Guidance document

1. Public Health Practitioner Portfolio Development Support Programme (Cohort 3 – October 2012) Guidance document

2. Context and update What’s behind this scheme? What is the purpose of UKPHR? The UKPHR aims to protect the public and promote public confidence in public health practice through: > Setting and promoting standards for admission to the Register and for remaining on the register (with FPH and other standard setting bodies) > Publishing a Register of competent professionals > Dealing with registered professionals who fail to meet the necessary standards • In October 2010, the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) agreed to open a regulatory pathway for public health practitioners in April 2011. The main driving force for the development of a regulatory framework for public health practitioners is the protection of the public via the development of, and adhering to, agreed professional standards which will: • 1. provide quality assurance of the workforce to a common and agreed standard; • 2. provide quality control of the workforce by placement onto a professional register. • The regulatory framework will use the Public Health Practitioner Standardstogether with the framework and processes which were initially piloted through 2010-11, through local assessment schemes across the UK (including one in Wales - Public Health Wales). The local assessment scheme in Wales adheres to the standards and assessment process, as well as to the verification, moderation and other quality assurance processes of the UKPHR. This means that as of April 2011 (when the national regulatory system became available ) practitioners assessed as part of the scheme can apply for registration. UKPHR Public Health Register The Professional and Organisational Development (POD) team of Public Health Wales supports national workforce and professional development across the whole of the public health sector in Wales. This includes local government, third/voluntary sector, academia, Welsh Assembly Government etc. The team also has the remit for internal learning and development for Public Health Wales. The team aims to design, deliver, develop and evaluate effective programmes and projects to support national workforce development and to improve capacity and capability across the broad spectrum of public health and related disciplines. What is the purpose of the POD team? The Public Health Practitioner Portfolio Development Support Programme works with practitioners wishing to develop their portfolios, with a view of applying to the UKPHR for registration as Public Health Practitioners, and will offer them a range of support through CPD opportunities and mentoring including support in self-assessment, collating evidence and demonstrating competence. Trained assessors and verifiers are also available to review portfolio commentaries and evidence.

3. You must present clear evidence against each of the sections (a) to (f) using either new evidence, work used as evidence elsewhere, or a case study of work done elsewhere and known to you, with an accompanying reflective piece specifically addressing each area The Standards 3. (cont) c. promote equality and value diversity d. value people as individuals e. acknowledge the importance of data confidentiality and disclosure, and the use of data sharing protocols f. are consistent with legislation, policies, governance frameworks and systems. Area 1: Professional and ethical practice • 1. Recognise and address ethical dilemmas and issues - demonstrating: • Knowledge of existing and emerging legal and ethical issues in own area of practice • The proactive addressing of issues in an appropriate way (e.g. challenging others’ unethical practice). The evidence for this section might be a piece of work that is used as evidence for another standard, which you could also use to show how you considered ethical and legal issues. • 4. Continually develop and improve own and others’ practice in public health by: • reflecting on own behaviour and practice and identifying where improvements should be made • recognising the need for, and making use of, opportunities for personal and others’ development • awareness of different approaches and preferences to learning • the application of evidence in improving own area of work objectively and constructively • contributing to reviewing the effectiveness of own area of work The UKPHR considers continuing professional development to be an essential element of registration. Currently registrants must demonstrate they take active part in a CPD process. Not all practitioners will have formal roles overseeing and improving the practice of others. You can still demonstrate how you have helped and developed others, for example through communicating, explaining or sharing information. • 2. Recognise and act within the limits of own competence seeking advice when needed. Evidence for this standard must come from personal work experience and not a case study of what others do. The evidence might be a piece of work that is used elsewhere in your evidence, where you proactively identified an area that you needed more information about or needed to develop new skills. • 3. Act in ways that: • acknowledge and recognise people’s expressed beliefs and preferences • promote the ability of others to make informed decisions

