Emerging changes in the development of leadership in public health
The move of public health functions to local government will affect how public health specialist training prepares individuals for leadership roles.
There is currently a leadership role for local authorities in supporting Directors of Public Health (DPH) and their public health staff. As leadership in public health can take many forms, there are implications that a number of wider support actions will be necessary to develop current and future leadership. For example, programmes to encourage a culture of leadership at all workforce levels. In the area of health promotion and health awareness there are good reasons emerging to extend the notion of leadership out into the wider communities - through head teachers and the like - to act as public health champions.
Initiatives will need to address the development of skills in networking and partnership, both within and across organisations, bringing local government and the NHS closer together. Education and training programmes designed to deliver education, training and support for leadership programmes will be necessary to enhance and complement already existing collaboration e.g. existing models in local authorities developed for environmental health practices.
Sources or references
- The Structure of Public Health England, July 2012
- Horton R (2011) Where is public health leadership in England? Lancet 2011
- Health Education England
- Evidence for the need to develop a robust public health practitioner workforce (2010) Zolle, O, NHS South Central Report, Aug 2010
- See National Institute for Health Research (NHS) School for Public Health Research website
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
