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The Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Fire is the portfolio holder for public health (including services funded by the ring-fenced public health grant), domestic abuse, suicide prevention, support for refugees and asylum seekers, drug and alcohol support services, and traveller communities.
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They are responsible for oversight and strategic direction of the public health and communities work programme, general decision making within the remit of the portfolio, and for making recommendations to Cabinet on decisions that require full Cabinet approval.
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The Director of Public Health (DPH) is a statutory chief officer of the local authority, accountable for the delivery of public health responsibilities, and the principal adviser on all health matters to the County Council and the districts. The DPH is also responsible for assurance and delivery of local plans to protect the population from risks to its health. The DPH works closely with cabinet members to advise on decisions and activities relating to public health.
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Additional professional advice is provided by the regional Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), part of the Department of Health and Social Care.
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Response to outbreaks and advice and support in developing plans to protect the public from communicable disease and other environmental threat is provided by the UK Health Security Agency.
What is public health?
The County Council has a statutory duty to improve and protect the health of the Gloucestershire population.
This duty is delivered primarily by the Public Health team working in partnership with the wider Council and local communities, alongside our partners in the health and social care system, and the public and voluntary sector at the county and district level.
We want to create a county where everyone can thrive; where our places and communities enable people to live healthy lives and where the differences in health outcomes and quality of life experienced by different individuals and groups are reduced.
We focus on addressing those factors which contribute to poor health, including our lifestyle behaviors, and the wider environments in which we live, play and work.
The work of the Public Health and Communities team covers a range of areas, including:
• Commissioning services which support people to lead healthier lifestyles, including stop smoking services, and services to help people manage their weight, and be physically active; alongside specialist services to reduce the health harm caused by drug and alcohol use; and to support people’s sexual health.
• Protecting individuals and communities from infectious diseases or environmental hazards; and making sure the county is prepared for possible emergencies which might impact on people's health.
• Supporting children and young people to get the best start in life when it comes to their health and wellbeing.
• Assisting organisations who plan and provide health care to understand the health needs of the local population and plan services to meet those needs.
• Working with partners and communities to help create healthy places.
• Commissioning accommodation-based support for people who are more vulnerable to poor mental and physical health due to wider challenges in their lives.
Overall health in Gloucestershire is good and generally better than the England average; however like everywhere, the health of some of our communities is not improving at the same rate as others. A key focus of public health is reducing inequalities in health between different groups of people and communities.
If you're interested in health trends in Gloucestershire or need the latest data and information then visit Inform Gloucestershire.
Our research is used to look at the health and wellbeing needs of residents to help the Health and Wellbeing Board decide which areas to prioritise. It also supports Gloucestershire's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). This brings together information on local health and wellbeing needs.
The JSNA also looks at emerging challenges and future needs to guide the planning of health and wellbeing services in Gloucestershire.
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The Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Fire is the portfolio holder for public health (including services funded by the ring-fenced public health grant), domestic abuse, suicide prevention, support for refugees and asylum seekers, drug and alcohol support services, and traveller communities.
-
They are responsible for oversight and strategic direction of the public health and communities work programme, general decision making within the remit of the portfolio, and for making recommendations to Cabinet on decisions that require full Cabinet approval.
-
The Director of Public Health (DPH) is a statutory chief officer of the local authority, accountable for the delivery of public health responsibilities, and the principal adviser on all health matters to the County Council and the districts. The DPH is also responsible for assurance and delivery of local plans to protect the population from risks to its health. The DPH works closely with cabinet members to advise on decisions and activities relating to public health.
-
Additional professional advice is provided by the regional Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), part of the Department of Health and Social Care.
-
Response to outbreaks and advice and support in developing plans to protect the public from communicable disease and other environmental threat is provided by the UK Health Security Agency.