Better Health For All

I am delighted to have been asked to support the delivery of the Faculty’s introduction to public health course this Autumn. As a consultant that qualified to work via the defined specialist portfolio route with UKPHR, I am extremely encouraged that the FPH have given an opportunity to promote the portfolio as an alternative way of getting into senior public health roles. This is also very timely with the new UKPHR portfolio route that will come into place from September.

This course gives a good opportunity to those working, or considering working, in public health to gain an introductory understanding of the specialty and the other ways you can get into consultancy roles whether that be via the specialty registrar training or portfolio route.

Introducing information on the portfolio route comes as a result of feedback from the first introduction to public health workshop that was run last year. Many people were interested in understanding the range of routes into consultant roles and the course has been adapted to provide this. Not only will delegates get to gain new knowledge and (I hope) skills from the day-long workshop, they will also get a year’s associate membership with FPH which is a wonderful introduction to Faculty life.

I hope the course provides delegates with a balanced view of the options open to them to progress their careers. And I hope that delegates find my first-hand experience working through the UKPHR portfolio route and working as a consultant in local authority as useful and relevant as they decide their next steps.

Written by Steve Maddern, who is acting public health consultant at Wiltshire Council. He is responsible for the strategic delivery of service and programmes designed to influence behaviour change and improve health and wellbeing. Steve started his career in community pharmacy and has held a variety of public health roles at local, regional and national levels. He is registered with the UK Public Health Register and is a member of the Faculty of Public Health. You can follow Steve on Twitter @stevomadds.

To book your spot on FPH’s Introduction to Public Health course, which is taking place in Manchester on 23 October and London on 17 September, click here.