This year's new professionals conference
in Belfast highlighted some unusual environmental health issues
and the innovative way in which some of the profession's 'bright
young things' are delivering environmental health services.
Tracey Khanna reports
What do unlicensed sex shops and motorcycle vibration have in
common? At first glance nothing, but both were the subject of entertaining
and informative sessions at this year's CIEH new professionals conference
in Belfast in September, highlighting the inventive way that a new
generation of environmental health professionals are tackling issues
that shy away from the traditional.
The sessions were kick-started by Rhys Horan, EHP at Ipswich Borough
Council, with an interesting and unusual case study in dealing with
licensing issues, and Kim Walker, EHP at Harrogate Borough Council,
who followed on with the results of a study into the adverse health
effects of vibration from motorcycles in the context of occupational
exposure - an idea that originally came to her after her husband
had been away on a biking weekend and came home complaining of aching
hands and arms!
Ms Walker's detailed and complex experimental study gathered vibration
data from a range of motorcycles and led to the conclusion that
variation in vibration is strongly related to how a bike is ridden
and at what speed, the age and weight of the bike, how often the
subject rides and in what conditions, and the engine layout, size
and condition. She plans to extend the study in the future and marry
the data with health surveillance questionnaires and epidemiological
studies.
Mr Horan entertained and educated delegates with his presentation
on tackling the problem of unlicensed "sex shops", which,
he pointed out, can be a real blight on neighbourhoods. He told
delegates that there are real problems with interpreting and enforcing
the relevant legislation. Sex shops are defined as "any premises
which consists to a 'significant degree' of selling, displaying
or demonstrating (a) sex articles; (b) other things intended for
use in connection with sexual activity". This is based on the
ratio between sexual and other aspects of the business, the character
of the business and nature of the window display, he pointed out.
Taking a partnership approach to dealing with this issue in Ipswich,
Mr Horan worked with Suffolk County Council trading standards, the
police and Ipswich Borough Council to deal with two separate suspected
sex shops. After three months of preparation (continued on page
326) work - including an undercover visit! - the premises were entered
under warrant, the shop assistant cautioned and questioned, and
photographs, video recordings and PACE notes taken. Mr Horan told
delegates that while the shops could not be forced to close, they
both closed voluntarily before legal proceedings could begin.
However, basic rules of supply and demand meant that the closed
shops left a vacuum waiting to be filled. Duly, in October 2002,
potential new owners came forward to propose new shops on the same
premises and applications for a sex shop licence were made. "This
is an emotive and contentious issue," he said. "An EHO
explained to the licensing committee what the law is and they were
given guidance to understanding it - this kept councillors happy."
In the end, it all comes down to the professional judgement of
individual officers, he told delegates. "Be confident in your
own ability, tackle the opportunity, consider the seven APC skills
at all times and expect the unexpected."
"I think that the fact that four new (and young) professionals
were willing to stand up and speak on the main stage in front
of full conference speaks volumes for the future of the profession.
Most EHPs (myself included) have never done this and would
never contemplate taking that challenge. With the necessary
guidance from those more experienced EHPs who still have a
passion for the profession, the future of our profession has
got to be one to look forward to!"
Rosemary Lee, North Western Centre
"I agree [with other new professionals] about feeling
frustrated and held back by senior management in terms of
establishing partnerships and starting to work with the other
health professions. Four years ago... I came into the profession
to do the ground work, not to be sat behind a computer/desk
all day working on the latest strategies. My attitude now
is to get management qualifications and strive to get a line
manager's job to be able to shape the future for the new professionals
and the best out of other officers, like the technical officers
and technical assistants.
"When you see where Wales and Northern Ireland have
got to in two years and look at where England is today, you
can see where the younger people pushing into the profession
are making a difference. They have younger people in higher
positions and if that is what it is going to take to make
change, rather than sit back and wait for regional government
to be reactive, then that is what we need to do.