4. The Standards You will need to be careful to provide evidence that shows you have obtained, verified, analysed and interpreted data and/or information. This need not be complex and can be from either primary or secondary sources • 6. Obtain, verify, analyse and interpret data and/or information to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes of a population / community / group - demonstrating: • knowledge of the importance of accurate and reliable data / information and the anomalies that might occur • knowledge of the main terms and concepts used in epidemiology and the routinely used methods for analysing quantitative and qualitative data • ability to make valid interpretations of the data and/or information and communicate these clearly to a variety of audience Area 2: Technical competencies in public health Your evidence could be based directly on your work with an accompanying commentary, or a case study based on observing the work of colleagues. • 5. Promote the value of health and wellbeing and the reduction of health inequalities - demonstrating: • how individual and population health and wellbeing differ and the possible tensions between promoting the health and wellbeing of individuals and the health and wellbeing of groups • knowledge of the determinants of health and their effect on populations, communities, groups and individuals • knowledge of the main terms and concepts used in promoting health and wellbeing, • knowledge of the nature of health inequalities and how they might be monitored • awareness of how culture and experience may impact on perceptions and expectations of health and wellbeing.

5. The Standards Area 2: Technical competencies in public health Evidence for this area will involve accessing evidence to inform an area of your work. You will need to show how you have used your knowledge to assess or interpret the evidence and how you have ensured the evidence you have used is reliable. • 7. Assess the evidence of effective interventions and services to improve health and wellbeing – demonstrating: • knowledge of the different types, sources and levels of evidence in own area of practice and how to access and use them • the appraisal of published evidence and the identification of implications for own area of work This standard concerns your knowledge of risks and how to communicate them. You will need to show how you have used your knowledge to inform how you have communicated issues to do with risk.   • 8. Identify risks to health and wellbeing, providing advice on how to prevent, ameliorate or control them - demonstrating: • knowledge of the risks to health and wellbeing relevant to own area of work and of the varying scale of risk • knowledge of the different approaches to preventing risks and how to communicate risk to different audiences.

6. The Standards • d. how the public / populations / communities / groups / families / individuals have been supported to make informed decisions about improving their health and wellbeing • e. awareness of the effect the media has on public perception • f. how the health concerns and interests of individuals, groups and communities have been communicated • g. how quality and risk management principles and policies are applied. • h. how the prevention, amelioration or control of risks has been communicated Described in sections (a) to (h) of the standard. But it is expected that you can demonstrate a real understanding of how the team as a whole developed the programme Area 3: Application of technical competencies to public health work • 9. Work collaboratively to plan and / or deliver programmes to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for populations / communities / groups / families / individuals – demonstrating: • how the programme has been influenced by: • > the health and wellbeing of a population • > the determinants of health and wellbeing • > inequalities in health and wellbeing • > the availability of resources • use of an ethical framework in decision making/ priority setting. • b. how evidence has been applied in the programme and influenced own work • c. the priorities within, and the target population for, the programme The evidence for this standard is likely to be one of the main pieces of evidence in your portfolio. Collaborative working is a core skill for public health professionals at all levels and will support your career development. This standard is focused on how you plan and/or deliver a health and well-being programme by working collaboratively with colleagues in your own organisation or health community. It is not expected that you yourself will necessarily have led the development of the programme, or have been responsible for many of the elements

