The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) approves a range of projects for public health Specialty Registrars to gain experience and complete work that can contribute to Learning Outcomes. These projects are normally generated by the Faculty or by a Special Interest Group (SIG) within the FPH. The Educational Supervisor (ES) stays the same, but there will be an agreed Activity/Project Supervisor (PS) for the project, with the expectation that any ‘remote’ working done by the registrar, along with travel costs, will be funded by their deanery unless there is specific funding that covers travel. The Faculty will also be introducing a simple post-project evaluation tool.
It is important to note that these projects are not placements. The links on this page provide further detail on the information required when submitting a project for approval by the Faculty and the information needed from StRs when applying to take part in these projects.
I have a project for a Registrar to work on...
Steps to take to have a potential project reviewed by the Faculty for approval:
STEP 1: A project is identified that will be suitable for Registrars to become involved with and will allow them to gain learning outcomes that contribute to their training.
STEP 2: A project plan is completed and submitted to the Faculty using the FPH Project Specification including the learning outcomes, project duration and start and finish dates.
STEP 3: An approved Project Supervisor is identified to manage and support the Registrar with the completion of the project and, where appropriate, sign off pieces of work for their portfolio. The project supervisor will also be in regular contact with the Registrar’s Educational Supervisor to ensure that the work is being completed as agreed.
STEP 4: The project brief is sent to designated lead for projects in the FPH for approval and recording.
STEP 5: The Faculty contacts the applicant/project sponsor either asking for further information or providing notification of approval.
If you have a project that you would like to have a Registrar working on, please complete the FPH Project Specification and submit it to educ@fph.org.uk.
You will need to provide details of the content of the project, agreed Activity/Project Supervisor (PS) and learning objectives that we will be obtained by the Registrar. Learning outcomes can be found in the public health specialty training curriculum.
I have seen a project I would like to apply for...
If you wish to apply for an advertised project please complete the FPH Projects Application Form and submit it to educ@fph.org.uk. Applications will be reviewed by the Project Lead and a suitable Registrar will be selected. Queries regarding the content of the projects should go to the named project leads.
Current available projects
Public Health capacity development in LMIC countries; a multifaceted approach including national strategy and professional development
This project is hosted by National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in collaboration with the Faculty of Public Health Africa Special Interest Group. This project is made up of two elements.
1) Lead on project work for NICE International objectives by scoping, needs assessment, planning and delivery of one or more projects on behalf of the organisation.
2) Contribute to strategy development of a mentoring and training programme for public health staff capacity development in LMICs using the Peoples-Praxis initiative as the platform.
For further information, please refer to the project brief or contact Hannah.Patrick@nice.org.uk
Emergency Services SIG project
The Emergency Services SIG aims to raise awareness of the opportunities for collaboration between public health professionals and the emergency services. To facilitate this, the SIG would like to explore where links between public health and each of the emergency services already exist nationally and locally, as well as where the SIG can contribute to strengthening these connections.
The Registrar will develop a comprehensive map of the existing connection between public health and the emergency services, as well as areas of opportunity, with an assessment of their feasibility. From this, recommendations for the actions of the Emergency Services SIG should be developed.
For further information, please refer to the project brief or contact ellie.houlston@derbyshire.gov.uk.
Emergency services national projects
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) recognises the role of the emergency services within public health and continues to work collaboratively at a national level with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC) and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE). This working relationship aims to promote shared priorities and support the integration of public health approaches, such as prevention, into practice within each sector.
There are a range of opportunities for public health registrars to develop and lead aspects of the emergency services programmes.
Each project offers the potential to demonstrate activity towards several learning outcomes. The emphasis will be on cross system leadership at a national level, partnerships, consensus building, public health advocacy and influencing policy.
These projects will be most suitable for StR from ST3 onwards. They require self-directed working, leadership, partnership working and an ability to advocate for public health principles.
Projects can be flexible and developed to meet the mutual needs and interests of the registrar and the programme, below are some examples of future projects:
- Chair the National Police and Public Health Collaborative and lead the collective work plan.
