Do you know the most effective ways to improve community health? Or the proven techniques to encourage healthier life styles?

The Foundation Programme in Health Improvement

The Foundation Programme in Health Improvement is a new programme designed to give a firm grounding in Public Health to key individuals who work in Local Authorities and Voluntary Organisations.

This two day programme takes place on November 8^th and 9^th in our Head Office in London. It costs just £350 per delegate for two full days and includes lunch, refreshments and full course materials. Contact Nicolette Smith to make your booking, on 020 3177 1625 or email nsmith@rsph.org.uk.

There are only 3 days left to book at our Early Bird price of £315

What we will cover:

1. The three key lifestyle choices affecting personal health, and their impact on your community.
2. The practical implications of these choices for our public health.
3. First principles for promoting good health
4. Three ways to improve community health, and how to communicate them
5. The critical barriers to improving health in the community and how to overcome them
6. Proven techniques for encouraging changes in behaviour
7. How to handle confidential information securely
8. The most effective ways to evaluate your results

“The journey starts here. Educational, enjoyable, empowering.”

Dartmoor works towards better health

Over the past twenty years the number of older people entering the criminal justice system has trebled and these prisoners tend to have poorer health than the general population.  Those over the age of 50 are more likely to suffer from physical disabilities, long standing illnesses and have mental health issues.

As a result, NHS Devon’s health promotion team in partnership with Age Concern (now Age UK) created the Age Concern Older Offenders’ Project, with the primary aim of improving the health of older offenders within Devon Prisons. 

The joint project was developed to support the pilot of a Health Trainer programme in prisons.  The Introduction of the Health Trainer role for older offenders enables them to support their peers with first level health and social care advice, as well as ensuring appropriate steps are taken to improve their health. 

Stephanie Parker and Jean Harrison, Health Improvement Advisors for NHS Devon, delivered two Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) courses on Understanding Health Improvement.  The accredited course provides an introduction to the basics of health and wellbeing and how to empower offenders to make healthier lifestyle choices.  26 volunteers, 18 of whom were offenders, successfully completed the interactive training. 

Since then, numerous health related activities have been introduced in the prison.  Offenders have noted that they are beginning to benefit from this more supportive and personalised approach to health, commenting:  “I feel more relaxed and am able to sleep without interruption” and “I have lost weight and I am aware of my improved physique”.

Stephanie Parker has since won an NHS Devon Staff Award for her contribution and due to the overall success of the pilot, work is now continuing in Dartmoor prison to help support and develop the offender Health Trainer role.

 

New Training Guide now available

To mark our first year of offering training programmes, a new Guide to Training Solutions has been launched. Designed to help commissioners and practitioners in health and well being to plan their training for the coming year, it contains details of all the training programmes and demonstrates how they support the priorities outlined in the recent NHS Reviews and the Government White Paper. It also introduces the range of expert trainers, whose experience across the health service is second to none. The Guide is available now from Nicolette Smith at the Royal Society for Public Health, or can be downloaded from the RSPH website.

Are you ready to play your part in the Big Society?

Changes to our health service mean big changes to how we manage the health of our communities.

The development of the Big Society will mean much more responsibility being taken on by the voluntary sector and Local Authorities.

Do you and your team have the knowledge and expertise to take this on?

“We can lead healthier, more productive lives but many need help in knowing how to do so, and help in creating the environment where this is possible. This task is everyone’s business.” 

Richard Shircore. Author of RSPH’s Commissioning Guide.

The Foundation Programme in Health Improvement

The Foundation Programme in Health Improvement is a new programme designed to give a firm grounding in Public Health to key individuals who will be part of these changes.

This two day programme takes place on November 8^th and 9^th in our Head Office in London. It costs just £350 per delegate for two full days and includes lunch, refreshments and full course materials. Contact Nicolette Smith to make your booking, on 020 3177 1625 or email nsmith@rsph.org.uk.