The South West Population and Public Health Academy brings together the South West Public Health Training Programme and Public Health Workforce Development Programmes.
This joint newsletter will provide highlights and updates which we hope will be useful for Public Health colleagues across the South West.
Newsletters are created after each Academy Board meeting taking place in January, May and September each year.
Please see below the latest academy newsletter
South West Population and Public Health Academy Newsletter
April 2023
Welcome to our Population and Public Health Academy Newsletter
The South West Population and Public Health Academy brings together the South West Public Health Training Programme and Public Health Workforce Development Programmes. This joint newsletter will provide highlights and updates which we hope will be useful for all.
Key Dates for 2023
- Public Health as a Career Event: 2nd May
- ARCP dates 2023: 9th May, 20th & 21st June, 11th & 12th July, 17th October
- Specialty Tutor Meetings: 17th May, 10th July, 26th September, 21st November
- Academy Board Meetings: 24th May, 26th September
- Practitioner Scheme Introductory Webinar: 7th June
- Supervisor Training: 28th June, 7th November
- Training Conference: 4th July (face to face in Exeter)
- Annual Programme Team & Registrar Meeting: 26th September
- First Year as a Consultant workshops: 3rd October (via MS Teams)
- Open Evening: 5th October
- Development School: 1st November
- Quality Panel: 28th & 29th November
Contact gemma.cooke@hee.nhs.uk if you would like to attend as an observer at our ARCPs.
Details of all training events are posted on the website
Training Programme update
From the 1st April 2023 we have seen the legal entity of Health Education England cease as the transition has been made into NHSE, although things have very much remained business as usual. As part of the transition, the previous HEE office at Park House will be closing later this year and moving into a new office near Temple Meads station in Bristol.
These continue to be busy and challenging times in Public Health, and we appreciate all of the continued hard work and support from our Registrars, Specialty Tutors, Supervisors and colleagues. The Training Programme continues with regular communication with the Specialty Tutor group and StRs by conducting bi-monthly teleconferences and attending monthly tutorials.
The team continue to support work to deliver hybrid meetings and tutorials and have started to see more colleagues returning to an office environment. In 2023 we will start to see some more face to face activity with some events taking place in person.
Supervisor Training
Details of the training required to be an accredited Supervisor in the South West is listed below:
All potential Educational, Academic and Activity Supervisors are required to complete the same training which comprises of the completion of modules 1-5 of the Public Health specific Supervisor Training. All 5 modules are delivered by the Training Programme. Dates for the 2023 sessions are 28th June 2023 and 7th November 2023. More information here
Please note that supervisors must attend the Public Health specific training delivered by the programme. More information here https://publichealth.severndeanery.nhs.uk/about-us/trainers/information-and-accreditation-for-new-supervisors/)
Training Conference 2023
The Programme have started planning for this year’s Training Conference which will take place face to face only on the 4th July 2023 in Exeter. Please save the date and keep checking the school website for updates.
All Registrars and Supervisors are invited to attend the event which will act as the 2023/24 annual update for Supervisors to retain their accreditation to supervise in the South West.
Although there isn’t the option to join the conference virtually, the day will be recorded for those who are unable to attend on the day. We look forward to seeing many of you in person at this event.
South West Public Health Practitioner Scheme Introductory Webinar: 7th June 2-3pm
The webinar will cover the following:
- Criteria/eligibility
- Application process
- Compiling your portfolio and the assessment process
- Overview of the support available once accepted onto our scheme
To register your attendance, click here
CPD Update
The handover from Sarah Weld to Alison Bell, as regional FPH CPD advisor is complete. Alison’s contacts are alison.bell@somerset.gov.uk 07788 350 818 – please mark in the title of emails that this relates to FPH CPD role. A webinar was hosted by Professor Maggie Rae of HEE and led by Alison Bell, to update FPH members on the new CPD diary and writing reflective notes. Please contact the team if you would like access to the session recording. PublicHealth.SW@hee.nhs.uk
The transfer to the new FPH CPD online diary is complete and gone smoothly. The CPD diary is located within the FPH members' portal
The FPH have prepared a support page on the FPH website to help you navigate through the new system. If you have any difficulties using the new CPD diary please contact cpd@fph.org.uk. Annual CPD returns are due 30th April 2023, to be submitted using the new CPD diary.