7. The Standards • 11. Work collaboratively with people from teams and agencies other than one’s own to improve health and wellbeing outcomes – demonstrating: • awareness of personal impact on others • constructive relationships with a range of people who contribute to population health and wellbeing • awareness of: • > principles of effective • partnership working • > the ways in which • organisations, teams and • individuals work together to improve health and wellbeing outcomes • > the different forms that teams • might take Whilst standard 9 concerns the planning and delivery of a programme of work achieved by working collaboratively, i.e. the output from collaborative working, standard 11 is focused on applying your knowledge of HOW relationships and partnerships are developed to be effective, i.e. the processes of working with others. It is about how you develop your working relationships and use your negotiating and influencing skills. Area 4: Underpinning skills • 10. Support the implementation of policies and strategies to improve health and wellbeing outcomes – demonstrating: • knowledge of the main public health policies and strategies relevant to own area of work and the organisations that are responsible for them • how different policies, strategies or priorities affect own specific work and how to influence their development or implementation in own area of work • critical reflection and constructive suggestions for how policies, strategies or priorities could be improved in terms of improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities in own area of work • the ability to prioritise and manage projects and/or services in own area of work. In your commentary, differentiate between sections (a) to (c) which refer to policies and strategies and how you manage them in your work, and (d) which relates to how you manage yourself. You may need to use a different approach to your evidence for these two aspects. For sections (a) and (b), you need to describe policies and strategies and their effect on your own work specifically. For section (c) you may wish to write a reflective commentary with your views and suggestions. For section (d), possible evidence would be the application of straightforward project management skills such as timelines, Gantt charts, diaries etc. 12. Communicate effectively with a range of different people using different methods. Evidence for this section will probably be provided through work elsewhere in your portfolio, supported by a specific commentary. Ensure that you demonstrate you can communicate with a range of people and provide evidence of different methods of communication.

8. PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONER APPLICANT ASSESSMENT UKPHR ASSESSOR ASSESSMENT OUTCOME VERIFIER Assessment (1) • Gathers evidence against standards • See UKPHR Supporting Information document • Examples and explanatory notes • Glossary – requirements for coverage of knowledge – standards 5 – 8 especially • Assessment is a supportive process • Do not have to submit all evidence to Assessor at the same time Who is involved in the process? Assessors are appointed by Public Health Wales following successful completion of UKPHR training Assessors allocated to practitioners by Public Health Wales Assessors – assess commentaries and evidence and provide feedback Mentors are available to provide information and feedback prior to, and following, assessments. Mentoring agreement completed upfront. Verifiers are registered public health specialists (GMC, GDC, UKPHR) with at least 3 years experience at consultant level Check that the assessment has been carried out appropriately – independent scrutiny (QA role) Verification is not a second assessment Verifiers meet as the Public Health Wales Verification Panel The Panel may interview applicants and assessors Verification Panel decision is final (apart from moderation processes and formal appeals)

9. Assessment (2) Commentaries and evidence which claim to meet the practitioner standards are assessed at level 5 of the Public Health Skills and Career Framework (PHSCF). A copy of the PHSCF can be found at: http://www.phorcast.org.uk/document_store/1318857881_bNPm_public_health_skills_and_career_framework.pdf What happens when all the standards are passed? • Once the assessor is confident that all the standards are met the portfolio is ‘signed off’ by the Assessor • The applicant can then apply to have their portfolio verified and reviewed by the Public Health Wales Verification Panel – an application form must be completed at this stage and submitted along with a reference, testimonial, current CV and job description • The Panel may interview applicants and assessors. • The Verification Panel decision is final (apart from moderation processes and formal appeals) What can the assessment outcomes be? There are three possible assessment verdicts: Pass The standards appear to have been met, the assessment is passed and the standards are banked. 2. Need for clarification Assessor believes there is evidence to meet standard but more detail/ clarity needed Usually submitted within two weeks of request 3. Need for resubmission Assessor believes evidence is inadequate & new evidence needed Usually submitted within 1 month of request How does this lead to registration? After verification, the applicant has 3 months to apply for registration to the UKPHR An application form must be submitted along with the recommendation from the Public Health Wales Verification Panel There is an Admin fee of £20 and an annual registration fee of £75 Evidence of adherence to CPD will be required to maintain registration status

