Public Health Event 2013

Background

Amongst the many changes currently happening within health and social care, the move of public health to local authorities is perhaps the one which offers most opportunity for transformation in service delivery.  However, the degree of change has also led to a lack of awareness amongst many in the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector of the responsibilities that will be falling under local authority control post April 2013, many of which are a basic VCS area of focus.

There are two categories of VCSE sector organisation that need to understand the changes:

1. Those who undertake “traditional” public health work (e.g. increasing early diagnosis, falls prevention etc.) but have a lack of awareness of the changes and the implications for their organisations
2. The wider VCSE, many of whom work to improve public health but may not necessarily class themselves as doing so – organisations that are not “badged” as health e.g. those providing routes into employment, housing, education, access to green spaces etc.

Based on these two categories there is a short-term need to ensure those that will be directly affected in April fully understand the changes and their implications. There is a further longer-term need to ensure that organisations working on the wider determinants of health are clued in and integrated into Duncan Selbie’s vision of addressing the three critical factors in people’s lives – jobs, homes and friends.

Outcomes and objectives:

This event is an opportunity for VCSE organisations to learn more about the changes in Public Health, how that change might affect them and how best to engage with the new model.

The event will also be open to East Midlands Public Health teams and local authority colleagues to attend with the aim of increasing shared understanding about the potential for Public Health to be the mechanism for greater focus on preventative health approaches. 

The event will therefore achieve the following outcomes:

• Increase awareness and understanding of the role, structure and priorities of Public Health England;
• Increase awareness and understanding of the role of local public heath teams and how they relate to PHE;
• Learning about different models of Public Health within a number of Local Authorities and progress of transition;
• Develop the knowledge, mechanisms, capacity and skills of the VCSE to engage with Public Health at local and national level in the future.

In order to achieve these outcomes the event will:

• Provide practical updates on progress of transition at both national and local level;
• Describe the role of Public Health and how it relates to the VCSE sector and communities;
• Build relationships and contacts between Local Authorities and the VCSE sector around public health themes;
• Consider how ongoing dialogue between the VCSE, local public health teams and PHE should be achieved.

Outline Agenda

Cancelation Policy

Space at this event is extremely limited and it is anticipated that a reserve list will be in operation for this event. It is therefore requested that you inform the event organisers as soon as possible if you cannot attend for any reason.

If you book a place and fail to turn up a charge of £25 per delegate will be levied (unless notice is received more than five days prior to the event). Substitutions are allowed.