- Identify opportunities for fire services as anchor institutions, recognise and map existing good practice and produce resources to aid in promoting anchor institution values and approaches within fire services.
- Produce a resource or recommendations (in keeping with current guidance from the College of Policing) to aid police forces in evaluation of public health interventions.
- Review / refresh national consensus statements between health and either police, ambulance, or fire services – this will include achieving consensus from signatory organisations as well as drafting the actual document.
- Development of a resource to support Ambulance Trusts to embed trauma informed approaches.
- Repeat of Delphi study to explore the research priorities relating to policing and public health.
- Evaluate the ambulance sector suicide prevention consensus.
Emergency services projects are available on an ongoing basis. For more information see the project brief or contact linda.hindle@dhsc.gov.uk for an informal chat.
Flexible placement with Drugs Special Interest Group
The Drugs Special Interest Group (SIG) is endeavouring to expand, diversify and increase its capacity in 2024. We hope to recruit two enthusiastic registrars to help us achieve our goals and are offering placements of six months duration (one day per week) beginning at the registrar’s earliest convenience. The work will include the delivery of three webinars and an additional piece of work to be identified by the Drugs Special Interest Group.
For further information, please refer to the Project Brief and contact adam.holland@bristol.ac.uk or dean.connolly@lshtm.ac.uk
RIVER-EU (Reducing Inequalities in Vaccine uptake in the European Region – Engaging Underserved communities): Role for a Senior Public Health Registrar
An opportunity has arisen for a Specialty Registrar in Public Health to take a leadership role in a major European project, with specific responsibility to develop international guidelines and an associated toolkit for which UKHSA are the lead for a work package.
RIVER-EU (Reducing Inequalities in Vaccine uptake in the European Region – Engaging Underserved communities) will improve access to vaccination services for children and adolescents in selected underserved communities, specifically reducing inequity in measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines (see: https://river-eu.org/ )
We anticipate that the role would be for 1 day per week, on a project basis. There would be scope to contribute to many learning outcomes across the curriculum, including Key Area 10s.
For further information, please refer to the Project Brief and contact Colin.NJ.Campbell@ukhsa.gov.uk
Public Health development in LMIC countries
This project is hosted by National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in collaboration with the Faculty of Public Health Africa Special Interest Group and Africa CDC
This project is made up of two elements:
1) Lead on project work for NICE International objectives by scoping, needs assessment, planning and delivery of one or more projects on behalf of the organisation.
2) Contribute to strategy development of a mentoring and training programme for public health staff capacity development across Africa using the Peoples-Praxis initiative as the platform.
For further information please refer to the brief. Any questions should be directed to the Project leads listed in the brief.
Health and Climate Change project
You are invited to join us in supporting the FPH’s Climate and Health agenda. We have identified six specific projects:
- Developing the vision and accompanying framework for effective public health climate action, with a particular focus on support for local authority PH teams
- Developing the new proactive advocacy campaign focussed on opposing the expansion of fossil fuels.
- Develop a high-quality communications resource (a modular, comprehensive slide set) on climate change and health for public health consultants in conjunction with UKHSA colleagues
- Develop a toolkit for community engagement.
- Develop our Global Health agenda working with the Global Health Committee and its SIGs.
- Develop our reverse mentoring programme.
The project durations are for 6 - 12 months, to start as soon as possible.
For further information please refer to the brief. Any questions should be directed to the Project leads listed in the brief.
The Obesity Health Alliance – Project Placement
The vision of the Obesity Health Alliance is to prevent obesity related ill-health by supporting evidence-based population level policies to help address the wider environmental factors that lead to excess weight.
The aim of this registrar placement is to develop a key pillar of the OHA manifesto related to empowering local communities to create healthier food environments. This placement
include cross-partnership working, systems influence, strategic leadership, and the opportunity to see evidence turned into action. This registrar will lead establishment of a working group
and production of a position statement outlining the evidence base that underpins manifesto recommendations and guidance for what the national government should do to support local authorities.
