It triumphed at the Innovation in Public Health Awards 2022 after undertaking a radical programme of workforce development to nurture a highly skilled Public Health workforce that can meet the range of health challenges faced by the people of Wolverhampton.
Judges commended the council for creating an environment where Public Health staff members are supported to continually focus on professional development via the use of innovative digital technologies and joining public health development courses and events throughout the year.
They also praised collaboration as being high on the agenda, with the Public Health team working closely with academic partners from the University of Wolverhampton to deliver a programme of technical learning sets providing the specialist knowledge and skills required for public health practitioners to excel in their career development and aspirations towards professional registration.
The team is also developing a programme to ensure the public health workforce of the future is able to gain work experience in the department via a range of placement opportunities, with judges seeing this 'as a fantastic opportunity for students to get first hand experience of working in a public health team'.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "I am really proud of the work of our Public Health team who have a key role to play in helping our residents to live long and healthy lives.
“And this award from the UK Public Health Register, naming the City of Wolverhampton Council as Employer of the Year, demonstrates that we are committed to ensuring they have the skills they need to carry out their vital roles, for the benefit both of our city, and our citizens.”
Director of Public Health John Denley said: “Receiving this award is such a wonderful achievement that recognises the hard work and innovation mobilised to ensure we have a highly skilled Public Health workforce in the city.
“And our partnership with the University of Wolverhampton is enabling us to develop further pathways to ensure local people have the skills, training and experience to improve population health outcomes, providing a great platform for those aspiring towards future employment in health related careers.”
Professor Farzad Amirabdollahian, Associate Dean and Head of School of Public Health Studies, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, at the University of Wolverhampton, said: "Congratulations to our colleagues within Public Health at the City of Wolverhampton Council.
"We are very proud of our close collaboration with the Public Health team and we are committed to working together to empower our students, provide evidence-based solutions, and support the team in the development of a highly skilled workforce for the benefit of individuals and communities in Wolverhampton."
The winner of the Outstanding Employer of the Year was revealed at the UKPHR Public Health Practitioner Conference & Awards Ceremony 2022 earlier this month.
