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Public health: Professional Resources

Use this page to find more information on the knowledge and skills resources that are available for nursing staff working in public health.

Key resources

Resources from the RCN

Resources from Public Health England

(2021). This is a constantly evolving resource for all healthcare professionals to help them to use their knowledge, skills and relationships, working with patients and the population to prevent illness, protect health and promote wellbeing. 

. Tools and resources to support adults to make simple changes for a longer and happier life. 

See: . It is a call to action to healthcare professionals working with patients and the population to prevent illness, protect health and promote wellbeing. The call to action covers:  and .

 (2021) Guidance which aims to support local initiatives working across organisations and systems within communities to address health inequalities.

. This resource outlines how providers and commissioners can reduce the population average blood pressure through improved prevention, detection and management.

(2020). Facts, resources and information on major public health challenges for public health professionals and local authorities.

(2014) (PDF) identifies the need to refine the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework (PHSKF), and to develop a new ‘skills passport’ to support the public health workforce in career development and planning. This report describes the work to date which has been across the UK.

(2018). This resource provides a framework and tools to helps practitioners help people improve their health and adopt healthier behaviours. The tools provide an evidence to support better understanding of how people behave within their wider environment and the context in which they live.

 (2020) practical resources from Public Health England. 

- This resource is for anyone who has contact with people to “Make Every Contact Count” and develop public health knowledge.

 (2018). This resource outlines evidence-based, preventative public health interventions to support local planning.

(2021). This guide provides information on all aspects of migrant health, including details on legal rights to access healthcare; guidance on explaining the NHS; information on conditions and diseases which may be more prevalent amongst migrant groups.

. This resource from Public Health England and the Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine aims to help healthcare professionals integrate physical activity conversations into routine clinical care. See also: RCN. Physical activity,  and .

. A central location for e-learning to deliver improvements in public health, prevention and wellbeing.

 (2018). Tools and models to support the development of the public health contribution of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

 (2019) describes public health competences and the underpinning knowledge against levels of career development.

Other resources

. Association of Directors of Public Health UK. These statements bring together the views and recommendations of ADPH members on the following eight public health topics: Outdoor Air Quality, Housing, Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, Obesity, Sexual Health and Mental Health.

 (2016). This report from the Faculty of Public Health makes the case for improving mental health for everyone and preventing mental health problems.

. This report focusses on the public health impact of four of the key healthcare professions within the wider workforce: nurses and midwives, dentists, allied health professionals and pharmacists.

. This report outlines the King’s Fund’s vision for population health, why such a vision is needed and the steps required to achieve it.

(2017). Skills for Health, Health Education England and Skills for Care have announced a new Framework to support person-centred approaches for the health and social care workforce.

. This collection of eLearning modules, podcasts and screencasts aims to inform and update all members of the general practice team on particularly important aspects of primary care for LGBT people. 

(2017). This report from the Royal College of Midwives includes information for midwives and women on the important public health contribution during pregnancy and the first weeks of life.

Everyone is a public health practitioner and can impact on the publicÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™s health

  • Embedding Public Health into Clinical Services programme: .
  • The Public Health England (PHE) encourages all health care professionals to use their knowledge, skills and relationships, working with patients and the population to prevent illness, protect health and promote wellbeing.
  • Also see NHS England's . A central location for e-learning to deliver improvements in public health, prevention and wellbeing.
  • The RSPH tool kit supports health care professional measure the impact of the work they do and how this impacts on the public’s health.

Page last updated - 13/06/2024