The project duration is for 6 months. For further information please refer to the attached brief. Any questions should be directed to the Project leads listed in the brief.
FPH equality, diversity & inclusion (EDI) project
The Faculty’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee has been commissioned by the President to deliver a number of important projects during 2023/24. The committee would value the support of two SpRs to drive forward this work. Engagement will provide an exciting and valuable opportunity to work closely with the President, Kevin Fenton, and also Rachel Flowers and Meng Khaw, chair and vice chair, respectively, of the EDI Committee.
The start date is 1st October 2023 with the project duration for 6 months.
For further information please refer to the brief. Any questions should be directed to the Project leads listed in the brief.
Transport & Health Science Group (THSG)/FPH Transport Special Interest Group - Project for a senior Public Health registrar
Are you in a public health specialist training programme; interested in transport; keen to change the world; and cognisant of the role of transport policy in climate change, physical activity, creating healthy communities, access to health services and opening life opportunities for people with non-standard abilities? Then perhaps we can help each other.
A Faculty of Public Health approved project has become available in all parts of the UK (subject to agreement by your training programme director) for anything from one day a week for three months up to full time for a year. It can be a specific project within your home placement (probably supervised by Prof Jennifer Mindell or Dr Stephen Watkins) or it can be a more substantive piece of work with Prof Mindell as educational supervisor. We can take up to three registrars at a time, but no more than one registrar can have this as their full time project.
THSG is an international scientific society and registered charity seeking to promote healthy transport policies. It also provides the administrative support for the FPH Transport Special Interest Group. We have four possible areas of work for a registrar, depending on the competencies they need to acquire:
• reviewing the body of knowledge and good practice on a topic and preparing a consensus statement;
• monitoring and contributing to debates about transport policy;
• preparing a policy statement on a topic; and/or
• preparing advice for community groups on a topic.
Registrars wishing to take on the project full time could also include a research project or experience of leading a THSG workstream.
Registrars can focus on particular areas of interest but if you wish us to suggest topics, we are particularly interested in:
• Reviewing the policy recommendations in Health on the Move 2 ten years on;
• Globalisation of the transport and health discipline; and
• Integrating policies on walkability, cycle-friendliness and access.
The primary learning outcome of the attachment would be a fuller understanding of the links between transport and health and the actions needed to pursue healthy transport. The attachment would develop competencies in reviewing the scientific body of knowledge (KA 2) and applying it to policy (KA 3), and also in communication. Depending on the option chosen and the subject matter of the project, other competencies could be built in including research, management, dealing with community groups, developing and consolidating the body of knowledge, report writing or influencing policy.
For further information please refer to Project Brief and contact Prof Jenny Mindell j.mindell@ucl.ac.uk or Dr Stephen Watkins thsgchair@gmail.com.
WHO Europe Rapid Health Equity Stock-take
This is a unique opportunity to work with the World Health Organisation and influence international policy on health inequalities. It bridges academia and policy in a way that is difficult to find in other Registrar placements.
WHO Europe has commissioned the University of Liverpool to undertake a rapid health equity stocktake, which aims to explore how health equity has changed across Europe and Central Asia since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is part of the wider Health Equity Status Report initiative (HESRi), which countries across the WHO European region are using as their platform to increase national action on health equity.
The findings of this stock-take will support national authorities, European partners and WHO Europe in the prioritization of health sector actions and cross-sectoral policy alliances for health in the next 2-5 years. The initiative is supporting implementation of the WHO European Program of Work priorities on leaving no one behind and strengthening European alliances for achieving healthy prosperous lives for all.
The analytical work is already well underway for this project but, it requires continued Registrar support that will no longer be available in September. The Registrar will co-ordinate the writing of the report and support international stakeholder engagement to develop the recommendations. Publication is expected at the end of November with a view to launching the report at an international forum in December.
For further information please refer to Project Brief and contact Professor Ben Barr, Project lead: benbarr@liverpool.ac.uk
