Devon County Council
Training Opportunities with Public Health
Introduction
Devon County Council has a range of opportunities for registrars who choose to have a placement with us. The team is based at County Hall in Exeter but currently works remotely.
There are strong links across the three Local Authorities within the Integrated Care System (ICS) which provides great opportunities for system working across the NHS/LA landscape.
The team is vibrant and enthusiastic with a strong commitment to training and continuous improvement.
Location & Population
Devon has a population of over 850 000 making it the largest local authority in the south west and one of the largest Counties in England. It is the seventh most sparsely populated local authority in England with the population living in 28 market towns and the city of Exeter.
It has beautiful landscape, including the two national parks of Dartmoor and Exmoor, and extensive coastline. The rurality presents challenges in providing services and access to services. Rural deprivation is one of the main challenges in Devon with low average wages and high housing costs.
The population is older than the average for England, and projections are for significant growth in the older (85+) age group. During the summer months the population is increased with large numbers of tourists. The University of Exeter also adds significant numbers to the population.
Devon is generally a healthy place to live, with good Public Health outcomes, but the health inequalities gap still remains in areas.
Devon is a two- tiered local authority with eight district councils. The Pandemic has expanded the team significantly to support outbreak management and test and trace.
Commitment to Training
Devon has a range of students and trainees with the department and prides itself on its approach to learning and development. This includes internal opportunities, apprenticeships, training posts, work experience days or placements, internships, secondments, formal courses and university students. All Consultants are educational supervisors, and senior staff are encouraged to become activity supervisors. Many members of the team have or are completing the Masters in Public Health.
Training Opportunities
Devon offers some fascinating opportunities across a rural and urban environment. Opportunities exist to gain experience working with district authorities, and across the CCG. It is possible to have placements within the acute hospital setting and clinical commissioning group and we have close links to the Clinical Effectiveness Team. There is a local Health Protection Office in Totnes and Bristol where registrars gain their experience and take part in the ‘on call’ rota. There are a number of Registrars at any one time providing a great opportunity for peer support.
It is possible to work with the Universities, gain teaching experience and link into local colleagues and opportunities.
Public Health Intelligence
The team of analysts head up the intelligence functions and produce a range of information, health needs assessments and performance monitoring that is used within the Local Authority and Clinical Commissioning Group/ICS. There are some exciting developments in the use of linked data sets and using this to inform programmes
This team oversees the maintaining and updating of the Public health website: www.devonhealthandwellbeing.org.uk
Staff
The team is led by Steve Brown the Director of Public Health and reports directly to the Chief Executive. There is a Deputy Director of Public Health an additional six consultants from a range of professional backgrounds.
Accredited Educational Supervisors – key roles:
Steve Brown – Director of Public Health, Communities and Prosperity
- Member of the senior leadership team for Devon County Council reporting directly to the Chief Executive
- Holds statutory responsibilities for the health of Devon
- Production of the annual Public Health report.
- Sports science background and extensive senior leadership experience
Tina Henry – Deputy Director of Public Health
- Provides senior level public health leadership and advice to the Local Authority Officers and Members
- Deputise for the Director of Public Health as required
- Environmental Health Background
Dr Sara Gibbs – Consultant
- Leads for climate, health and environment in all policies
- Has an interest in international and global public health, and active as an organiser for TEDx Exeter.
- Academic background in geography and medical anthropology PhD
Dr Sarah Ogilvie – Consultant
- Leads on the health protection responsibilities for Devon County Council and the Covid-19 response
- Interest in Health Protection and Health Psychology background (PhD)
Simon Chant – Consultant
- Intelligence leadership for Devon County Council and ICS
- Supports the Health and Wellbeing Board and development of the joint health and wellbeing strategy, and joint strategic needs assessment
- Leads on Population Health Management
Dr Emily Youngman – Consultant
- Children and young people
- Healthcare PH
- Medical background
Lucy O’Loughlin – Consultant
- Health Improvement and Sexual Health Lead
- Health Improvement extensive experience including regional role at PHE and national role at PH Wales
Charlotte Pavitt – Consultant
- Complex lives and public mental health lead
- Human Science background
Academic Links
There are good links with the University of Exeter through a range of departments, including the Medical School.
The senior staff within Devon Public Health, including registrars, teach sessions to medical students and support many bespoke sessions. Many individuals in the team sit on Advisory Boards and are linked to research. The team has an NIHR funded research post to embed research practice in all we do.
Recent Registrars Work
- Leading aspects of the pandemic response including testing and setting based work
- STP/ICS business cases development for community infection, prevention and control and physical health of Individuals with serious mental illness
- Evaluation of the vaccination bus for health inequalities
- Health Needs Assessments on a variety of topics
Key Contacts:
For further information, please contact:
Tina Henry, Deputy Director of Public Health (Tel: 01392 386383)
Public Health Department
Public Health Directorate, NHS Devon
County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter
Devon
EX2 4QL
This page was last updated January 2024