EHP Placements in the HPA

Adrienne Dunne Environmental Public Health Scientist 27 th July 2009

The Health Protection Agency (HPA)

An independent body established in 2003 Identify and respond to health hazards and emergencies from infectious disease, chemicals, poisons or radiation.

Provide information and advice to: • • • the public, to professionals (NHS, local authorities and other agencies) and government Prepare for new and emerging threats to health that could happen naturally, accidentally or deliberately.

Provide specialist health protection services, including a rapid response to emergencies http://www.hpa.org.uk

Who’s Who is in the HPA

Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response

(Porton Down, Wiltshire)

Centre for Radiation, Chemical & Environmental Hazards

Radiation (Leeds, Glasgow Chilton) Chemicals ((B’ham, Cardiff, Chilton, London, Nottingham)

Centre for Infections

(Colindale, NW London )

Regional Microbiology Network

Laboratory network (9 regions)

Health Emergency Planning Advisors Local and Regional Services

(9 regions)

Health Protection Units (HPU)

CsCDC, Nurses, HP specialists

NHS PCTs The public Other agencies: EA, LAs, FSA, Utilities etc

Health Protection Agency Centres and Divisions

Centre for Radiation, Chemical & Environmental Hazards Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response Health Protection Agency Centre

North West West Midlands Wales South West North East Yorkshire and The Humber East Midlands East of England London South East

Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) in the HPA

Since the establishment of the HPA the number of EHPs within the organisation has been gradually rising

• EHPs securing permanent positions within the HPA e.g. Health Protection Specialists and Practitioners; Environmental Public Health Scientists; and Emergency Planning.

• • Seconded EHPs from LA Student placements (HPA funded/ LA funded)

EHPs are typically found in the HPAs frontline response

• • • Health Protection Units Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division Regional Microbiology Network

Development of an internal EHP network

• Providing support to EHPs geographically spread within the HPA

Student EHPs in the HPA

In 2005 East Midlands HPA piloted placements for EHP students:

• • • 2 student bursaries - 3 month placement each Placement established in partnership with 2 Universities in the East Midlands: Nottingham Trent Uni and Derby Uni.

Recruited via national advertisement – EHN, Universities

Further 3 month student EHP placements (HPA funded) undertaken in 2008/09, 2009/10 (8 in total) Additional placements (funded by LA) of 3 months will be hosted by HPA in 2009/10 and 2010/11 (2 in total)

Practicalities of the Student EHP Placements

While on Placement:

• Academic support provided by University • Local (HPA) support provided in form of link person at the base office(s)

Competencies – during placement sign off on work competencies undertaken by: local HPA training lead and/or HPU Director

What can the HPA offer EHP students?

Exposure to and involvement with day-to-day work of the HPA

• Covering aspects of the ELP, particularly “Health Protection and Development ” and sections of “Environmental Protection” • • Development of public health knowledge Developing skills to present work to those of different profession/ background (e.g. medically trained staff within HPUs)

Project based work

• Focused toward MSc dissertation or ELP

Partnership working

• Exposure to HPAs external partners/ links within health protection. Examples of partnership projects: Emergency Planning; Environmental Hazards Training Seminar for LPAs etc

Benefits to HPA with the inclusion of EHPs within the workforce

EHPs provide complementary skills to medically trained staff traditionally found in local health protection units

• Broad understanding of Environmental Health issues • • • Knowledge and understanding of statutory legislation Understand the spectrum of stakeholder liaison Knowledge of local government/ politically astute

Aids development of stronger links between local health protection units and local authorities

The Future

Continue to raise the national profile of EHPs in the NHS Continue to provide student placements and secondment opportunities within the HPA Develop ‘joined up working’ via: Inter-agency project work Inter-agency liaison and training exercises Environmental Health/ Health Protection Agency/ Public Health networks Article about Environmental Health Practitioners in the HPA written by an EHP on secondment is due to be published by HPA in September

www.hpa.org.uk| Publications Hazards and Poisons Reports |Reports | Chemicals and Poisons Reports |Chemical

Questions?

Contact details:

Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division Nottingham 29 Bridgford Road West Bridgford Nottingham NG2 6AU T: 0115 981 5728 F: 0115 981 5500