Public Health Specialist Portfolio Support
We are launching our support for those practitioners who are seeking to pursue the specialist portfolio. Support is provided to those colleagues nominated through our Local Directors of Public Health in the SW.
Scientific Conference 2023
The South West Public Health Scientific Conference took place virtually via MS Teams on Tuesday 21st March 2023. For those who attended, I hope you will agree it was a fantastic day where we heard from a range of fantastic speakers. If you haven’t already done so, please complete the Scientific Conference Evaluation which will close on Friday 28th April.
We thank all those who presented and contributed to making the event as successful as it was. Access to the SharePoint site where you will find the presentations, event recordings and pre-recorded mini oral presentations, will remain available for registered delegates. If you would like to catch up on the event and gain access to the site, please contact PublicHealth.SW@hee.nhs.uk.
South West Marmot Region – Helping accelerate the reduction in Health Inequalities in the South West Region
The launch of the South West Marmot Region was held on Thursday 20th April 2023, face to face at Taunton Rugby Club. The launch was extremely successful and saw an in-person presentation from Professor Sir Michael Marmot which was fantastic and hugely inspirational. With thanks to all the presenters and those who were able to join us in Taunton. The event was recorded and will be available soon.
Health Inequalities Webinar Series
We continue to deliver our webinar series in partnership with OHID and UKHSA.
The recordings from our webinar series can now be accessed here
Congratulations to all Registrars in the South West who have recently passed the Diplomate exam:
- Alexandra Creavin
- Alice Dean
- Tim Godden
- Josh Howkins
- Joshua Khan
- Kate Richards
- Nick Shaw
- Sam Trethewey
National Training Survey
The National Training Survey 2023 is now live. The survey will run from 21st March to 4th May 2023. The survey should be completed by all Public Health Registrars and Supervisors.
The arrangements for completing the NTS survey are different for GMC medical StRs and multi-disciplinary StRs. Please contact PublicHealth.SW@hee.nhs.uk for access to the appropriate links to complete the survey if you haven’t completed it already.
We encourage you to complete the NTS as we want to ensure we receive your feedback and work on this to continue to make improvements in the South West Training Programme.
Quality Panel
The 2022 panel took place on the 15th and 16th November. Specialty Tutors were invited to attend virtually to discuss their training location. All outcome reports have been shared with STs in each location. The Programme would like to thank all involved in the process for their hard work and continued commitment. The dates for the 2023 Quality Panel have now been confirmed: Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th November 2023. Locations should save the date and await further details.
Practitioner masterclasses
Due to increasing demand the team are in the process of commissioning a further set of masterclasses which are delivered by the Faculty of Public Health. The team will be in touch with colleagues once the dates are confirmed.
South West Public Health Practitioner Scheme is seeking additional portfolio assessors. If you are a senior public health practitioner and/or a currently registered public health practitioner who would be interested in becoming an assessor, please do email us PublicHealth.SW@hee.nhs.uk. We can provide more details and arrange for you to complete training with UKPHR.
For those interested in applying to Train in the South West
There is a dedicated webpage available for those who wish to apply for Specialty Training or to gain more experience in Public Health.
A structured process was developed to ensure that those interested can receive the information and experience they need, and this is working well.
The first step in this process is to attend a Career Event with the next event taking place on the 2nd May 2023 via MS Teams. Please see the event webpage for more details. PublicHealth.SW@hee.nhs.uk if you have any questions.
If you have attended a Career Event or have watched the online session, you now have the opportunity, if you like, to attend a Taster Session. These sessions are run by local authorities across the South West and are also free to attend.
At a taster session you can gain some valuable knowledge on Public Health and get involved with some activities within the Council with the Public Health team. Information on upcoming events, and to register, please click here
If you would like more information on any of these items, please contact PublicHealth.SW@hee.nhs.uk