Public health is in transition both locally and nationally, and the recent government white paper on public health (Healthy Lives, Healthy People), which draws heavily on the findings in the Marmot Review (Fair Society, Healthy Lives), proposes radical changes to the way in which public health is delivered in England. Placing greater emphasis on closing the gap in health inequalities and recognising the impact that the wider determinants have on the health of a population, it places Environmental Health Services in a good position to be at the heart of the new era of public health.

It is important that we now capitalise on this and examine how and where we can fit into this new system. EH services already carry out health protection and improvement work across the sector and the day to day front line contact that we have with our populations and businesses gives us a fantastic opportunity to discuss health behaviours and change. Working in partnership across departmental, business and community settings will allow for a holistic approach to public health delivery and the existing EH connections and relationships within this sector cannot be overstated. By bringing this Alehm group together we have the opportunity to examine what is being done locally, regionally and nationally and share this good practice and innovation. We also have the opportunity to develop themes and ideas so that our EH services sit at the same table as other prevention, protection and improvement services.

Draft terms of reference

Purpose

• To ensure that Environmental Health Services are positioned to make the best use of the new opportunities in public health.
• Using focus groups and meetings to review areas of common knowledge and draw up suggested Local Authority position to respond to consultations and lobby for EH position within the new public health agenda.
• To collect information on local and regional projects, successes and best practice, and disseminate to all.

Scope, Function

• Time limited – 18 months(?)
• The Group will publish findings and report back to Alehm.
• Some financial assistance is possible (from the joint funded HPA post) to support the functioning of the team – Camilla to clarify the type of financial support.
• To meet quarterly (?) at RBKC, Pembroke Road, W8.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Chair – to convene, coordinate and provide steer.
• Project Manager/Coordinator – to scope out work and timeframes, and ensure work is on track and completed to deadlines.
• Quality (and Finance if applicable) Assurance – to ensure standard of work is satisfactory and monies are spent properly.
• Communications – within team, between LAs and other professionals, and back to central government.
• Project Support – to provide administrative support to the Group.

Membership

• Chair - Paul Morse, Director for Environmental Health, RBKC.
• Role - Jan Hart – Director of Environmental Health, LBI (with responsibility for all regulatory functions and the current corporate lead on public health).
• Role - Camilla Bourn – Technical Officer, Private Sector Housing, Environmental Health Department, RBKC.
• Role - Linda Thomas – CGHT Public Health Programme Coordinator, RBKC and NHSK&C.
• others??

Accountability

• Alehm Executive members? - Tay Potier, Trevor Williams, Janine Avery, Steve Miller, Rob Williams.

Possible work plan

Draft agenda for initial meeting

1. Introductions and welcome.
2. Apologies.
3. Minutes and actions from the previous meeting.
4. Presentation on vision for the work of the team over the next 18 months(?).
5. Draft terms of reference - discuss, agree, sign off.
6. Draft forward plan 2011/12 (scope out what the priorities are and what the team wants to achieve, with timescales) and agree future agenda.
7. A.O.B.

Draft agenda for subsequent meetings

1. Introductions and welcome.
2. Apologies.
3. Minutes and actions from the previous meeting.
4. Forward plan 2011/12…project update.
5. Update on national and regional public health developments.
6. Discussion on Environmental Health and Public Health?
7. Agenda planning for next meeting.
8. A.O.B.

Possible future discussion topics?

• How do we use Nudge and behavioural change techniques to persuade residents to choose healthy options when we visit them for general EH duties?
• What do we see as priorities in EH and PH?
• How do we use the ‘Intervention ladder’?
• How do we link together the wider determinants work that we currently do to the lifecourse approach and address health inequalities whilst also subscribing to universal proportionalism?
• How do we evidence our work to show that we are effectively achieving our health outcomes?
• How do we calculate the effectiveness of our outcomes?
• Examine how our current work can be adapted to access the ring fenced public health budget?
• How do we ‘marry’ the work of this group with the work that CIEH is doing regarding PH developments?