About public health training in the South West

 

This prospectus describes placements with the South West Office of the Regional Director of Public Health (hereafter referred to as the Regional Office). This includes the South West (SW) Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and NHS England (NHSE) including Healthcare Public Health and Vaccination and Screening.

 

Following the closure of Public Health England on October 1st, 2021, the Regional Director of Public Health and their deputy are jointly appointed by the Department of Health and Social Care’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and NHSE. The Regional Office provides a combination of leadership, coordination and programme delivery that spans the domains of health care public health and health improvement and supports strategically (and with major incident response) on health protection. The Regional Office supports Integrated Care Systems and the NHS system more generally in working towards a population health-based approach. It collaborates with and supports the Directors of Public Health in Local Authorities to deliver ‘place-based’ priorities.

 

 

The diagram below outlines how the Regional Office is positioned in the current public health system. Further information can also be found at: About us - Office for Health Improvement and Disparities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

The regional office works across organisational boundaries and supports local PH teams as well as national public health functions.

 

Each of the tiers in the above diagram is interdependent horizontally and vertically and public health professionals wherever they are positioned are adept at operating across these levels and structures.

 

Within the Regional Office, the Health Care Public Health team in NHSE works as a blended team with the Population Health and Wellbeing team and both are managerially accountable to the Regional Director of Public Health. This team includes consultants with specialist skills in health care public health, health improvement and dental public health. Consultants are supported by a number of public health practitioners and support officers. The Regional Office also hosts a small workforce development and business support team.

 

The regional Vaccination and Screening Team are embedded within NHSE and comprises consultants who have specialised in screening and immunisation and a specialist practitioner team. All teams work within their host agencies at local, regional and national levels and externally with the agencies that comprise the wider system of public health to tackle health inequalities and improve population health.

 

2. Public Health training in OHID and NHSE

 

The Regional Office provides a range of training opportunities and experience to meet the needs of PH specialty registrars’ (StRs) learning outcomes.  A training policy is in place to ensure the quality of training placements within the Regional Office.  Projects provide StRs with the opportunity to work at strategic level, allowing them to demonstrate proactive approaches and independent working, strong leadership and advocacy skills.

 

Although working at the Regional Office is in a hybrid format, registrars on placement are allocated a base relevant to the project/programme of work and the team they are working in. This will normally be geographically based according to current training rotation and as agreed with the Public Health Training Programme team and the regional team’s Specialty Tutor. It is expected that registrars will attend the Regional Office between 4-8 days a month and will be agreed with your supervisor.

 

The following are established training locations under the Regional Office.

 

For OHID:

• 2 Rivergate, Bristol. BS1 6EH

 

For NHSE:

• South West House, Taunton, TA1 2PX
• 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS1 6AG
• Plumer House, Plymouth PL6 5HY

 

3. The Regional Office as a public health training location

 

A placement with the teams that comprise the Regional Office offers a range of diverse opportunities for Specialty Registrars and other trainees in public health practice and the opportunity to take on significant leadership roles.

 

Training opportunities include placements with teams in the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, the Vaccination and Screening Team and the Healthcare Public Health Team which includes specialised commissioning and health and justice.

 

The Regional Office offers an opportunity for a wide range of public health experiences, including developing skills in particular areas such as healthcare data analysis, informing healthcare services commissioning and policies, leading service design or undertaking equity audits with the vaccination and screening team.

 

Training placements and projects will be co-produced with the StR and tailored to the interests and learning needs of individual registrars. Training is co-ordinated in a planned systematic way incorporating a wide range of training opportunities across the teams in the Regional Office. Some competencies may be met by undertaking a project with one or more partner organisations such as regional or national NHSE teams, regional or national teams in OHID or other government departments or local authorities. There are a range of educational and activity supervisors working within the Regional Office who provide support and expertise.

 

Current registrars also offer peer support and joint learning activities. There are lunch & learn activities as well as organisational development opportunities on offer.

 

Training placements are typically taken up by registrars towards the end of phase 2 of training.

