Engagement and regulation of public health practitioners

Paul Scourfield FPH Chief Executive Welcome and introduction

Aims of Session  To introduce the work of the Public Health Practitioner Programme Management Group (PHPPMG)  To answer questions and to seek input and feedback from delegates

Partnership approach Public Health Practitioner Programme Management Group (PHPPMG)

4 UK Government Health Departments UK Public Health Register Faculty of Public Health Royal Society for Public Health Public Health Resource Unit Skills for Health Key stakeholder organisations

The Role of the Public Health Practitioner Management Group To plan, develop, integrate and oversee a co-ordinated work programme for the engagement and regulation of Public Health practitioners in the whole of the UK This is being conducted through several strands of work.

Developing a Regulatory Pathway for Public Health Practitioners Professor Jim McEwen

What is regulation? Primary purpose is protection of the public Regulation –Sets standards & processes to get people onto the register –Sets requirements to stay on the register (CPD & retention fee) –Removes people from the register A public statement that practitioners have met & agree to maintain standards of good practice appropriate to the work they do.

Who are we aiming regulation at? Since 2003 UKPHR has registered Public Health Specialists –General –Defined Focus of development on practitioners –Spend the majority of their time furthering health and wellbeing by working with individuals, groups, communities & populations –CMO’s 3 rd group (1998 Strengthening the Public Health Function)

Why regulate public health practitioners? Practitioners –influence the health & wellbeing of individuals, groups, communities & populations –potentially put the public at risk Some will already be regulated (but maybe not in a related field) UKPHR is voluntary – no basis in statute or law & no protected titles. –Employers requiring registration for posts –Commissioners of services requiring registered practitioners

What has happened so far? Development of draft standards for registration Public Health Skills & Career Framework (PHSCF) Development & testing of two models (generic & essential + additional) Practitioners Advanced Practitioners

The Consultation The consultation is taking a number of forms including: National / regional events with multi-disciplinary and multi- agency groups Workshops with groups of public health practitioners who work in specific areas of practice (such as health protection, sexual health, health improvement, public health intelligence) Workshops with different stakeholders (such as employers, other regulators) Electronic consultation – for anyone who wishes to comment directly on the proposals. The main consultation period is from 1 November 2008 – 28 February 2009.

Focus of the consultation 1.The proposed process by which individuals will be assessed for admission to the register 2.The proposed standards against which practitioners will be assessed for admission to the register 3.The proposed Code of Practice

Project and consultation Scoping project funded by 4 Departments of Health Interim stage Current wide consultation Nothing decided UKPHR Board decisions later in the year.

Process for registration Against the registration standards for PHPs Individuals –gather evidence against the standards –confirm they have met the standards –Confirm they understand the ethical framework in Code of Practice PH Specialists verifies the individual’s evidence against the standards & confirms this to UKPHR UKPHR checks the applications & samples some of the assessments

The Proposed Standards Drawn from level 5, PHSCF Competence and knowledge statements –competences are designed to be applicable to whichever area of public health practice an individual works – knowledge statements are designed to focus on the key aspects of knowledge and understanding that practitioners need to practise effectively in public health Standards for regulation form benchmarks that individuals have to show they can meet to be fit for registration.

Code of Practice The UKPHR currently uses Good Public Health Practice for public health specialists Need to test the applicability and relevance of Good Public Health Practice to PHP’s

Why should I get involved? We encourage everyone with an interest in public health to contribute to this consultation, your involvement will mean that you: Will have the opportunity to shape and influence public health practitioner developments Begin to develop knowledge and understanding of the developing registration standards which will put you in a good position when registration comes into effect – proposed date Autumn 2009 Will learn from your involvement with others and hence it will contribute to your CPD It will form an interesting addition to your CV as you have been involved in a national development.

How do I get involved? Electronically Attending a National Event London - 25/02/09 Scotland - 27/02/09 North West England -19/03/09 Northern Ireland – 26/03/09 If you wish to attend one of the national events please register your interest via the below, More information can also be found on our website

Di Roffe FPH Director of Practitioner Development and Chair of the Practitioner Development Working Group (PDWG)

Widening health inequalities; major public health issues Ensure public protection with competent, regulated public health workforce Need for collective, strong vision for the whole public health workforce. Challenges for the public health workforce.

Practitioner Development Working Group (FPH) Key tasks Develop and agree project action plan Scoping the current practitioner academic and professional qualifications Identify gaps Identify current training and assessment systems Develop potential prospective assessment framework Map to regulatory framework work Develop CPD framework Communication

Progress to date Practitioner Development Group established with key stakeholder representation Communication: conferences; website and news letter Mapping exercise ongoing. First stage completed October -December ’08 for key stakeholder feedback. Assessment framework development work ’09 Jan – March

Impressions so far (work in progress) Mapping of course content against each of the competences and knowledge statements is not straightforward Most programmes are likely to cover and assess aspects of knowledge not competence itself Option modules and choices of pathways make it difficult to know what has been covered by those completing programmes Surveillance and assessment cluster generally well covered Some gaps identified but may be integrated into other learning outcomes Emerging opportunities for development

Developing the assessment framework Fit for Purpose –Quality –Sustainability –Flexibility –Accessibility –Inclusivity

Paul Scourfield FPH Chief Executive

Membership options with the Faculty of Public Health and RSPH

Your input to take forward this work

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