How to get experience in health improvement/public health

[niidea]

Can anyone share insight on how to get experience in the field of health improvement/public health, as a practitioner (i.e. not a support/admin role)? It's so broad and there are loads of different types of roles, but many seem to require a 'portfolio of work', which obviously you can only have if you've already worked in the field. Volunteering and work shadowing opportunities seem limited as well.

I'm about to start a short public health qualification but could never afford to do a full Masters in Public Health (usually costs around £16!!). Even the Masters graduates struggle to find work experience sometimes though.

For context, I currently work in NHS admin but have experience in education and peer support. I need a new career direction that isn't 100% in front of a computer. It's soul destroying.

Is there no department at the institution you’ll be studying at that can offer any guidance on this?

And is the work experience supposed to happen before starting the course?

Do you have any experience with the health visiting team in your area? The 'proper' name for a HV is a specialist community public health nurse so they may offer advice

There is a Public Health degree

But as the OP has mentioned the cost of a Master’s degree it’s likely she already has a first degree and doesn’t want to undertake another undergrad course.

Thanks for your responses. Master of Public Health is usually around £16k (I see I missed out the k in my initial post!) and I wouldn't be eligible for funding.

I'm not a nurse so couldn't do HV.

I'm talking about roles in public health intervention planning/ impact assessment. Lots of people come onto it without an MPH (it's a relatively new qualification I believe).

I've been looking up people's LinkedIn profiles and everything to see what their career paths look like. Lots of variation. Maybe I'll just have to try my hand at applying for any positions that come up

It's pretty hard to work in public health unless you are willing to study. Otherwise we would all do jobs we are not qualified to do as they pay more!

The thing is that people working in this field come from all different backgrounds and don't necessarily have an MPH. The jobs don't pay any more than I currently earn. I'd never be qualified to work at consultant-level, but I don't aspire to that!

The OU used to do a certificate in public health.

Also community engagement is a desirable skills- perhaps see if you can do a short qualification in that?

Also volunteering in some way?

Are you in England? Find you local public health team and ask them if you can do some volunteering. You'll find them on your local council website. If in Wales or Scotland then it's via your local health board.

Ask to speak to them about routes into the team. Entry level posts are about NHS Band 5/6. You'd need an MSc/MPH and a fair few years experience for a band 7.

Local authorities are also responsible for public health. They will have a public health team. Sometimes you can pick up work in a business support type role to get experience.
Otherwise you can do MSc in environmental health which is more vocational. Lots of jobs in local authorities relating to environmental health, this job is vast and can relate to private house / environmental protection / food safety / health and safety. Hope you find something that interests you!

Also, going in as admin is actually a good idea. Then you can progress up through project officer posts

Brunel uni have an online public health masters that's about 9 or 10 grand, covered by a masters loan anyway.

I would suggest going into UKHSA or a local health protection team as an admin, project or business support. You can build contacts and project experience and still look for shadowing etc.