 

4. Training placements within the Regional Office

 

4.1 OHID

 

The OHID team supports local authorities and the NHS to improve health and wellbeing of the local population. We work with a range of partners and stakeholders such as clinical networks, the voluntary sector and other government departments to improve health and help reduce health inequalities through evidence-based interventions. We help promote a place-based approach to health and support actions that build healthy places, people and communities. We help in making the case for prevention in a wide range of topic areas including; mental health, workplace health, musculoskeletal health, smoking, alcohol and drugs, sexual health, children and young people’s health, obesity, physical activity, healthy built and natural environments, and sustainability.

 

Working with the regional OHID team could address learning outcomes in key areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Specific competencies to be signed off will be discussed in more detail with the successful applicant.

 

Below is a vignette from a public health StR who completed a placement with the Regional Office over the past year:

 

“I spent 6 months (0.8 FTE) in the regional public health team during my ST3/ST4 years of the Public Health specialty training programme. The placement was a valuable learning opportunity which allowed me to both develop a broad understanding of regional level working as well as take the lead on some interesting areas of work. I had regular contact with my ES who provided excellent guidance and support in developing an appropriate learning agreement for my stage of training, but also allowed me appropriate autonomy to focus on my development needs and interests. I was supported to take on work which would enable me to fully sign off my remaining learning outcomes, putting me in a great position to move onto my final training placements and KA10 panel.

Working with a variety of members across the blended regional team, attending team meetings and wider partnership meetings, and getting involved in work which involved communication up to national partners and down to local systems, all helped me to develop my understanding of the style of regional working and the priorities of the regional public health team. Working in the team during a period involving a general election and a new government led to some last minute adjustments to my learning agreement, but the exposure to regional discussions and national meetings on the Darzi review and health mission were great learning opportunities.

My main project during my placement was working in partnership with members of the national Public Health and Police Consensus Delivery Group and Devon and Cornwall Police to develop and complete a piece of work around the role of policing organisations as anchor institutions. This gave me the opportunity to further my understanding of a public health topic and apply it to a sector in which I had no previous experience. I led the work but had great support from my Activity Supervisor as well as the national OHID team, and had the opportunity to work with an array of local, regional and national partners. I also had the opportunity to present at senior meetings, for example the Devon and Cornwall Police Executive Group and the National Violence Prevention Network, and to develop the work into what is expected to be published as a national resource for policing.

Overall the placement was a great experience and I would recommend it to any registrar interested in regional public health work.”

      Dr Florence Lock

Public Health Registrar (ST4)

 

4.2 Healthcare Public Health

 

Regionally, the healthcare public health team supports NHSE on population health and provides leadership and expert advice to strategic functions to ensure services are evidence-based and address population health need. This includes advising on the local implementation of policies, working with regional colleagues on health and care priorities and ensuring that interventions to improve population health outcomes are accelerated and evaluated. The healthcare public health team have a particular focus on addressing health inequalities and strengthening prevention within the NHS to improve population health outcomes. The healthcare public health team works closely with national and other regional teams, including colleagues in the health inequalities and prevention & long term conditions teams, and across directorates within the regional NHSE directorates.  

 

Specialised commissioning is the NHSE function for directly commissioned services for patients with rare and complex conditions. These services are determined by a range of factors, including the number of individuals who require the service, the cost of provision, the number of institutions able to provide the service and the financial implications of provision. The specialised commissioning consultant provides healthcare public health leadership, advice and support to the national and regional commissioning team for specialised services. The consultant undertakes national work such as developing evidence-based commissioning policies and evidence reviews, contributes to the national Individual Funding Requests management system and advises Programme of Care Boards and Clinical Reference Groups.

 

Regional healthcare public health work offers opportunities for registrars that could address learning outcomes in key areas of 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

 

Below are vignettes from public health StRs who completed a placement with the Regional Office over the past year:

 

"I have found my placement with the NHSE SW regional team to be a valuable learning experience and a very supportive environment in which to complete my public health training. I had a 6-month placement in 2024 (at 0.5 WTE alongside academic work). The whole team are well-versed in the training of registrars and were friendly, knowledgeable and proactive in facilitating opportunities for me to observe key meetings, networks and time-sensitive developments. 

