Confidence, competence and commitment: Public Health England ' s leadership and workforce development framework for public mental health
| Pages | 180-184 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-07-2015-0033 |
| Published date | 21 December 2015 |
| Date | 21 December 2015 |
| Author | Jude Stansfield |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Public mental health |
Confidence, competence and
commitment: Public Health England’s
leadership and workforce development
framework for public mental health
Jude Stansfield
Jude Stansfield is National
Adviser in Public Mental Health
at the Health Equity & Mental
Health, Public Health England,
London, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to describe a national framework for leadership and workforce
development in public mental health, published by Public Health England in 2015.
Design/methodology/approach –It has been developed with national partners and the local public health
workforce, responding to local need and national policy. It aims to build the capacity and capability of leaders
and a workforce that is confident, competent and committed to: promoting good mental health across the
population, preventing mental illness and suicide, and improving the quality and length of life of people living
with mental illness.
Findings –The framework outlines six ambitions for change and suggests the core principles and
competencies needed in the workforce, and in leaders, to make t hat change happen, alongside
practical actions.
Practical implications –A call to action approach is used to gain commitment from strategic partners and
key organisations. Planners and practitioners are encouraged to use the framework to inform the
commissioning and delivery of workforce development.
Originality/value –This is the first time a national framework for workforce development in public mental
health has been published and as such it sets direction for national and local bodies and provides a practical
approach to inform and influence action.
Keywords Leadership, Workforce, Mental health, Policy, Competence, Public health
Paper type General review
When Public Health England (PHE) was established in 2013, a new national programme for
wellbeing and mental health was formed. Within its early priorities, developed with stakeholders,
leadership and workforce development were seen as key drivers for sustainable system change
in public mental health. Following on-going consultation and collaboration with partners a
national framework (PHE, 2015a) was published in March 2015. An overview of the framework,
its intentions and ambitions is described here.
Policy context
The 2011 national mental health strategy for England (DH, 2011) set out objectives and a new
approach for improved mental health and quality of life for the whole population and improved
physical health for those with mental health problems. PHE committed to “help build capacity
and capability across the wider and specialist public health workforce in understanding and
Received 20 July 2015
Revised 12 August 2015
Accepted 15 August 2015
Thanks to Professor Jane South,
Public Health England and Leeds
Beckett University and to all
those who contributed to the
development of the
framework document.
PAGE180
j
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH
j
VOL. 14 NO. 4 2015, pp. 180-184, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729 DOI 10.1108/JPMH-07-2015-0033
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