Supported by the CIEH, the PHORCaST website has been officially launched at www.phorcast.org.uk. The site received over 300 visitors on its first day and has since averaged 100 visitors per day.
PHORCaST (which stands for Public Health Online Resource for Careers, Skills and Training) has a UK-wide remit and has been developed by Solutions for Public Health, the East Midlands Healthcare Workforce Deanery, the East and West Midlands Teaching Public Health Networks and Skills for Health, with funding from the Department of Health and the devolved administrations.
Introducing the website CIEH Chief Executive Graham Jukes said:
“The CIEH believes that PHORCaST will be of enormous benefit not only for those people starting out on their careers in public health, but also those who wish to identify and make use of their transferrable skills, increase their range of work experience and access appropriate education and training for a career change.”
Split into easy to follow sections the PHORCaST website provides:
- Useful background on working in public health, including overviews on the workforce, key policies and UK health systems
- Step-by-step guidance on starting a career in public health and information on different career options and roles
- Over 80 real life career success stories of people working in a wide variety of public health roles across the UK, including those specifically relating to the field of environmental health and health protection more generally
- Help on developing your career through competence frameworks, continuing professional development and CV development advice
- Access to training and resources and development opportunities within public health
PHORCaST is intended for those already working in or intending to work in the fields of health and wellbeing, and public health. The site covers the entire public health spectrum from local authorities, the health service and government to the independent sectors.
The site will be of interest to anyone considering a public health career including: school leavers; those already working in public health who wish to change direction or develop their public health knowledge and competence and enhance their careers, and for those wishing to find out more about their contribution to health in their current role.
The site is brand new. Please feel free to provide feedback by clicking on the feedback button at the top of the site pages or by emailing ask@phorcast.org.uk.