Competency: 6

Details

Critically review the literature to analyse:

• the legislation under which public health policy has been implemented;
• the public health bodies and patients/patient groups involved in implementation;
• key levers for successful implementation or barriers where the policy has not been a success.

Considerations

• Major theoretical models of policy implementation, including the gap that can be demonstrated between what was planned and what actually occurred as a result of a policy:
  • top-down approach
  • bottom-up approach
  • principal-agent theory (relationship between those who define policy and those who implement policy)
  • interpretation: translation of the policy into administrative directives
  • organisation: establishment of administrative units and methods necessary to put a programme into effect.
• The process of implementation of national public health policy:
  • legislative framework
  • levers
  • the challenges and barriers to successful implementation
  • the role of public health bodies in reducing health inequalities.
• The process of implementation of local public health policy:
  • local arrangements within the relevant country, e.g. local authority tiers
  • levers
  • the challenges and barriers to successful implementation
  • how to engage local communities, including the public, voluntary and charitable sectors.

Relevant learning outcomes