Ashton Leigh & Wigan PCT
Since December 2008 the locality based Health Improvement Team within NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan (ALW) have been using the RSPH [] Understanding Health Improvement Level 2 award to create workplace ’Health Champions’.
Encouraging workplaces to adopt the ‘Workplace Health Champion’ model, they now have a portfolio of workplaces including the Royal Mail depot, Local Authority Adult services, Wigan Council, Sure-Start Link workers and the Greater Manchester Probation Service.
With support from the Team these accredited Workplace Health Champions are the ‘eyes and ears’ within their workplace and help the Team spread NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan health messages to a greater audience. Future plans include adapting the model to create Community Health Champions - community representatives who wish to promote health within their community.
Delivering the programme over two days enables further information has been added to the syllabus. Alcohol and smoking information has been added as these lifestyle factors are prevalent within the Wigan borough and impact on local health. A specific focus on workplace health has also been included, exploring the relationship between health and ‘work’. These aid learners in their understanding of local relevance the part they have to play as workplace health champions once accredited.
NHS ALW have also been working with a local voluntary sector organisation (‘Groundwork’), who run a worklessness course which aims to give those not in employment an opportunity to gain qualifications [] – and confidence – to apply for job vacancies or to progress into further education or volunteering. It is anticipated that the RSPH [] accredited level 2 award will empower these individuals with the necessary skills, not only to look after their own health, but may also direct them into work within the health & social care sector. Local adaptation and customization of the course enables NHS ALW fulfill the terms of the Local Area Agreement national indicators and the NHS’ World Class Commissioning targets by up-skilling individuals, contributing to stronger communities, improving aspirations and improving quality of life for the community.
As well as a means by which the Health Improvement Workers have created workplace health champions and built capacity for health improvement, we are finding that the course has also been a successful ‘lever’ in building relationships with partner agencies. The training is now being used as a vehicle to establish vital links with these partners to maintain and facilitate future health promotion work within the borough’s communities.
Thanks to Lynne Calvert and her team at NHS Ashton, Leigh & Wigan for their contribution.