Research has proven health trainer services to be a valuable asset in tackling health inequalities through their provision of a unique community based intervention.

Expanding outside original remit of the service, health trainers are now operating in a wider range of settings and in some cases, focusing on particular health issues such as physical health or weight management. There is also increasing interest in the role of health trainers in areas such as adult social care, early years and self-management.

To assist services in meeting the needs of an ever increasing range of clients and to maximise their impact and effectiveness, we have developed a governance framework which provides a checklist of recommendations and best practice standards for providers and host or partner organisations to consider and act on. 

Health Education Wessex commissioned the development of the framework for their health trainer services and it is hoped the content will be useful for services across the UK, in addition to providing an insight into the function of health trainer services for those working across public health and healthcare.

The project took 6 months and involved extensive consultations with health trainer services, health champions or volunteer initiatives and other public health professionals to understand procedures currently in place and to ensure the development of a robust, practical framework. It encompasses five standalone sections:

1. Recruitment
2. Induction and training
3. Service management
4. Service delivery
5. Evaluation

The framework builds on the South Central Health Trainer Quality Assurance Framework, which was created primarily to assist commissioners, along with providers, in the development of the service. The new framework aims to be of use to providers of health trainer services, particularly those based within host or partner organisations, once the service is operational.

It will also support provider organisations in taking responsibility for the quality and safety of health trainer staff and the overall service delivered, as well as helping to safeguard health trainer clients.

Claire McLeod, Public Health Wider Workforce Lead, Health Education Wessex: "We recognised Health Trainers are working more in new and different settings in order to engage and support individuals and communities, with this, our Health Trainer commissioners raised the issue of governance, with some settings not having any systems in place.

"Ensuring governance for Health Trainers, services and their clients were in place was important in ensuring quality of service delivery. With this we decided to commission RSPH to develop a framework building on the South Central Quality Assurance Framework. We are really pleased with this and feel confident that this will continue to support our Health Trainers to continue support individuals to lead healthier lives."