10. Types of evidence • (Refer to the UKPHR glossary for the knowledge requirements) • Your understanding of the issues • How you have applied that knowledge • Precisely how you believe the evidence demonstrates the particular standard, relating directly to the wording in each sub-section of the standard • A reflection on your learning from this work What different types of evidence are there? • Written reports from work setting; write-up of case studies or observation of colleagues • Videos, DVDs with accompanying commentary • Observation possible for standards 11 and 12 (observation proformas provided) • Detailed testimonials with accompanying commentary • Could be from other settings, e.g. voluntary work What are the assessment deadlines? • Practitioners will be expected to meet the deadlines for submission of commentaries to their Assessor on the dates outlined below. By signing the application form you agree to comply with these dates and complete your portfolio by the 4 October 2013. Practitioners will be expected to organise contact with their Mentor as required around these dates through the completion of the Mentoring Agreement document. • Commentary 1 – 29 Nov 2012 • Commentary 2 – 25 Jan 2013 • Commentary 3 – 29 March 2013 • Commentary 4 – 24 May 2013 • Commentary 5 – 12 July 2013 • The number of commentaries that are submitted will vary for individuals. The UKPHR suggests a minimum of 3 commentaries covering distinct pieces of work. Currently, 5/6 seems to be the average number of commentaries per applicant. Therefore, there is some flexibility around the submission dates. • Assessors will also be given deadlines to carry out the assessments (feedback should be expected usually within two weeks). • Practitioners and Assessors will be expected to notify the Professional and Organisational Development team of any extenuating circumstances affecting their compliance with the Programme. How much evidence is needed? Minimum of 3 discrete piece of “shows” work, supported by knowledge statements At least 2 pieces of work across areas 5-8 (PH technical areas) Half of the evidence should be recent i.e. past 3 years 1 box file of evidence, or electronic equivalent Pay attention to data confidentiality What’s a commentary and what goes into it? (See UKPHR Supporting Information document) A commentary is a summary of key pieces of work or roles, or shadowing or observation, within which the applicant demonstrates specific competence It sets out context and role of applicant It provides a signpost to allow the assessor to find the supporting evidence. What goes into it includes: • The context • Your own role • How you acquired the knowledge to support the work

11. The Support Programme The Public Health Practitioner Portfolio Development Support Programme supports practitioners across Wales in developing portfolios of evidence against the Public Health Practitioner Standards. Individuals not ready to apply to the Public Health Practitioner Portfolio Development Support Programme but interested in finding out more about portfolio development and practitioner registration can find out more by talking to the Professional and Organisational Development Team and/or by attending one of our generic portfolio development days. So what support is available? • Portfolio Development Support Learning Set / Introductory Day (a 1-day event) • 12 October 2012- South Wales • 16 October 2012- North Wales • A programme of CPD events- • http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/49068 • An allocated Mentor • An allocated Assessor • Access to the Online Assessment Toolkit • Trained and experienced Verifiers who review and feedback on elements of the portfolio development assessment. • Practitioners will also be invited to contribute to the evaluation of the Programme. • Applicants are recommended to read the UKPHR’s Introduction to the Route to Registration for Public Health Practitioners available at: http://www.publichealthregister.org.uk/sites/default/files/practitioner_introduction_pack_april2011.pdf • Additional learning sets (attendance is strongly recommended)- • Learning Set 1 / Writing Workshop- WC 22 October 2012 • Learning Set 2 - WC 14 January 2013 • Learning Set 3 - WC 11 March 2013 • [Dates of learning sets are provisional and may change. The Team endeavour to provide as much notice as possible. Learning sets will be scheduled in North Wales and in South Wales.]

12. Application process (1) • Framework or equivalent) in order to demonstrate competence against the Public Health Practitioner Standards. Where there are more applications than places, it is likely length and level of experience will be considered carefully. • Self-assessment against the Public Health Practitioner Standards. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a broad range of relevant experience with only minor gaps, of which, each should be relatively easy to address within the timeframe. • A commitment to completing a portfolio against the Public Health Practitioner Standards for Registration. This must be a genuine commitment to completing the portfolio within 12 months from acceptance onto the Programme including the willingness to undertake portfolio development tasks within their own time as required. • A commitment from their line manager for support*, including the allocated time off to attend the “formal” workshops/events, other relevant CPD events arranged through the scheme and additional writing time (approx. four days). • *Applicants without employer support should contact the Professional and Organisational Development team. How do I apply? • To apply to the support programme you must submit the following: • A completed application form • A completed self assessment form • A statement of (no more than) 200 words demonstrating: • why you are applying to the Public Health Practitioner Portfolio Development Support Programme • any progress you have made to date on developing your portfolio • your commitment to completing the portfolio within the prescribed timescale (including the willingness to undertake portfolio development tasks within your own time if necessary) • A letter of support from your line manager • Applicants must comply with their organisations process for apply for study leave etc. What are the selection criteria? • Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their work contributes to public health and wellbeing in Wales. Applicants do not necessarily need to have the job title of ‘public health practitioner’ but they must be responsible for, or contribute to, protecting and / or improving the health and wellbeing of the population of Wales. • Applicants must be able to demonstrate: • Relevant public health experience (usually having occupied a ‘public health practitioner’ post at AfC/KSF band 5-8 level / level 5-8 on the UK Public Health Skills and Career