"Nothing will happen overnight, but if, in two years'
time, England can get to where Northern Ireland is now and
aim to be where Wales is in three years' time, then I consider
that things will start to change and we can make a difference.
But the biggest barrier of all will be with corporate management
teams in local authorities and too many output-based performance
indicators and not enough outcome-based indicators."
Sue Herne, senior EHO, Babergh District Council
"Having attended the new professionals conference,
three weeks into my placement year, I am now refreshed that
this is a career that I can look forward to being involved
in. Environmental health as a profession is about to turn
a corner. Not only are new professionals concerned about our
future, they also care about improving the image of our chosen
profession and targeting a younger audience.
"A message to all students starting out: if you have
ideas and are committed to making them work get out there
and put them across, don't be put off by negative people.
It is our profession and we can take it in the direction that
it needs to go.
Being involved in the debate session of the conference and
standing up on stage with fellow new professionals, delivering
the views of our colleagues, was not only a great opportunity
for myself, but was a great opportunity to let everyone know
we will be pushing environmental health as a profession further...
with a better image... and we all believe we can do this.
Give students the opportunity to not only learn alongside
you, both in the public and private sector, but also listen
because they are working in new ways and can tackle problems
from angles you might not have considered. Ideas and experience
together with determination and commitment will allow our
profession to survive, grow and prosper."
Stuart Hughes, student environmental health officer,
Bolsover District Council.
New professional - you will go to Belfast!
And with a wave of a private sector magic wand (and funding)
I was there. As a newly qualified professional working for
a local authority, I was desperate to attend this year's conference
and felt sure that my local authority would see the benefit
and agree readily for me to go. I was initially not disappointed
- my head of service did agree that it would be of benefit
to attend and would willingly allow me the time to go. However,
the funding was another issue.
As usual, the age old story in local authorities, lack of
budget provision within the directorate meant that the funding
was just not there!
Well that was that then. I went back to clearing the cinders
of my district, when up popped my fairy godmothers in the
guise of private sector consultants Hamer and Wells. "If
your local authority would accept our offer of funding a place
for a new professional in Kent to go to conference, you shall
go to Belfast," they said, and Medway Council readily
agreed without suspicion to accept Hamer and Wells' kind offer.
I say "without suspicion" as I was informed that
this offer had been extended to all Kent authorities by Hamer
and Wells, but as so often happens many local authorities
were suspicious of the motives of a private sector consultancy
holding out a helping hand and promptly said thank you, but
no thank you!
Well, having now returned from a wonderful conference, where
I heard many great speakers, met and discussed important issues
with my fellow new professionals and learnt a great deal from
the more experienced ones, including private sector EHPs,
I would like to thank Medway Council for not having the short-sightedness
to believe that accepting this kind offer would mean they
had collaborated with "the dark side".
The debate at conference therefore on whether we can, should,
or are willing to work with private sector EHPs was extremely
appropriate. I, like many, have never worked in the private
sector, only hearing the local authorities' view of working
with EHPs on the other side! I felt strongly that if I had
spent some of my practical training in the private sector
I would be better placed to understand their experiences,
good and bad, when trying to work with local authorities and
how best to put in place practices that would enable all EHPs
to work together with greater respect and consistency.
I was concerned that some new professionals at conference
voiced the view that they could not trust private sector EHPs.
This, in my view, is detrimental to our plight as environmental
health professionals in protecting public health with a consistency
of approach and with private partnerships firmly in place.
I learnt a great deal from attending conference this year,
and I would therefore like to urge other Kent local authorities
with new professionals to accept next years' offer of sponsorship
when it arrives from Hamer and Wells - as I know it will -
with courtesy, respect and without suspicion. Especially if
it means the difference in sending or not sending an eager
new professional to our annual conference.
I would like to thank Colin Hamer and Julian Wells for their
kind sponsorship which has fired up my enthusiasm for the
profession and opened my eyes even wider to the benefits of
working together in partnership and trust!
Denise Read, Environmental Health Officer, Medway Council
