Chair's Welcome 2022

It seems that 2022 is proving to be a particularly busy year for the Network as we continue to build and extend our community of practice. It has been great to see momentum continuing to build in this field with colleagues across disciplines coming together to create a number of behavioural/social science roles in local authorities. There has also been time to collectively reflect on the role of psychology as part of the pandemic response. Leaders in the field came together earlier this year to discuss how psychologists can support future health emergencies. There was significant drive and passion to learn from recent experience and to make a clear case to embed behavioural science more firmly within future health emergency responses. A consensus statement is being developed based on the findings of the symposium and we look forward to working with partner organisations to take this conversation forward.

At a regional level we have been working hard to support the regional communities of practice. We have been reviewing and developing our plans beyond just the digital offer that was enforced upon us all due to the pandemic and are moving towards more focused training programmes to embed key behavioural/social science approaches in practice. Significant work has also begun to support new communities of practice and we are excited to be working with colleagues in Wales and London, who are planning launch events later this year and colleagues in the Southwest, who are also developing a local community of practice. Don’t forget to keep a look out for dates of the launch events on our social media channels!

Another key focus for the BSPHN has been developing and extending relationships with key organisations and we have welcomed Nicky Knowles into the new role of Stakeholder Liaison Officer to support this work. We have had meetings with UK Society for Behavioural Medicine (UKSBM), the Royal society of Public Health (RSPH), Faculty of Public Health (FPH) and Japan Local Government Centre (JLGC). By working together, we can extend our reach and support a shared agenda as part of the wider system. This approach has already proved fruitful, and we are excited to share that we will be holding joint seminars with both the JLGC and the RSPH in November. It would be wonderful to see as many BSPHN members at these events as possible, the events are free to BSPHN members so please share widely:

• BSPHN and Japan Local Government Centre joint seminar: Applying Behavioural Science in Japan and the UK: supporting Public Health Outcomes, 9th November 2022 – This JLGC Seminar provides an exciting opportunity for policymakers and practitioners in both countries to exchange ideas and learn more about the fascinating fields of behavioural/social science and public health.
• BSPHN and Royal Society of Public Health joint seminar: Co-production approaches to improving public health, 28th November 2022 – This event will bring together speakers who are recognised experts in their field as well as those with lived experience to share their learning and best practice. The event will explore our understanding of co-production, where it works well and how it can be implemented to great effect across a range of settings. Have your chance to ask questions of our speakers during the Q&A session, and network with your peers in our virtual chat space during lunch. Attendees receive a digital resources pack with speaker presentations and a CPD certificate from RSPH with 4 CPD points.

Finally, over the next few months we will be launching the new BSPHN website and we will be busy planning our conference Using Behavioural & Social Sciences to Create Healthy Futures – on 22nd February 2023.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the planned events and remember to get in touch if there is anything we can support you with!

Dr Michelle Constable
Chair of the Behavioural Science in Public Health Network