3, that states an Organisation can undertake a direct award to a public body under horizontal agreements.

It states: 'A "horizontal arrangement" means an arrangement - entered into - with the aim of achieving objectives the authorities have in common in connection with the exercise of their public functions'. This route allows direct award under the exemption.

Bristol City Council are awarded as a sole supplier because they have specialist knowledge of the requirement and produce the best candidates with beneficial expertise and experience for the role required. A permanent post is unavailable to recruit due to employment freeze.