Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025: Work and Health
Directors of Public Health have a statutory requirement to write an annual independent report on the health of their population. The report is to raise awareness and understanding of local health issues, highlighting areas of specific concern and make recommendations for change.
This year’s Director of Public Health Annual Report explores the powerful relationship between work and health in Derbyshire. It highlights how access to good, inclusive employment can transform lives, improving physical and mental wellbeing, reducing poverty, and strengthening communities. At the same time, it shows how a healthy workforce is essential for a thriving local economy.
What is included in the report?
The report highlights how access to good, inclusive employment can transform lives by:
- improving physical and mental wellbeing
- reducing poverty
- strengthening communities
The report shows how a healthy workforce is essential for a thriving local economy.
Improving the health of working aged adults is a key priority for Derbyshire and the public health team is already working with employers and other partners to improve the health of Derbyshire.
Key recommendations
To ensure work is good for health and health is good for business, the key recommendations are to:
- work together to ensure Derbyshire residents are ready for work.
- enable people to enter or return to work.
- support working-aged people to stay healthy.
- recruit a workforce that represents the Derbyshire population.
- share and learn from each other’s experience of work and health.
The report calls for employers, business leaders, local authorities, NHS organisations, community leaders and educational providers to work together to make a difference. Here are some examples of how employers and organisations can support the health of working-age people:
- provide fair pay and job security.
- provide safe working conditions.
- support those with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
- adopt family friendly policies.
- promote physical activity and active travel.
- reduce stigma around mental ill health.
- promote and encourage financial saving and pension schemes.
Key contacts for workplace health and wellbeing
Live Life Better Derbyshire promotes health and wellbeing for people of all ages. It includes services which support people to quit smoking, be more active and lose weight.
Healthy Workplaces Derbyshire supports workplaces across Derbyshire to invest in initiatives that promote health and wellbeing and to create a positive and supportive workplace culture. The service uses evidence-based information and signposts to reputable, quality services.
The Disability Employment Service supports those who have a disability or long-term health condition, including mental health to access work.
Derby and Derbyshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing provides information on local resources for professionals and members of the public.
Disability Employer Engagement Derbyshire is a programme for businesses and employers who want to do more to support those with disabilities or long-term conditions to access or remain in work.
Disability Confident Employer Scheme is a national programme to encourage businesses to think differently about disability and to take action to improve recruitment and retention policies.
Access to work is a national programme to support people with physical or mental health conditions or disabilities to get or stay in work.
Unstoppable Derbyshire supports young people who have no education, employment, or training to access education, training, and work.