About the Healthier Weight Competency Framework programme
The emphasis of the healthier weight competency framework is on prevention of excess weight and early intervention, rather than treatment. It is grounded in a person-centered approach and aligns with making every contact count.
The framework was designed to provide the health and care workforce with guidance in promoting a healthier weight. This includes frontline staff, managers, commissioners and leaders of teams, services and organisations, in different roles and settings.
The framework can be used by staff working with any community or group within the population, including children, adults, pregnant women, care givers and vulnerable groups.
The framework describes:
- competencies frontline staff need to engage with people about healthier weight in an informed and sensitive way
- competencies that managers, commissioners and leaders need, to facilitate an informed and sensitive system wide approach to a healthier weight.
Healthier weight competency framework elearning programme
In 2017, the HEE Population Health and Prevention team led a review of all elearning modules hosted on the elfh Hub relating to childhood obesity and nutrition. It was determined that a tool was required to assist learners in assessing their individual needs in promoting a healthier weight, signposting them to the most appropriate content.
Based on role type, the elearning programme consists of 3 modules which break down the healthier weight competency framework for:
- frontline health and care staff
- managers
- commissioners and leaders.
Written by experts in the healthier weight competency framework, activities in the 3 modules follow key principles in the framework: engage, assess and enable, including links to related elfh elearning sessions and additional information.
Why is the healthier weight framework important?
The NHS Long Term Plan states that: “Global obesity rates have tripled since 1975, and the UK ranks among the worst in Europe. Obesity and poor diet are linked with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and increased risk of respiratory, musculoskeletal and liver diseases. Obese people are also at increased risk of certain cancers, including being three times more likely to develop colon cancer”.
Based on a range of evidence, including national standards, best practice, surveys and focus groups, the healthier weight competency framework is the first guidance to outline the knowledge and competencies required to deliver services in nutrition and obesity, in order to improve health outcomes and prevent ill health.
Evaluation
After completing the elearning sessions, we would appreciate your feedback. Completing the online evaluation will support us in developing future elearning resources.
Thank you
HEE would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution of the following organisations:
- British Dietetic Association
- Behavioural Insights Team, Public Health England
- Childhood Obesity Public Health Workforce Lead, PHE
- Association for Nutrition
- Royal College of Nursing
- Kent County Council
- Royal Society for Public Health
- NHS England/Improvement
- Royal College of General Practice
- Faculty of General Dental Practice
- University of Southampton
- Department of Health and Social Care
Meet the team
Kate Lees
Public Health Consultant, Population Health Ltd
Mirembe Woodrow
Project Support, Population Health Ltd
Nisreen Alwan
Associate Professor Public Health, University of Southampton
Janet Flint
Programme Lead, Health Education England, Population Health and Prevention Team
Antonio De Gregorio
Project Manager, Population Health and Prevention Team
Emma Nye
Programme Manager, HEE elearning for healthcare
Simon Blackmore
Simon Blackmore, Project Manager, HEE elearning for healthcare
Jenny Berrisford
Learning Designer, HEE elearning for healthcareE
Rachel Gowland
Communications and Stakeholder Officer, HEE elearning for healthcare, Technology Enhanced Learning
How to access
In order to access the Healthier Weight Competency Framework programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.
To view the Healthier Weight Competency Framework programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.
Not an NHS organisation?
If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.
To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ‘OpenAthens’ portal.
Registering large numbers of users
If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Healthier Weight Competency Framework programme, please contact elfh directly.
Organisations wishing to use their own LMS
For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.
More information
Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.