This placement was my first experience of public health work at a regional level and in healthcare public health. I would recommend that all registrars take the opportunity to gain experience in these settings during training as I have found that there is a lot to learn and first-hand experience here has deepened my understanding of the complex, cross-organisational working which is necessary in public health. 

My supervisor (Ulrike Harrower) was generous with supervision time and ad hoc advice and I felt the placement was really well-tailored to my development needs for the final stage of my training. I was preparing for consultant interviews during my placement and the work and experience I gained in the placement was closely aligned to what I needed to perform well at interview. I was encouraged to stretch myself and work with tapered levels of supervision and leadership, always with sensitivity to well-being and a work-life balance, and I feel well-prepared to move into a consultant role. "

Joanna’s work focused on health optimisation and perioperative care.

Dr Joanna McLaughlin

Public Health Registrar (ST5)

 

“I spent 9 months (0.6 FTE) in the regional public health team during my ST4 years of the Public Health specialty training programme. The support provided by the mentors and supervisors was exceptional. They were accessible, knowledgeable, and provided timely feedback, which greatly enhanced the learning experience. The placement was well-structured, aligning perfectly with my learning objectives. This allowed me to achieve my goals and gain relevant experience. I was offered ample opportunities for hands-on involvement in public health initiatives, enabling me to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.

Working with different departments and teams within NHS England provided a broad perspective on public health issues and policies. The placement contributed significantly to my professional growth, enhancing my skills in data analysis, project management, and stakeholder engagement.”

Tim’s work included a piece of SLI work on the local authority mandated offer to the NHS and the implementation of hypertension case finding and control in the prison setting.

Dr Tim Godden

Public Health Registrar (ST4)

 

 

4.3 Vaccination and Screening

 

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the section 7A agreement, NHSE commissions and holds a systems’ leadership role for the national Screening and Immunisation programmes.  NHSE employs specialist public health staff to provide public health expertise to the commissioning of quality screening and immunisation services, including regional work to increase uptake and address health inequalities.

 

Screening and Immunisation projects are supported and encouraged by the training programme, educational supervisors and the Vaccination and Screening team, and there is an expectation that all registrars will undertake at least one screening and one immunisation related learning activity during training, based either within the local authority setting or with the Vaccination and Screening team.

 

Working with the regional Vaccination and Screening team could address learning outcomes in key areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

 

5. Arrangements for placements

 

The Regional Office can offer a range of training placements for Phase 2 registrars tailored to their learning outcome needs. Many work projects involve complex systems leadership and extensive collaborative working with a wide range stakeholders. Examples of work that could be undertaken by specialty registrars are detailed in Appendix 1.

 

There is an opportunity to co-produce projects depending on the specific interest of the registrar. The Regional Office also offers specialist training to accommodate a defined interest a registrar may wish to develop. Both arrangements allow registrars to build experience in core skills, whilst the latter to gain extended experience.

 

6. The process for accessing a training opportunity

 

All specialty registrar Phase 2 placement opportunities will be circulated via the Specialty Tutors for OHID, Vaccination and Screening, and Healthcare Public Health to registrars through the SW public health Training Programme. If a registrar is interested in a placement opportunity, this should be discussed with their Local Authority Educational Supervisor and the Training Programme Team in the first instance. Should the Training Programme Team agree to proceed, they should liaise with the relevant Specialty Tutor in the Regional Office. Accredited educational and activity supervisors in the Regional Office are listed in Appendix 2.

 

Using a pro-forma, any placement opportunity will be agreed by the Training Programme Team and the regional team’s Specialty Tutor prior to advertisement. If approved, the advert will be disseminated to all eligible registrars by the Training Programme Team with a request for expressions of interest.

 

For Phase 2 registrars in their ST5 year of training, who want to develop their public health experience at regional level or specialise with one of the teams that comprise the regional office, an extended placement can be considered. This will be based on an assessment of their learning needs and consideration of Key Area 10 outcomes and agreed for a minimum of 6 months. These placements will require agreement between the Training Programme Team, regional team’s Specialty Tutor and proposed regional team Educational Supervisor.

 

The Regional Office also offers training to trainees from other training programmes e.g. GP/PH scholars, F2 placements, academic, MPH, and PhD students.

