Public Health Take Over Day

The Health and Social Care students. pictured above, were invited to attend a Public Health Takeover Day at County House, Maidstone on Tuesday.

The day started with a tour of the building and council chambers. This was followed by an interactive introduction to public health with Jo Tonkins, Public Health Specialist and Sam Bennett, Public Health Consultant.

The group then had a Q&A session with Councillor Graham Gibbens, Cabinet Member for Public Health. An outcome of this session is that a consultation with a senior Canterbury based GP will occur in the near future where the students can voice their personal experiences and frustrations of appointments, with a particular focus on the transition into adult services.

In the afternoon the group had another Q&A activity, this time with Andrew Scott Clark, Director for Public Health. This was another very informative and interesting session.

After this the group worked with Sarah Thornby, Kent Headstart Development Manager. This session saw the group planning and shaping an online resilience hub and this work will continue, with the students having a pivotal role and continued input, until the website goes live in 2017.

Other activities included an interactive introduction to the Six Ways of Wellbeing and a view on the sugar tax levy.

The day concluded with each student receiving a certificate from Councillor Gibbens and Andrew Scott Clark.