13. Application process (2) What is the application deadline? Both a signed copy (by post) and an electronic copy (by email) will be required. The deadline for applications is 21 September 2012. Completed applications should be sent to: Christopher Orr Development Officer (Professional and Organisational Development) Public Health Wales 14 Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9LJ Tel: 02920 827642 Fax: 02920 827622 Email: POD@wales.nhs.uk What happens when I am accepted? • Applicants will be notified by 5 October 2012 when the 3-month Orientation period will commence. During this time they will be allocated with a mentor and will be expected to: • Attend an introductory day • Meet their mentor and complete a mentoring agreement • Complete a self-assessment form and make arrangements to fill any gaps they have • Plan their portfolio using the Standards Grid • Attend a commentary writing workshop • Write and submit their first commentary • Be allocated with an Assessor • Receive feedback from their first commentary and consider and action any feedback in terms clarifications (and resubmissions) • Successful completion of the above will result in an applicant successfully completing the Orientation Period. Where this isn’t so, the Programme Coordinator will follow up with the candidate (and their mentor/line manager) to ascertain the best way forward. Where an individual is no longer able to commit to completing their portfolio within the given timescales there place will be freed up for someone else. Who decides who is accepted? Applications will be reviewed by an Awarding Panel to ensure that candidates meet the application criteria.

14. Support Programme Timeline Three month orientation period Review self-assessment. Planning, complete standard grid & Learning contract Commentary No. 1 assessed and feedback Meet with mentor Attend Intro- duction Day Attend writing work shop Submit commentary No. 1 Acceptance on programme Allocated a mentor Allocated an assessor By 12 October 12 October SW & 16th Oct NW 5th October 2012 WC 22nd October SW & NW 29th November 13th December Attend Learning Set 1 Meet with mentor Commentary No. 2 assessed and feedback Attend Learning Set 2 Meet with mentor Commentary No. 3 assessed and feedback Write & submit commentary No. 2 Write & submit commentary No. 3 WC 14th Jan 2013 SW & NW WC 1tth March SW & NW 8th February 25th January 29th March 19th April Attend Learning Set 3? Meet with mentor Commentary No. 4 assessed and feedback Meet with mentor Commentary No. 5 assessed and feedback Write & submit commentary No. 4 Write & submit commentary No. 5 Application to Welsh Verification Panel 24th May 13thth June 26th July 12th July 6th September Welsh Verification panel Approval Programme ends 4th Oct Apply to UKPHR

15. Application process (3) What commitment would I be making? • Applicants accepted onto the Programme must agree to abide by its principles and participate fully in the support programme as outlined in this document. • Applicants should be aware of the costs associated with providing such a support programme. These costs include: • Contractual costs with the UKPHR who provide moderation and ongoing support to the Programme • Administration costs – Professional and Organisational Development Team, events administration • Assessor, Mentor and Verifier training costs • Assessors, Mentors and Verifiers time and expertise – these individuals commit their time and expertise to the Programme on a voluntary basis. These are unpaid roles and individuals’ personal time is given to supporting the development of public health practitioner through this Programme • Electronic toolkit / resources licenses • Learning set facilitation • Should an applicant accepted onto the Programme fail to comply, without official notification of exceptional circumstances, they will not be guaranteed further support in the future. They may also be requested to provide financial reimbursement/compensation.