Public Health ST1

Applicants must have:

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification, or
• first degree including undergraduate or integrated Masters degree (1st or 2:1 or equivalent grade)ⁱ, (if your qualifying degree was not an honours degree it may be considered equivalent if you are currently registered to practice with a healthcare regulator overseen by the Professional Standards Authority) or
• higher certificated degree (Masters or PhD)

When is this evaluated?ⁱⁱ

• Application form

ⁱ  The qualifying degree must have been certificated by the date of submission of the application.

ⁱⁱ  ‘When is this evaluated’ is indicative but may be carried out at any time throughout the selection process.

Applicants must: 

• be eligible to work in the UK

For those with a medical degree applying for a medical training post in public health

• be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practiseⁱⁱⁱ from, the GMC at intended start date^iv, and
• have a minimum of 2 years of postgraduate medical experience by time of appointment^v (equivalent to that obtained in a UK foundation training programme)
• have evidence of achievement of foundation competences, in the 3.5 years preceding the advertised post start date for the round of application, via one of the following methods:
  • current employment in a UKFPO-affiliated foundation programme, or
  • having been awarded an FPCC from a UK-affiliated foundation programme within the 3.5 years preceding the advertised post start date, or
  • current employment in a GMC approved Specialty Training programme holding either a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery reference number (DRN); or
  • awarded a CCT in another specialty, and in current or recent practice as a Consultant or equivalent within that specialty (minimum 3 months within the 3.5 years preceding the advertised post start date and by application closing date); or
  • 12 months medical experience after full GMC registration (or equivalent post licensing experience), and evidence to commence specialty training in the form of a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training

For those without a medical degree, or those with a medical degree, choosing to apply through the non-medical route

• At least 48 months' whole-time equivalent (wte) work experience by application closing date, of which at least 24 months (wte) must be in an area relevant to population health practice^vi. The 24 months should be at Band 6 or above of Agenda for Change or equivalent^vii and a minimum of 3 months (wte) at Band 6 level or equivalent in the 3.5 years preceding the intended start date.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre^viii
• CenterView

ⁱⁱⁱ  The GMC introduced the licence to practise in 2009. Any doctor wishing to practise in the UK after this date must be both registered with and hold a licence to practise from the GMC at time of appointment.

^iv  ‘Intended start date’ refers to the date at which the post commences, not (necessarily) the time an offer is accepted.

^v  ‘Time of appointment’ refers to the date at which the post commences, not (necessarily) the time an offer is accepted.

^vi  Experience relevant to public health practice will be evidenced by explanation of relevance on the application form.

^vii  https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/pay-pensions-and-reward/nhs-terms-and-conditions-service-agenda-change

^viii  ‘Selection centre’ refers to a process, not a place. It involves a number of selection activities which may be delivered within the unit of application.

Applicant is up to date and fit to practise safely and is aware of own training needs.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form

Applicants must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable effective communication about medical and public health topics with patients and colleagues, as assessed by the General Medical Council^ix.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Pre-employment health screening

^ix  Applicants are advised to visit the GMC website which gives details of evidence accepted for registration.

Applicants must meet professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice/Good Public Health Practice).

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Pre-employment health screening

Applicants must:

• have evidence of satisfactory career progression through documented employment history
• have notified the Training Programme Director of the specialty training programme they are currently training in if applying to continue training in the same specialty in another region^x 
• not have previously relinquished or been released or removed from a training programme in this specialty, except if they have received an ARCP outcome 1 or under exceptional circumstances^xi
• not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a CCT/CESR in public health and/or must not currently be eligible for the specialist register for public health

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

^x  The ‘support for application to another region’ form, signed by the Training Programme Director of their current specialty training programme confirming satisfactory progress must be submitted to the recruitment office at time of application.

^xi  Exceptional circumstances may be defined as a demonstrated change in circumstances, which can be shown on the ability to train at that time and may include severe personal illness or family caring responsibility incompatible with continuing to train. Applicants will only be considered if they provide a ‘support for reapplication to a specialty training programme’ form signed by both the Training Programme Director or Head of School and the Postgraduate Dean in the local office or Deanery that the training took place. No other evidence will be accepted.

All sections of application form completed fully according to written guidelines.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form

Essential

Applicants must have:

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification, or
• first degree including undergraduate or integrated Masters degree (1st or 2:1 or equivalent grade)ⁱ, (if your qualifying degree was not an honours degree it may be considered equivalent if you are currently registered to practice with a healthcare regulator overseen by the Professional Standards Authority).
• higher certificated degree (Masters or PhD)

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

Essential

• Demonstrates an understanding of the concepts of health, disease and illness and of structural, environmental and behavioural determinants of health at a population level.
• Demonstrates understanding of public health concepts and inequalities and an appreciation of the importance of health protection.
• Demonstrates awareness of situations in which work is undertaken, including political awareness, understanding of the impact of national policy on health, and awareness of the importance of clinical and corporate governance.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

Essential

• Demonstrates understanding of the importance and basic principles of scientific research and evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrates basic understanding of research methodology including research ethics, statistics and epidemiology, basic ability to appraise critically a scientific research paper.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

Essential

Communication skills

• Capability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English to a wide variety of audiences, adapting language to the situation as appropriate. 
• Capability to listen, build rapport, persuade and negotiate with individuals and groups.

Conceptual thinking and problem solving

• Capability to use critical and strategic thinking to understand and solve complex problems.
• Capability for numerical, critical thinking and verbal reasoning.
• Capability to handle uncertainty.

Managing others and team involvement

• Capability to work effectively in partnership with others and demonstrate leadership where appropriate.
• Demonstrates a facilitative, collaborative approach and respects others’ views.
• Demonstrates capability and willingness to work in multi-disciplinary teams and respects multi-agency contribution to health.

Organisation and planning

• Capability to manage and prioritise time, information and resources in an organised and systematic way.
• Demonstrates preparation and self-discipline.
• Capability to work with long timescales for delivery within agencies with differing priorities.
• Demonstrates basic computer literacy, including electronic communication.

Coping with pressure

• Capability to operate under pressure and awareness of own limitations.
• Demonstrates initiative and resilience to adapt and respond to changing circumstances, timescales, organisational structures and systems.

Values

• Understands, respects and demonstrates the values of the NHS (such as everyone counts; improving lives; commitment to quality of care; respect and dignity; working together for patients; compassion).

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Assessment centre
• Interview/selection centre

Essential

• Demonstrates probity (as outlined by the GMC)

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre

Essential

• Demonstrates relevance of first and/or higher degree and previous experience to public health.
• Demonstrates evidence of interest and realistic insight into public health, with an understanding of, and commitment to, public health principles in relation to interventions around the needs of an individual and the population in general.
• Is self-aware, self-motivated and committed to personal and professional development.
• Capability for reflective and high-quality practice.

When is this evaluated?

• Application form
• Interview/selection centre