Cheshire East Council public health team has won Employer of the Year at this year’s UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) Innovation in Public Health Awards.
The awards event now in its fifth year was held virtually and colleagues in Cheshire East public health team won the category which recognises the work of employers in encouraging practitioner registration and supporting practitioners on their registration journey.
The team consists of a senior management team (Director of Public Health and four consultants in public health or equivalent) and 13 practitioners. The team also provides formal training placements for foundation doctors, GP trainees and public health specialty registrars, and hosts undergraduates from a medical school.
Last year, the team had no practitioners working towards registration. Since then, the Council has made a concerted effort to promote the scheme and now have seven of 12 eligible team members registered or working towards registration.
Dr Matt Tyrer, lead Director of Public Health for Health Protection in Cheshire and Merseyside and Director of Public Health in Cheshire East, said:
“We are delighted with winning this award and will continue to encourage all new starters and non-registered practitioners in our team to join the scheme as part of their regular developmental reviews.
“It’s really worthwhile and beneficial not just for the individuals involved but for the team, wider organisation and the public health profession in general. Taking part in the scheme has increased not only the knowledge of our individual practitioners but also their confidence and ability to apply this knowledge practically and usefully for the good of our residents.”