A Day in the Life of a Public Health Workforce Development Officer

If you're thinking about a career in Public Health, here you can find out first hand what a typical day in the life of a Public Health Workforce Development officer is like, from one of our alumna, Hannah Brisley.

It is difficult to provide an accurate representation of a typical day in public health, as the roles are so wide and varied. I would describe a public health professional as a ‘jack of all trades and master of many’. I am the public health workforce development project officer at Kent County Council. My role includes planning and managing projects; planning events; attending meetings and national conferences. I work alone, I work as part of a small team and as part of a large team. I provide training for the wider public health workforce, network, give presentations to external organisations, write reports, evaluate quality and plan projects.

I would describe a public health professional as a ‘jack of all trades and master of many.

Today, I began by arriving at our public health department within Kent County Council. I am often in my office, where I feel privileged to work alongside practitioners, consultants and specialists in public health. I oversee the process through which individuals become registered public health practitioners on the UK Public Health Register. I co-ordinate the scheme for Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Today was the deadline for the completion of the portfolios that the public health practitioners submit in order to seek professional registration. I have been checking that all the required documentation has been completed by both the practitioner and their assessor, and today I have been linking them all to verifiers, the next stage in the process.

I am often in my office, where I feel privileged to work alongside practitioners, consultants and specialists in public health.

Later in the day, the Chief Executive of Public Health England, Duncan Selbie, came to meet with us. I sat in a large meeting room where presentations were delivered from the Kent public health department, on aspects of our current work, all with the aim of improving the health of people in Kent. The meeting was refreshing, informative and motivating. I think that Kent County Council are really making incredible progress in terms of improving health outcomes for its population. Our work is being listened to and is receiving awards, both locally and nationally. I learnt how Kent is using data and wider information to transform the way we commission services. We have produced needs-based models to help us to target those people in most need, whilst also supporting the rest of Kent’s population.

Every day, I use the knowledge and skills taught to me throughout my degree at Canterbury Christ Church University, and this has led to me seeking postgraduate study with Christ Church.

My role is unique and evolving. It allows me to develop a fantastic network of colleagues both nationally and locally. Every day, I use the knowledge and skills taught to me throughout my degree at Canterbury Christ Church University, and this has led to me seeking postgraduate study with Christ Church.