Meeting the challenges of the Health Visitor Implementation Plan at the University of the West of England, Bristol

Drawing on the Health Visitor Implementation Plan (DH, 2011a) and Educating Health Visitors for a Transformed Service (DH, 2011c), this evaluation aimed to assess the extent to which the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Programme meets the vision of the future workforce. Across the 11 Trusts within the South West the evaluation focused on four main areas:1. The experience of the student through the SCPHN programme and their preparedness for practice (student journey).2. Stakeholder analysis to assess the degree to which the SCPHN programme is meeting the new service vision as outlined in the Health Visitor Implementation Plan (DH 2011a) and associated public health outcomes.3. Family and community perspectives on the introduction of the new service provision.4. Making recommendations to support the progression of newly qualified practitioners during the implementation of the new service model for health visiting

Primary care professionals and social marketing of health in neighbourhoods: A case study approach to identify, target and communicate with ‘at risk’ populations

Aim: In this article the authors illustrate using a case study approach how primary care professionals can use the combination of geodemographic data with hospital episode statistics (HES) to predict the location of people yat risk’ of diabetes mellitus (Type 2 diabetes) in the population of England. This approach facilitates social marketing of those yat risk'. Method: Geodemographic segmentation data for all households was combined with HES for 2001–2002, to predict population groups yat risk’ of Type 2 diabetes. Using a case study approach and quantitative data analysis techniques a profile of the undiagnosed and yat risk’ population of Slough Primary CareTrust was created at town, ward and street levels. Recent literature on social marketing was applied to predicate a discussion of the theory and practice of social marketing that was most likely to succeed in dealing with the prevention of Type 2 diabetes, via the reduction of obesity and overweight in the population. Discussion: The increase in lifestyle-related diseases, such as,Type 2 diabetes that are linked with the rise in overweight and obesity and create large disease management costs for the National Health Service (NHS) are of great concern to primary healthcare professionals and governments throughout the westernized world. Until recently, public and government responses have been very reactive in respect of population groups most in need of lifestyle change. Approaches to the identification of ‘sub-populations' most at risk of Type 2 diabetes and targeting of these is of direct relevance to the preventive work of primary care professionals. Conclusion: Geodemographic data overlaid onto official NHS and other routinely collected data, can aid the identification and targeting of groups most vulnerable to over-weight and obesity, through social marketing approaches including direct mail, telephone canvassing and door-to-door communication channels. © 2007, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved

Food for Life partnership evaluation: Primary school case studies report

This report presents an account of findings for the Primary School Case Study conducted as one part of the Food for Life Partnership (FFLP) Evaluation. The purpose of the study was to examine FFLP’s facilitation of food culture reform in flagship primary schools. It included a focus on implementation in settings of higher social deprivation. The study objectives concerned the impact of the programme on school organisations, pupil and parental involvement, food in school, children’s health related behaviour, and home influence

Garden enhanced education: Report on the growing skills programme in Food for Life partnership schools

Research shows that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is associated with a decreased risk of many chronic diseases and can form part of an effective weight management strategy. However, only one in five children consume the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables - and there are wider concerns about the steady increase in childhood obesity.Garden enhanced education in schools is increasingly recognised as a promising strategy for promoting healthier eating for children. It may also have other benefits, such as promoting environmental awareness. Whilst a growing body of research indicates the positive impact of focused interventions led by external experts, less is known about the effectiveness of multi-component programmes sustained by stakeholders from the school community.The Food for Life Partnership Flagship growing skills programme is one part of a whole school food reform initiative in England in which schools are assisted to make comprehensive changes to their garden based educational work. Drawing upon the reports of lead teaching staff, this report focuses on 76 participating schools (55 primary, 19 secondary, 2 special) from the year prior to enrolment to approximately 18 months into the programme. Prior to enrolment, the majority of schools lacked the basic facilities needed to deliver an effective garden enhanced education; staff with applied horticultural skills; specific safety guidelines; or multiple links between growing activities and the curriculum.The FFLP growing skills programme is associated with a range of positive changes for schools:New training in horticultural education for staff in over three quarter of cases.Newly developed areas for growing that have expanded, on average, by a third the size of a full size allotment per school.Better resourced growing areas for nearly all schools in terms of the facilities that are prerequisites for effective educational work.A considerable rise in the local production and the diversity of groups of crops grown.An average three fold increase in parent and community volunteer active participation.In primary schools, a rise in participation in growing activities from an average of 28.6%to 74.4% of pupils. For the schools sampled this equates to an additional 6,701 children participating in growing activities per annum.In secondary schools, a considerable increase of pupils in growing activities, albeit from a very low baseline. Initially less than 1% of pupils took part in growing activities in the schools sampled. This rose to an average of 12.3%: or an additional 1,960 students perannum.An increase in the active involvement of pupils in practical aspects of food growing.An increase in pupils taking part in growing activities that are linked to multiple aspects of their curricular studies.The majority of school leads attribute these changes to effective engagement with the FFLP approach. Qualitative feedback indicates that this effectiveness connects to the strategic, integrated and visionary character of the FFLP growing skills programme.External research shows that these short term programme outcomes will support sustainable work to promote healthier eating for children. Further evaluation, currently in progress, will provide supplementary evidence to examine these associations more fully

Creating a learning environment to promote food sustainability issues in primary schools? Staff perceptions of implementing the food for life partnership programme

There is increasing interest in the role that schools can play in promoting education for sustainable development (ESD), and evidence is emerging that schools can be influential in the emerging agenda around the ecological, ethical and social aspects of food, diet and nutrition. With regard to such food sustainability issues, this paper analyses the role of the Food for Life Partnership national programme in supporting garden and farm-based learning activities in 55 primary schools in England, UK. Using a mixed methods approach, the study examined the programme's implementation through staff perceptions and a range of school change indicators. The study found that the programme delivery was associated with widespread institutional reforms. According to staff, implementation of the programme provided a range of opportunities for pupils to learn about food production and sustainability, but addressing these issues was challenging for teachers and raised a number of questions concerned with effective, equitable and on-going implementation. At a pedagogical level, teachers also reflected on conceptually challenging aspects of food sustainability as a topic for primary school education. The study identified ways that ESD programmes could support schools to think about and implement learning opportunities as well as identifying significant barriers related to resourcing such programmes. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Designing healthier neighbourhoods: A systematic review of the impact of the neighbourhood design on health and wellbeing

Several studies have investigated the impact of neighbourhood design on health and wellbeing, yet there are limited reviews investigating the quality of the evidence and the most effective interventions at a population level. This systematic review aims to clarify the impact of the neighbourhood design on health and wellbeing and evaluate the quality of the evidence underpinning such associations. Eight electronic databases were searched for studies conducted between 2000 and 2016. Additional searches were conducted on Google to identify potentially eligible grey literature. A total of 7694 studies were returned from the literature search, and a final selection of 39 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Findings from the studies showed important associations between neighbourhood design principles such as walkability, access to green space and amenities on health and wellbeing. Findings from this review also highlight areas with inconsistent findings and gaps in the evidence for future research

Food for life partnership evaluation: summary report

Summary report of the Food for Life Partnership evaluation conducted by UWE,Bristol and Cardiff University. May 201