Briefing Paper: Using Your Action Plan to Evaluate Existing Policies and Programmes for Improving Pu

Briefing Paper: using your action plan write a briefing paper for decision makers outlining the background to your selected public health issue, present the key summary points of your evaluation of existing policies and programmes designed to improve health outcomes and offer solutions (new initiative(s) and strategy (ies) )and recommendations for improvement.

1. Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding:

• A critical understanding of the role of contemporary public health policies and programmes for improving health outcomes.

2. Demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

• A critical evaluation of the gaps in contemporary public health policies and programmes for improving health outcomes and propose solutions (new initiative(s) and strategy (ies) and recommendations for improvement.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

Write a 2000 word briefing paper for decision makers outlining the background to your selected public health issue,

present the key summary points of your evaluation of existing policies and programmes designed to improve health

outcomes and offer solutions (new strategy (ies) and initiative(s) and recommendations for improvement.

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

• Outline who the decision makers are? In other words who is your intended audience for the briefing paper e.g. journalists, policy makers, diplomats, the general educated public.
• Cover background details of your selected public health issue.
• Using the key summary points of your critical evaluation (strengths and weaknesses) of current policies and programmes designed to improve health outcomes related to your public health issue.
• • Present a detailed discussion of your proposed new initiative(s) needed to improve health outcomes in this area.
• • Present a detailed discussion of your proposed new a strategy(ies) associated with the new initiative showing how these changes will improve health outcomes.
• Outline estimated costs for the new initiative/s and associated strategy(ies) and the impact for example on the service delivery.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

• The assignment should be written in an academic report format and fully referenced using the University of
• Start the reference list on a new page.
• Provide a contents page and use section headings if appropriate.
• The recommended font style is Arial 11 or 12.
• The title page should contain your name and ID, the name of the University, the name of your course, the unit code / title and the title of the assessment.

• Number any appendices for ease of cross referencing and ensure that they are referred to in the text by the relevant number.

• Use tables and figures.
• Identify your audience, plan out your key argument.
• Have a detailed background section which starts by summarising the selected public health issue and describes the problem clearly.

• Include a sentence on why you are submitting the briefing paper.
• Critically analyse policies and programmes related to the selected public health issue in terms of the underlying principles and ideologies.

• Critically evaluate the impact of these policies and programmes on health outcomes.
• Propose ways of enhancing the effectiveness of the policies and programmes related to the selected public health issue by suggesting a new initiative(s) needed to improve health outcomes in this area.
•  Propose a strategy (ies) associated with the new initiative showing how these changes will improve health outcomes.
•  Use the existing evidence base to draw on examples of good practice when proposing new initiative(s) and strategy (ies).
• Outline estimated costs for the new initiative(s) and associated strategy (ies) and the impact for example on the service delivery.
• Communicate the findings of the investigation in a briefing paper format.

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?

Each week the principles, policies and issues lectures will discuss the key principles of public health and the public health policies that shape the way in which public health issues might be addressed.

In this assignment you will use your action plan (Assignment 1) outline to present a detailed critical discussion of a selected public health issue identifying the relevant policies and programmes implemented to address the public health issue selected and evaluate the impact of these policies and programmes on health

outcomes. Using the existing evidence base to draw on examples of good practice you will propose and discuss ways of enhancing the effectiveness of the policies and programmes related to the selected public health issue by suggesting a new initiative(s) and associated strategy (ies) and costs needed to improve health outcomes in this area.