Public health in Calderdale is in safe hands, and is at the heart of the Council to make the biggest difference to local people’s health and wellbeing.
Calderdale Council’s Public Health team, and the whole organisation’s approach to public health priorities, got a big thumbs up in a recent independent review.
A team of experts from other local authorities visited the Council for two days in June 2024 and talked to over 100 people.
Led by the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Directors of Public Health and supported by the Local Government Association, the ‘peer review’ focused on leadership, partnership working and use of resources.
The reviewers concluded that “Calderdale punches above its weight” and described the Public Health team as “small but mighty”, with “passionate and enthusiastic people”.
It’s over 11 years since Public Health departments across the country moved from the NHS into councils. The peer reviewers praised the value that the Council places on public health, which is reflected in the investment made to address local health and wellbeing challenges, and how embedded it has become in everything the Council does. With Public Health at the heart of the Council, teams can get to the root of many factors that affect health, such as education, housing, care, transport and green spaces.
The review team was also impressed with how willing the Council’s Public Health team is to work with other organisations to support local communities, how well it listens to people, acts on feedback and improves, and how it has embraced change since the 2020 floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Council and partner organisations are committed to looking out for people’s health and wellbeing throughout every stage of their lives. Therefore, the Calderdale Wellbeing Strategy’s priorities set out the most important things that enable residents to start well, develop well, live and work well, and age well. This life-course approach received glowing feedback in the peer review, which highlighted its positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing and the ability to focus resources where they’re needed most.
The reviewers recommended further using the Council’s strong relationships with the voluntary and community sector to deliver public health services in a more collaborative way. A plan of action is being created in response.
Cllr Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, said:
“Reducing inequalities and supporting people to live healthy, happy and fulfilling lives is a priority for the Council. Our Public Health team plays an important part in achieving this. We have long known how amazing their work is, and hearing this from people outside our organisation is great recognition.
“We have taken some good learning from the peer review to make improvements and build on the strengths identified.”
Building resilience through good public health supports the Vision 2024 for Calderdale. Calderdale reached its 50th anniversary on 1 April 2024. This is the ultimate year for the Vision 2024 for Calderdale. Find out more about it here: www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision
As 2024 closes, the transition to the new Vision 2034 for Calderdale will begin, encouraging local communities to be bold and ambitious about what we can do next to make Calderdale a better place for all.