A pilot undertaken by the Champs Public Health Collaborative in Cheshire and Merseyside to understand the wellbeing needs of the public health workforce found that 24% of staff did not feel comfortable talking to colleagues about their wellbeing, while more than 45% identified a need for greater time and space for reflection.
These findings reflect wider national challenges facing the public health workforce. With an ageing population, increasing demand on services, widening health inequalities and continued pressure on resources, there is growing recognition that supporting a skilled, connected and resilient workforce is essential to improving population health outcomes.
In response, the Champs Collaborative has developed Connect, Learn, Thrive, a collaborative approach that brings together expertise, opportunities for learning and developing a public health career pathway, as well as wellbeing resources.
Connect, Learn, Thrive is born out of the Champs Directors mission of ensuring that Cheshire and Merseyside is considered the very best place to practise public health and is an evolution of the Directors long-standing commitment to continuing professional development and partnering across the health system to support staff.
This Lunch and Learn will explore the evidence behind the programme, how Connect, Learn, Thrive was developed, what it includes, and the lessons learned from implementing a collaborative approach across multiple organisations. The session will also consider how local action aligns with national public health workforce wellbeing initiatives and provides practical insights for organisations looking to strengthen their own workforce wellbeing and development.
Chair and Speaker:
- Professor Helen Bromley (Chair), Director of Public Health for Cheshire West & Chester Council, lead director for Workforce, Wellbeing & Development
- Ryan McKernan, Communications and Social Marketing Manager, Champs Support Team
