Training activity information
Details
Support a Health Protection investigation
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What specific aspects of Health Protection investigations are you hoping to gain experience in?
- What is your current understanding of the role of Health Protection Teams? What types of investigations do they undertake, and what skills might be involved? What information might be helpful to gather beforehand?
- How will you prepare to support this investigation (e.g., discussing the nature of the investigation with your supervisor, reviewing relevant protocols)? What potential challenges might arise during the investigation, and how can you best offer support? How do you feel about contributing to a Health Protection investigation?
In action
- What are you doing?
- What specific tasks are you currently undertaking to support the investigation (e.g., data entry, contacting cases, preparing materials)?
- Why have you been assigned these tasks?
- What immediate decisions are you making in carrying out your role?
- What parts of this support activity feel natural, and where are you needing guidance
- How are you progressing with the activity?
- Is your support contributing effectively to the investigation?
- What challenges are you encountering (e.g., communication barriers, data discrepancies)?
- What insights are you gaining into the processes of Health Protection investigations?
- How does this relate to your understanding of public health?
- How are you adapting to the situation?
- Are you adjusting your approach based on the needs of the Health Protection team or the information emerging from the investigation?
- Do you need to ask for further instructions or support? Are you ensuring confidentiality and data protection in your actions?
On action
- Summarise the nature of the Health Protection investigation you supported. What were your specific roles and responsibilities during the investigation? What were the key stages or activities involved in the investigation?
- What did you learn about the role and work of Health Protection teams?
- What skills in investigation, communication, or data gathering did you develop or improve?
- Were there any unexpected aspects or challenges during the investigation? What did you learn from these?
- How does supporting a Health Protection investigation relate to the requirements of post-programme practice, particularly in partnership working?
- What areas for continued development in your understanding of health protection or investigation processes were identified?
- How can you apply the experience of supporting this investigation to future collaborations with health protection teams or similar investigations?
- What actions will you take to further your knowledge of health protection procedures and practices? What support or resources might be useful for developing your skills in this area?
Beyond action
- Reflect on your experience of supporting a Health Protection investigation. What was your role, what were the key aspects of the investigation, and what did you observe or learn? Compare this experience with any subsequent involvement you have had with health protection or public health investigations. How has your understanding of these processes deepened?
- Are there any elements of the investigation or the roles of different agencies that you now understand differently?
- Have you discussed your experience with Health Protection investigations with colleagues or professionals in that field? Have these conversations offered new perspectives on the complexities and importance of this work?
- Consider how this DTA has broadened your understanding of the collaborative work between laboratory services and public health teams in managing infectious diseases and incidents.
- How has your appreciation for the role of Health Protection teams and field services evolved since this experience?
- How has this influenced your approach to potential public health incidents in your routine practice?
- What transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, and understanding of public health structures, did you gain or enhance through this activity?
- What actions will you take to continue developing your understanding of and potential involvement in Health Protection investigations in your future career?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Investigate outbreaks and public health incidents in a range of settings |
| # 7 |
Outcome
Practice in partnership with health protection and field services teams in the routine management of infectious diseases and surveillance of notifiable pathogens and diseases and in response to outbreaks and incidents |