The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in partnership with the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and key social care stakeholders, has launched a new All Our Health eLearning: "Ten Public Health Tips for the Social Care Workforce". This innovative programme aims to build confidence and skills by embedding public health approaches into daily practice, fostering more effective and holistic care. In this blog, Anita shares her experience with the resource and highlights why she believes it’s a valuable tool for the social care workforce.

Tell us about your role and the work you do around health?

I’m the Principal Occupational Therapist for Kirklees Council but I also act as Service Manager for our Social Care Occupational Therapists, Community Equipment service and the Moving and Handling Ergonomics Team. Our focus is community-based care, enabling people to live well and stay as independent as possible in their own homes. We aim to prevent or delay the need for reliance on others, including avoiding the need for packages of care, 24-hour care and unnecessary hospital readmissions.

I’ve been qualified as an occupational therapist for  35 years, with the last five in this role. Before joining the council 14 years ago, I worked in the NHS, so I’ve seen both sides of the coin. One thing I’ve noticed is that NHS professionals often don’t realise how much of people’s health needs are supported by local authorities. I’m a firm believer in the need for better coordination and embedding health promotion into all our services.

How did you hear about the All Our Health Programme, and what inspired you to do the training?

I first heard about it through an email sent to the National Principal Occupational Therapy Task Force. I was excited to learn about a new resource aimed at upskilling the social care workforce’s understanding of public health. I have a personal passion for health promotion and work closely with public health colleagues, so I saw this as a great opportunity to help shape a training programme for occupational therapists and social care as a whole.

The programme focuses on person-centred care, enabling individuals to take charge of their health and wellbeing and to live a life that matters to them. That’s exactly what I wanted to see highlighted.

What was your experience using the All Our Health programme?

I really enjoyed it! I didn’t have time during the week, so I did it on a Saturday, and it worked well for me. The format was flexible, so there was no pressure to complete it all at once, and I appreciated that.

The programme was interactive and engaging, not your typical public-sector training. I loved the videos, tips, and practical advice. The design stood out too – it was colourful, welcoming, and inclusive. It celebrated the diversity of roles and people within social care, which left me feeling positive by the end.

Even with my 35 years of experience, I learned new things and revisited knowledge I had forgotten. It’s a great resource for professionals at any stage of their career.

What did you learn from the platform, and are there any areas you’d like to highlight?

The "Ten Public Health Tips for the Social Care Workforce" module stood out for me. It was a brilliant introduction to what public health means and how it fits into social care roles. It was evidence-based, aligned with best practice, and focused on community services – a good reminder of how much we can achieve by working together.

How has the programme helped you in your role?

I was so impressed with the programme that I shared it with my team and the wider adult social care workforce. I even wrote a short article encouraging staff to give it a try. I also passed it on to local health providers, just in case they hadn’t come across it yet.

What advice would you give to others interested in the Ten Public Health Tips for the Social Care Workforce?

Don’t be intimidated! The “Ten Top Public Health Tips” might sound like a lot, but the course is very accessible and easy to follow. Take your time – you’ll enjoy it, and even if it’s just a refresher, it will still be worthwhile.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I think it would be fantastic to review and update the programme every six months. Things are changing so quickly, especially with the cost-of-living crisis and new government initiatives focusing on prevention. For example, more guidance on recognising symptoms of issues like hypothermia, linked to people struggling to heat their homes, would be valuable.

It’s also important to consider the practicalities of training delivery. Many support staff visit people multiple times a day and may not have access to a computer. Making the programme compatible with smartphones and targeting the right audience would go a long way.

Overall, resources like this are crucial in helping staff support people better and promoting public health in a way that makes a real difference.

Notes

This blog has been written as part of a partnership between RSPH and the Department of Health of Health and Social Care to increase the use of the All Our Health Platform.

The All Our Health programme is a FREE digital development platform and home to a wide collection of bite-sized e-learning on important public health issues for people who work in the health and care sector and the wider public health workforce.

All Our Health bite-sized e-learning includes more than thirty important public health topics including obesity, smoking and tobacco, anti- microbial resistance, financial wellbeing, climate change and dementia.

The All Our Health programme aims to maximise the public health impact of over 3 million people who currently work across the health and care sector and the wider public health workforce in England by supporting them to improve their knowledge, confidence, and ability to take action to prevent illness, protect health, promote wellbeing and reduce health disparities

Visit the All Our Health programme on the eLearning for Health website.