 

7. Support and supervision for Specialty Registrars in Public Health

 

Following agreement to commence a placement (project/extended), a pre-placement meeting with all the relevant supervisors should be convened at least four weeks before placement commencement. The pre-placement meeting will identify learning needs and agree a provisional learning contract

 

An honorary contract (or equivalent) for the duration of the training placement in the Regional Office is required and coordinated by the SW Public Health Training Programme (diane.lloyd7@nhs.net) and the Specialty Tutor in the Regional Office.

 

The Regional Office offers a bespoke induction programme developed for each registrar, which starts on their first day and covers an introduction to all relevant teams in the Regional Office.

 

Educational/Activity supervisors are responsible for the overview of their registrar’s training, holding regular 1:1 meetings and having an open-door policy. Annual leave, study leave, and other planned leave should be negotiated with the supervisor in conjunction with the Training Programme Team as appropriate. Registrars will be expected to report sickness absence to their placement Activity/Educational supervisor during their placement as well as to the Training Programme.

 

StRs on placement are welcome as members of the team they have joined.  Registrars will have the benefit of being able to access the same learning, development and training resources available to staff in their host organisation (to be discussed with your supervisor if this incurs a cost). These opportunities include update sessions, staff development days, topic specific webinars, and lunch and learn sessions. Specifically, StRs have access to intranet resources e.g. Knowledge Centre in OHID and the Learning and Development Hub in NHSE, a regularly updated regional learning and development collated resource.

 

At the end of the placement, registrars will be asked to provide feedback on their placement as part of an exit meeting.

 

8. Education Supervisors Forums and Public Health Specialty Registrar networks

 

The Regional Office has regular Educational and Activity Supervisor meetings and a MS Teams site which acts as a virtual network and supports all supervisors. Public Health Specialty Registrars on placement are invited to attend and contribute to these meetings.

 

There is a combined OHID and NHSE educational supervisors’ network, in addition to separate ones within each organisation. These ensure educational supervisor knowledge is current.

 

There are also OHID and NHSE Specialty Registrar national networks that welcome regional Specialty Registrars attendance and contributions.

 

APPENDIX 1

 

Projects that could be undertaken by PH StRs within the Regional Office

 

Team/ organisation	Examples of projects
Healthcare public health, NHSE	opportunities to advise on evidence-based interventions and service redesign to reduce health inequalities across clinical pathways and settings to inform health service improvement and transformation opportunities to develop policies and strategies; undertake service reviews and service design, undertake needs assessments; consider Individual Funding Requests provide leadership, advocacy and co-production across a wide range of stakeholders to embed ownership and sustainability of agreed approaches. Deliver objectives in collaboration with a range of partners, such as; Local Authorities, ICSs, NHSE, Clinical Networks, Cancer Alliances, Clinical Reference Groups, Academic Health Science Networks drive quality improvement, e.g. by advising on impact measures or develop predictive models to support a shift of resources towards prevention opportunities to undertake work in the health & justice setting e.g. needs or health inequalities assessments; service implementation. opportunities to work across NHSE and OHID alongside the blended team on programmes such as improving outcomes for CVD and developing insights through e.g. predictive modelling tools supporting development of more junior public health practitioners or a public health apprentice, with numerous opportunities for teaching opportunities to design or lead cross system programs of work, including developing frameworks, chairing working groups or events contribute to regional funding and performance oversight contribute to ‘business as usual’ processes such as the assurance of system annual operational plans and review of system joint forward plans
Healthand wellbeing, OHID	use of subnational datasets to shape regional priorities and program delivery methods. regional mapping to understand need and program delivery methods, eg. of stakeholders, or services and pathways. scope a routine surveillance offer eg. an annual monitoring report including identification and assessment of potential data sources, and proposed use. write briefings either for the Regional Office of Public Health, or for external audiences eg. South West Directors of Public Health, South West NHSE. implement national policy (based on evidence), or scope and carry out literature reviews to inform regional priorities and programmes. assist or lead development of project proposals, planning, initiation, and delivery. contribute to or lead evaluation of regional programs, eg. pilot program on improving access for vulnerable populations to primary care. develop a regional strategy (internal or external) on evidence-based principles and tailored to regional need, eg. regional strategy on reducing gambling related health harms, or Suicide Prevention plan for Higher Education. supporting development of more junior public health practitioners or a public health apprentice. opportunities to design or lead cross system programs of work, including chairing working groups or events. develop a regional engagement plan to support the implementation of work, e.g. setting up of a rolling program of communications, methods for sharing best practice, running regional stakeholder events. contribute to regional funding and performance oversight. assurance and quality monitoring of local services or programs. numerous opportunities for teaching 1:1, small groups or large groups. support to collaborate with academic institutions to bring academic rigor to service work, and possibly aim for publication outputs.
Vaccinations and Screening, NHSE	service review and evaluation of new delivery models. experience of commissioning of screening and immunisation programmes, commissioning new elements and recommissioning existing programmes. use evidence to influence commissioning for health. gain experience with the quality assurance processes for screening and immunisation programmes. gain experience on incident management, including Serious Incidents, in both screening and immunisation programmes. working with stakeholders, including local authorities, other System partners and local communities, to promote increased uptake and reduce inequalities.

