Review the role of inter-professional working in achieving your chosen target/priority.

Assignment Brief

Select one of the seven priorities to address poor health identified in the Public Health England document: From Evidence into action: opportunities to protect and improve the nation’s health (Public Health England 2014) and explore the issues linked to a chosen London locality. Critically review the role of inter-professional working in achieving your chosen target/priority. (3000 word equivalent) (100% weighting with 40% pass mark)

Module learning outcomes

Learning Outcomes You will need to demonstrate you meet the following module learning outcomes in your assignment. Knowledge and understanding: Use the theory of interprofessional and collaborative working in practice Understand how patient centred care aims to meet the needs of patients/service users/families at the centre of interprofessional health and social care delivery Understand the context and culture of the interprofessional health and social care environment that facilitates or inhibits interprofessional working and collaboration Identify ways in which individual team members’ values impact on team dynamics and team decision making Recognise the role and value of service user and carer involvement in the provision and development of services Intellectual skills: Analyse and discuss the values, roles and responsibilities of other health and social care providers and how the team collaborates to provide care Examine, through case elaboration, the factors that may facilitate or hinder interprofessional / inter-agency collaboration Reflect on the development of interprofessional capabilities Practical skills: Communicate one’s role and responsibilities clearly to patients/service users, families, carers and other professionals Listen actively, and encourage/explain ideas and opinions to team members involved in patient/service user care Use information technology in professional practice Transferable skills: Respect of cultural diversity and individual differences that characterise patients/service users, families/populations and the health care team Demonstrate reflective practice in relation to personal, professional and team values

Sample Answer

Tackling Obesity in Tower Hamlets: The Role of Inter-professional Working

Introduction

Obesity remains one of the most pressing public health concerns in England, linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and reduced life expectancy. Public Health England (2014), in its report From Evidence into Action: Opportunities to Protect and Improve the Nation’s Health, identified obesity as a key priority requiring urgent, coordinated action. This essay critically explores how inter-professional working contributes to tackling obesity in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, an area characterised by high deprivation, cultural diversity, and significant health inequalities. By applying theories of inter-professional and collaborative working, the discussion will evaluate how different health and social care providers work together to address obesity, how patient-centred care is embedded in these interventions, and the challenges and opportunities that shape collaborative practice in this context.

Background: Obesity in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets presents a complex public health landscape. According to Public Health England (2023), nearly 27% of adults in Tower Hamlets are classified as obese, while child obesity rates are among the highest in London, with approximately 27% of Year 6 children obese compared to 23% across England. These figures reflect structural determinants of health, including poverty, limited access to healthy food, urban density, and high levels of ethnic minority populations who may face cultural barriers in dietary and physical activity practices (Tower Hamlets Public Health Report, 2022).

Obesity in Tower Hamlets is not solely a medical problem but a social issue that intersects with housing, education, employment, and cultural identity. This makes it a suitable case to examine through an inter-professional lens, as no single profession or sector can tackle the challenge in isolation.

Public Health England Priority: Tackling Obesity

Public Health England’s (2014) framework identified obesity as a national priority, recognising its link to preventable disease burden and unsustainable costs to the NHS. The strategy called for whole-system approaches that engage local government, schools, healthcare providers, voluntary organisations, and communities. In Tower Hamlets, this priority has been operationalised through initiatives such as the Healthy Schools Programme, community weight management services, and the Sugar Smart campaign. These interventions reflect the recognition that obesity prevention and management require collaboration across clinical and non-clinical settings.

Theoretical Frameworks of Inter-professional and Collaborative Working

Inter-professional collaboration can be analysed through several theoretical perspectives. The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Framework emphasises values and ethics, roles and responsibilities, inter-professional communication, and teamwork as core competencies. Similarly, Bronstein’s (2003) Model of Interdisciplinary Collaboration identifies five key components: interdependence, newly created professional activities, flexibility, collective ownership of goals, and reflection on process.

Applying these theories to Tower Hamlets, obesity interventions require dietitians, school nurses, general practitioners (GPs), community organisations, and social workers to work interdependently, pooling their expertise while adapting their roles to community needs. The success of such collaboration depends on clear communication channels, shared goals around obesity reduction, and mutual respect for each professional’s contribution.

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