Since 2013 local authorities have been responsible for improving the health of their local population.
Every local authority with public health responsibilities must employ a specialist Director of Public Health (DPH).
The DPH is supported by a team of Public Health Professionals.
The Havering Public Health team works to improve the health and wellbeing of residents by addressing social, environmental, and behavioural factors that influence health.
We work preventatively and reactively across the entire life course; from giving children the best start in life through to promoting healthy ageing in older adults.
We use data, evidence, community insight and collaboration with partners across the NHS, social care, and the voluntary sector to design and commission services that prevent illness, reduce inequalities, and promote healthier lifestyles.
We also play a key role in emergency planning and response, ensuring local communities are protected during health-related incidents including environmental hazards and infectious disease outbreaks.
Strategic overview
Legislation requires local authorities to have in place a health and wellbeing board.
Havering’s Health and Wellbeing Board is a Committee of the Council on which both the Council and other bodies are represented.
The Board works towards ensuring people in Havering have services of the highest quality which promote their health and wellbeing and to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for local residents.
It achieves this by coordinating the local NHS, Social Care, Children’s Services and Public Health to develop greater integrated working to make the best use of resources collectively available.
The Board uses the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and other evidence to determine priorities, and describes these priorities in a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Read the most recent DPH Annual Report
Read Public Health strategies and reports
Health in all policies
The Public Health team leads on a council-wide Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach.
HiAP ensures that every major policy decision (whether on transport, housing, planning, education, employment, environment, or economic development) considers its impact on health and health inequalities.
HiAP recognises that most determinants of health are outside the health and care system, and that improving population health requires coordinated action across all council functions and partners.