Public Health Medicine CESR Portfolio Guide

Aim: To be able to synthesis data into information about the surveillance or assessment of a population’s health and wellbeing from multiple sources that can be communicated clearly and inform action planning to improve population health outcomes

• Addressing a public health question using data and intelligence by refining the problem to an answerable question or set of questions, determining the appropriate approach and applying that approach by accessing data and information from a variety of organisations and sources (local, national and / or global).
• Applying principles of information governance for a range of organisations, and in health protection work.
• Critically appraising the metadata, validity, relevance and complexity of data and data systems to assess their quality and fitness for purpose for answering the public health question.
• Displaying data using appropriate methods and technologies to maximise impact in presentations and written reports for a variety of audiences.
• Using and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, synthesising the information to inform action.
• leading a health needs assessment for a defined population for a specific purpose, use systems thinking approach (where appropriate) and presenting the recommendations at a high level in the organisation and/or senior multi-agency groups, and leading work to attempt to progress implementation of a health needs assessment.
• Using public health intelligence to understand and addressing a health inequality in a subpopulation.

Aim: To be able to understand and use a range of resources to formulate and communicate evidence-based recommendations to improve population health through operational and strategic change

• Conducting structured reviews of scientific literature relevant to questions about health and health care policy and practice, systematically locating and critically appraising the research evidence to identify strengths and limitations
• Formulating balanced evidence-informed recommendations both verbally and in writing using appropriate reasoning, judgement and analytical skills
• Drawing on available evidence, build consensus around a public health position, perhaps because of uncertainty, opinion imbalance or gap in knowledge and understanding. (The process of building consensus should take account of stakeholder needs and views to facilitate system-wide leadership and change)
• Identifying the need for reviews of scientific literature to inform operational or strategic decisions about health and health care, and advocate this approach
• Defining the approach to a structured review of research to inform policy and practice
• Assessing the evidence for proposed or existing screening programmes, using established criteria
• Implementing or apply evidence-based practice, appropriately demonstrating taking account of stakeholder needs and views to facilitate system-wide leadership and change

Aim: To be able to influence and contribute to the development of policy and lead the development and implementation of a strategy

• Understanding of current national and international policies and strategies that affect health and wellbeing
• Evaluating a situation to define a public health problem and identify objectives; outline the steps required to achieve change and prepare strategic options for action
• Carrying out an ‘Options Appraisal’ of alternative strategic options including consideration of political, social and technical feasibility. Write an action plan describing the key steps of your recommended approach
• Demonstrating engagement and co-production with stakeholders, including the public and representatives of the political system, throughout the development of policy, strategy, programmes of work or action plans
• Writing a strategy [action plan] to address a need for change to improve a public health or health care issue
• Leading the implementation of a strategy including demonstrating the ability to solve problems that arise during this process
• Evaluating the impact of a policy or strategy using an appropriate method, critically analysing whether desired changes have been achieved

Aim: To be able to use a range of effective strategic leadership, organisational and management skills, in a variety of complex public health situations and contexts, dealing effectively with uncertainty and the unexpected to achieve public health goals

• Using a range of leadership styles effectively as appropriate for different settings and organisational cultures
• Demonstrating appropriate presentation, communication and listening skills, as appropriate for the audience or individual. Communicate in a clear written format and in presentations to a number of different organisations and audiences
• Assessing, communicating and understanding the management of different kinds of risks, including health, financial, reputational and political risks
• Designing, leading and managing complex areas of work in multi -agency settings to a successful conclusion or suitable endpoint within available resources and timescale
• Demonstrating effective team working in a variety of settings, balancing the needs of the individual, the team and the task
• Demonstrating an understanding of methods of financial management and show experience of how they are used
• Handling uncertainty, the unexpected, challenge and potential or actual conflict in a sensitive and successful manner
• Using influencing and negotiating skills in a setting where you do not have direct authority to advocate for public health issue of local, national or international importance
• Working collaboratively with the media to communicate effectively with the public
• Guiding, supporting and developing staff and junior colleagues, receiving and giving constructive feedback and showing an understanding of the potential role of coaching and mentoring
• Demonstrating and applying an understanding of how mental health and wellbeing can be managed and promoted in others in a range of situations

Aim: To be able to influence and act on the broad determinants and behaviours influencing health and wellbeing at a system, community and individual level

• Influencing or building healthy public policies across agencies, demonstrating an awareness of different social, cultural and political and religious perspectives that may influence health
• Being an advocate for public health principles and action to improve the health of the population or subgroup
• Influencing community actions and services, by working with and empowering communities using participatory, engagement or asset-based approaches
• Influencing local services to be health promoting.
• Influencing the planning, commissioning and evaluation of specific health improvement programmes and preventative services
• Demonstrating leadership in environmental sustainability with a focus on the links to health or emergency planning and climate change

Aim: To be able to identify, assess and communicate risks associated with hazards relevant to health protection, and to lead and co-ordinate the appropriate public health response.

