A workplace health specialist is allocated to each organisation that signs up to How healthy is your business or signs up to the Better Health at Work award. In addition to this main point of contact support is available from other appropriate workplace health specialists depending on the specialism required.
Experience: Richie has over 11 years experience working in training and community development and has spent the last six and a half years working within the Health Improvement Team, initially in a Community Health Development role before his current Workplace Health Specialist role.
Training: Richie holds an IOSH certificate in Managing Safely, A BTEC management certificate and weight management and drugs support qualifications. He has undertaken on the job training courses including public health capacity building, stop smoking advisor and child protection. He is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and holds the PTLLS Teaching Training Certificate.
Specialist areas of interest: Richie is the lead for Men’s Health Improvement in South Tees and specialises in working with Colleges, Universities and settings to improve employees and customer’s health. Richie has delivered training to a wide range of age groups on topics including Health and Safety, Job/employment basic skills, Drugs, Alcohol, Healthy Eating and Weight Management, Men’s Health, Physical Activity and Smoking Cessation.
E-mail: richie.andrew@nhs.net
Telephone: 01287 284451
Experience: Roz has a background of over 30 years experience in industry, and is a member of the Chartered Management Institute. Roz has worked as part of the Health Improvement Team for seven years, and during this period has gained extensive experience in the development and delivery of training particularly within the workplace setting.
Training: Roz holds a NEBOSH certificate in Occupational Safety and Health. She is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and qualified Stress Management Trainer and a member of ISMA. Roz has also undertaken additional training and development in public health capacity building, Root Cause Analysis and Risk Assessment and holds the PTLLS Teaching Training Certificate amongst her qualifications.
Specialist areas of interest: Roz is an advocate for carers within the workplace and has a particular interest in mental wellbeing both in the workplace and community. Roz is an original member of the Regional Oversight Group for the North East Better Health at Work Award and was instrumental in developing the award.
E-mail: roz.elms@nhs.net
Telephone: 01287 284452
Experience: Sarah began her working career as a research assistant at St Martins College Carlisle working along side researchers such as Alan Beattie. Sarah’s interest in physical activity led to her position as Sport for Health Manager in West Cumbria, during which time she established the Walking the Way to Health initiative (WHI) and a number of schemes that benefited individuals with a variety of health issues.
For the past six years Sarah has been part of the Health Improvement Team and has delivered a wide range of training including WHI Volunteer Walk Leader Training, Women’s Health, Lifestyle Talks, Cancer Prevention Talks, and Workplace Health Advocates Training. Sarah has presented at several national conferences including the UKPHA.
Training: Sarah holds an MSc in Public Health and has undertaken further training and development including the Public Health Capacity Building Course, the Royal Institute of Public Health Level 2 Understanding Health Improvement, Stroke Awareness Training, OCN Weight Management Training, and holds the PTLLS Teaching Training Certificate. Sarah has recently undertaken the Mental Health First Aid Instructor training and is in the process of achieving accreditation.
Specialist areas of interest: Sarah is particularly interested in Women’s Health Issues, including awareness raising regarding the role of screening in the early identification and treatment of women’s gender specific cancers. Sarah has developed and delivered a number of training packages suitable for delivery within a variety of settings, in particular suited to the workplace environment where time is often of the essence. Sarah’s skills in IT have enabled her to be instrumental in the development of the workplace health website.
E-mail: sarah.slater2@nhs.net
Telephone: 01287 284428
Rauf has worked within the Health Improvement Service for 8 years. As Specialist Substance Misuse lead he has extensive experience of working with drug treatment services. Also, he has written drug and alcohol policies and curriculum for schools within Drug Education, and the development of drug/alcohol and drug testing policies within the workplace. He delivers bespoke drug and alcohol training, secondhand smoke education and teaches motivational interviewing and behaviour change in partnership with Teesside University. As substance misuse lead he provides up-to-date knowledge, advice and support on current policy and best practice, manage and purchase resources, and takes part in communication and organisation of events.
Rauf holds an LL.B (Honours) Law Degree, Postgraduate Diploma in (ICT, Certificate in Further Education Teaching 7407/02 level 4, Foundation Diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programming, Msc module in Advanced Personal Effectiveness, RSPH level 2 Understanding Health Improvement, Advanced Motivational Interviewing, a level 3 Counselling Certificate and is a member of the Institute for Learning.
Rauf is interested in the early intervention and prevention of all ill health whether related to substance misuse, physical activity, emotional health and well-being, or smoking cessation.
Intervening early, offering guidance, training and sign posting to specialists services is the cornerstone to health improvement philosophy.
Rauf is especially interested in the emotional health and well-being of people.
Life can test people at any point in their life. How we think of ourselves, the world and other people affects our thoughts and feelings and our response to them. People can overcome the challenges in their life given the time, space, support and a concerted effort from themselves.
E-mail: a.rauf@nhs.net
Telephone: 01287 284473