Member blog: Rachel Flowers

This is the second time I’ve been part of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) alumni and it is fantastic that during my 40-year career I have seen ADPH blossom, flourish, and develop into an organisation with clout and credibility across all four countries and that values aspiring and current Directors of Public Health (DsPH) as well as those leaving the role.

Last year, I walked into a DPH interview and realised that I didn’t want or need to be a DPH again, that was awkward! As an alumni I have seen that there are so many talented DsPH or aspirant DsPH that I also realised it was ok to let go of the baton. So, when I stepped down after over eight years as DPH in Croydon, I knew it was time for another phase of my professional career. I didn’t know what that would be beyond working on my Doctor of Professional Studies about the leadership role of an English DPH in major incidents. Being an alumni allows me to continue contributing to some of the valuable work of ADPH, such as the health protection and addiction policy advisory groups, and mentoring scheme, and I continue to feel valuable and valued as well as being able to maintain a range of competencies.

One of my career passions is professional competency development, especially for public health practitioners; a payback for the opportunities and support that I was given in my early career, many years ago. In the last few years, I have been working with London South Bank University, lecturing for their masterclasses for public health practitioners. When a part time role came up for a senior lecturer in Public Health Professional Practice, I applied and got the role. As I write this, I have just finished week two as a public health academic paid for by a university, one of the few parts of the public health system that I haven’t been employed by before! It’s great to be the new bod; the organisational culture is quite different, and already I can see the join ups that could really assist DsPH in their complex, high octane role.

As I am only part time, I have also been able to expand my voluntary work for ADPH as well as other organisations. I am in the second term as a general board member of the Faculty of Public Health and contribute to both the poverty and the women and girls health special interest groups, and work with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health around demonstrating the value of environmental health practitioners. I am also able to continue working with the UK Public Health register as an assessor and a validator for specialists and practitioners.

As my ex-boss said: “I can’t see you sitting around crafting with this extra time!” (A reflection on me, not crafting I hasten to add!)