• Demonstrating knowledge and awareness of hazards relevant to health protection.
• Gathering and analysing information, within an appropriate timescale, to identify and assess the risks of health protection hazards.
• Identifying a health protection hazard; develop a management plan and advise on its implementation, with reference to local, national and international policies and guidance to prevent, control and manage identified health protection hazards
• Understanding and demonstrating the responsibility to act within one's own level of competence and understanding and know when and how to seek expert advice and support.
• Documenting information and actions with accuracy and clarity in an appropriate timeframe.
• Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the main stakeholders and agencies at a local, national and international level involved in health protection and their roles and responsibilities.
• Demonstrating an understanding of the steps involved in outbreak / incident investigation and management, including debrief and using lessons to improve future working, and be able to make a significant contribution to the health protection response.
• Applying the principles of prevention in health protection work and take opportunities to promote health protection actions in specific settings
• Demonstrating competence to participate, as a consultant / specialist, in an out of hours (OOH) on call rota.

Aim: To be able to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, safety, reliability, responsiveness and equity of health and care services through applying insights from multiple sources including formal research, health surveillance, needs analysis, service monitoring and evaluation

• Monitoring and assessing the impact of preventive and treatment services, appraising or applying routine information and bespoke data sources.
• Describing and applying the ethical and legal principles of resource allocation in health and care services as it applies to both individuals and groups.
• Proposing plans and developing supporting products (such as service specifications and commissioning policies) for service configuration to address population health needs. This should include consideration and, if appropriate, an appraisal of examples of different models of healthcare.
• Advocating proposals for improving service health or care outcomes working with diverse audiences
• Describe the stages for evaluation of new drugs and technologies and to select and apply these frameworks to inform policy questions.
• Critically appraising service developments for their costs and impacts on health and health inequalities, using health economic tools to support decision making.
• Leading or contributing to the implementation of change across health and care systems with reference to a model of change.
• Appraising, selecting and applying tools and techniques including benchmarking, for improving safety, safeguarding, reliability and patient orientation of health and care services.

Aim: To be able to critically appraise evidence to inform policy and practice, identify evidence gaps with strategies to address these gaps, undertake research activities and write to a standard that is publishable in peer-reviewed journals, and demonstrate competence in teaching and learning across all areas of public health practice

• Apply, interpret and present appropriate statistical methods, and use standard software packages.
• Apply principles of epidemiology in public health practice.
• Advise on the relative strengths and limitations of different research methods to address specific public health research questions for both qualitative and quantitative research.
• Apply principles of good research governance.
• Identify research needs based on patient/population needs and in collaboration with relevant partners.
• Make a significant contribution to the design and implementation of a qualitative or quantitative study in collaboration with appropriate team and relevant partner (e.g. academic partner).
• Write and submit an article of sufficient quality for publication in a peer review journal.
• Deliver and evaluate education and training activities for academic or service audiences in a wide range of virtual and in person formats, for large and small groups

Aim: To be able to shape and evaluate own personal and professional development, using insight into own behaviours and attitudes and their impact. Able to modify behaviour and to practise within the framework of the relevant professional codes of conduct including GMC's Good Medical Practice and FPH’s Good Public Health Practice.

• Keeps professional knowledge and skills up to date, and participate in audit, regular appraisal and reflective learning.
• Recognises and works within the limits of professional competence.
• uses insight into personality and preferred ways of working and behaviours, appreciates the impact these have on others, and shows capability for self-appraisal, growth and development.
• takes responsibility for nurturing own wellbeing and seeking help as appropriate.
• Practises safely, protecting and promoting the health of patients and the public and takes prompt and appropriate action if patient or public safety or dignity is compromised.
• Seeks and follows medical advice where health concerns may affect practice
• Respects skills and contributions of colleagues, communicates effectively with them, treats them fairly and maintains professional relationships.
• works effectively in cross cultural situations both internally and externally to the organisation.
• Respects the rights of the public to have their views heard, to have information in easily comprehensible forms and to be involved in choices.
• Demonstrates confidentiality by treating information about patients and other individuals as confidential.
• Demonstrates honesty and integrity in professional and personal practice.

Aim: To be able to demonstrate the consistent use of sound judgment to select from a range of advanced public health expertise and skills, and to use them effectively, working at senior organisational levels, to deliver improved population health in complex and unpredictable environments.

• can operate at an independent competent consultant level
• are a public health technical expert who is confident in addressing problems
• uses appropriate tools and approaches, are a skilled and persuasive communicator and an effective public health and care systems leader
• are skilled at influencing and negotiating with demonstrable impact being a public health champion and demonstrating values based reflective practice.

Currency Window

Evidence of your recent practise (i.e. within the last 10 calendar years) will be given more weight. 50% of your evidence must be from within the last 5 years of your Public Health practise. The evidence for health protection reactive work, KA9 and KA10 must be from within the last 5 years of your public health practise before submitting your application. One multisource feedback (MSF) or anonymised feedback must be completed within the last year of your Public Health practise before submitting your application.

Evidence Volume

Focus on providing good quality evidence, rather than quantity. The total number of documents presented is less important than the quality of the documents and breadth of experience.