Issue details

Public health expertise has been crucial to the development of the GM Violence Reduction Unit and the programme has greatly benefited from this since its inception in 2019. Throughout this time, input has been through a succession of Public Health Registrar appointments as part of the national registrar training programme. However, between January 2021 and May 2021 there was no Public Health Registrar available which highlighted the potential risk of solely relying on registrar support. The current Registrar is due to stay in post until Aug-2022 when the VRU will be faced with another gap in support, with no plans in place for a replacement, a process over which the VRU has limited influence.

Therefore, to ensure a strong public health approach is adopted across Greater Manchester for Violence Prevention, it is critical to incorporate senior public health expertise and knowledge. The individual must be an expert in the field of Public Health, (registered in GMC/UKPHR/GDC), with particular specialist knowledge in Violence Prevention, so that the public health principles can be embedded into a system wide approach. They must also be a senior and system leader with extensive knowledge and expertise of public sector, in particular NHS and local government, so that cultures and organisational boundaries are understood, yet can be challenged.

Benefits to the VRU:
• Provide sufficient senior expertise to influence and negotiate with District Directors of Public Health and Strategic Health Leads across a range of organisations and settings
• Represent GM wide public health agenda in relation to Police, Fire and Crime to support integration within the developing locality boards and development of an Integrated Care System
• Advise Mayor and Deputy Mayor regarding opportunities and approaches to support reducing Youth Violence and Gender Based Violence
• Represent Public Health agenda at the GM Violence Reduction Governance Board and provide credible leadership and guidance at a senior level to support systemwide change and improvement
• Provide oversight of all relevant data and ways to strengthen and improve the VRU understanding of all factors relating to violence
• Oversee the production of the Violence Strategic Needs Assessment