Programme Scope
Given the variations and unique context of each UKOT, this new workstream will be developed in collaboration with each UKOT. The programme will work with the UKOTs in developing a public health workforce strategy based on current and future needs based on an understanding of local priorities, identifying training and development needs, developing pathways and agreements to existing workforce opportunities, or developing/collaborating on bespoke initiatives to meet needs.
This workstream will link with other relevant workforce development initiatives (e.g. CARPHA, PAHO), as well as established programmes in England/UK if appropriate (e.g. Director of Public Health leadership scheme, public health apprenticeships), and developing bespoke initiatives where required.
Workstream Focus
This workstream will work with UKOTs in training and retaining a competent and sustainable public health and health workforce to respond to the needs of its population. The underlying aims of the workstream will be to:
- develop public health leadership;
- build public health professional and technical skills and knowledge;
- drive sustainable public health practice change;
- embed system change at organisation and personal/team level
Example Projects
- Joint UKHSA, NHS England and UK-Med workshop in Montserrat focused on Workforce Transformation. The aims, solutions, challenges, and next steps can be found in this report.
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Health to develop and launch the Montserrat Care Certificate. This is a framework to ensure that all support workers have the same introductory skills, knowledge, and behaviours to provide compassionate, safe and high-quality care in their workplace settings
- Implementation of the World Health Organization Roadmap to building the public health and emergency workforce in Montserrat.
Driving Quality: How the Montserrat Care Certificate is transforming care in Montserrat
Originally developed by Health Education England, the Care Certificate is a set of 15 standards aimed to support the development of the health and care support worker (HCSW) to ensure they have the skills, knowledge and behaviour to provide compassionate, safe and high-quality care in their workplace settings. In Montserrat this includes having a broad range of critical responsibilities and often stepping in to help where required due to its small workforce. Working closely with the Nurse Educator, Sister Foster, and Nurse Director, Nurse Daley, the Care Certificate was contextualized to be appropriate for the health system while still meeting Care Quality Commission standards.
20 participants took part in the pilot, with 18 finishing and becoming ‘Care Certified’. In addition to working through booklets, quizzes were developed to test knowledge and specialist were brought in to dive further into topics such as nutrition, environmental health, and safeguarding. This allows for hands-on, and catered experience fit for practice in Montserrat.
An evaluation revealed that 81% of participants strongly agreed the Care Certificate is providing skills and knowledge to do their job effectively and 75% strongly agreed they feel confident in their ability to perform duties and skills outlined in the Care Certificate. Additionally, the impact goes further, including:
- Driving interest in the healthcare field
- Leadership and development skills for assessors
- Build the confidence and skills of HCSW
- Improving the quality of care provided in Montserrat
Montserrat looks forward to launching its second cohort in the coming months and continuing to invest in its health and social care workforce. This important step forward in ensuring the quality of entry level health staff seems to be having further reaching positive impacts on developing a more resilient health and social care workforce in Montserrat – potentially serving as an example to other small island contexts.
“I have enjoyed gaining knowledge, new insights and skill set while doing the Care Certificate program which helps me to be more competent and more confidence in my day to day work activity” Care Certificate Participant
Press play below to learn more about the Care Certificate in Montserrat.
Key Resources
- Caribbean Public Health Agency: Public Health Learning
- Multi-Source: Public Health and Emergency Workforce Roadmap: An overview
- PAHO: Virtual Campus for Public Health
- The King’s Fund: The practice of system leadership: Being comfortable with chaos
- WHO: Action plan - National workforce capacity to implement the essential public health functions including a focus on emergency preparedness and response.