 

 

APPENDIX 2

 

Accredited Educational and Activity Supervisors in the Regional Office

 

Public Health Domain	Supervisory role	Contact details
Regional Director of Public Health, Regional Office	Activity supervisor	Dr Justin Varney Justin.varneybennett@dhsc.gov.uk
Deputy Director, Regional Office	Educational supervisor	TBC
Deputy Director of HCPH Programmes and Head of School, NHSE	Educational supervisor	Prof Maggie Rae Maggie.rae@england.nhs.uk
Deputy Director of HCPH Programmes and consultant for specialised commissioning, NHSE	Activity supervisor	Nevila Kallfa n.kallfa@nhs.net
Deputy Director for Health and Wellbeing, OHID	Educational supervisor	Aimee Stimpson Aimee.stimpson@dhsc.gov.uk
Population health and Healthcare Public Health consultant, NHSE	Regional Office training lead and specialty tutor for NHSE	Dr Ulrike Harrower Ulrike.harrower1@nhs.net
Health and Wellbeing consultant, OHID	Specialty tutor for OHID	Dr Rachael McClatchey Rachael.McClatchey@dhsc.gov.uk
Health and Wellbeing consultant, OHID	Educational supervisor	Dr Ishani KarPurkayastha Ishani.karpurkayastha@dhsc.gov.uk
Health and Wellbeing consultant, OHID	Educational supervisor	Zoe Clifford Zoe.clifford@dhsc.gov.uk
Health and Wellbeing manager, OHID	Activity supervisor	Justine Womack Justine.womack@dhsc.gov.uk
Health and Wellbeing manager, OHID	Activity supervisor	Russ Moody Russ.moody@dhsc.gov.uk
Health and Wellbeing manager, OHID	Activity supervisor	Doug Haines Doug.haines@dhsc.gov.uk
Health and Justice lead, NHSE	Activity supervisor	Rachel Campbell Rachel.campbell35@nhs.net
Vaccination and Screening consultant, NHSE	Educational supervisor	TBC
Vaccination and Screening consultant, NHSE	Specialty Tutor of Vaccination & Screening	TBC
Vaccination and Screening consultant, NHSE	Educational supervisor	Matthew Dominey Matthew.dominey@nhs.net
Vaccination and Screening manager, NHSE	Activity supervisor	Elizabeth Luckett Elizabeth.luckett@nhs.net
Dental Public Health consultant lead, NHSE	Educational supervisor	Prof Rob Witton Robert.witton@plymouth.ac.uk
Dental Public Health consultant, NHSE	Educational supervisor	Zoe Allen Zoe.allen4@nhs.net
Associate Director Local Knowledge and Intelligence Service, OHID National	Activity supervisor	Paul Brown Paul.Brown@dhsc.gov.uk
Local Knowledge and Intelligence Service, OHID National	Activity supervisor	Gbenga Olatunde Olugbenga.Olatunde@dhsc.gov.uk

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

This page was last updated in January 2025

This page was last updated December 9th 2021 (3 years ago)