Senior public health appointments
The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) provides advice to employers and others on appointments procedures for senior public health posts at consultant level in the UK. FPH also has a statutory role in the appointment of consultants.
Specific guidance for employers, Faculty Advisers and Faculty Assessors about their role in the Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC) process is available, together with job descriptions and panel compositions for posts at various levels.
Advice on appointment of directors of public health
Advice on the appointment of directors of public health and on transferring those already in post from the NHS has been issued by the Department of Health and Local Government Association. This recognises that the external professional assessment and advice provided by FPH is a central component of senior public health appointments. The system already in place for jointly appointing directors of public health is the most efficient way of assuring the necessary technical and professional skills during the transition period as well as in the future when appointments are made jointly with Public Health England.
The advice covers the transition period up to 1 April 2013 when, under the Health and Social Care Bill, local authorities will take on new functions in public health. To ensure all appointments are fit for purpose in the future, it is recommended that all appointments during the transition period reflect the anticipated changes set out in the most recent policy statements on the role of directors of public health in local government from 1 April 2013.
The Department of Health will publish further guidance, developed in partnership with local government, on the process for local authorities to appoint directors of public health jointly with Public Health England from 1 April 2013.
See letter from Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies and LGA Chief Executive Carolyn Downs to chief executives in local authorities, primary care trust clusters and strategic health authority clusters.
FPH have produced guidance aimed at assisting local authorities in the joint appointment of directors of public health (DPHs) during the transition period. This guidance has been approved by the Department of Health and the Local Government Association. Guidance on DPH appointments during the transition period.
