Local government has a central role in improving population health and tackling inequalities. As part of the Government’s 10-year health plan, councils, working in partnership with local systems, are critical to delivering prevention and improving outcomes for communities.
Introduction
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is funding a peer review and improvement support offer 2026 - 2029 being delivered by the Local Government Association (LGA) and known as the Public Health Improvement Programme. DHSC ministers expect all councils to participate with 90 peer reviews planned from 1 June 2026 to 31 March 2029. The prospectus outlines the 2026 – 27 improvement support offer to councils, and opportunities to engage with the Programme.
Programme overview
The programme involves a range of support:
- Universal support, available to all councils (link)
- Targeted support to councils, based on specific council need (link)
- Call-off support, based on sector or specific council need (link to universal support page)
- Public Health Peer reviews and improvement planning (link)
Ninety public health peer reviews will be delivered over the next three years: 20 peer reviews in 2026/27, with this number increasing to 35 for the two subsequent years.
Where a peer review identifies specific challenges and areas for improvement, councils could access targeted support (link) to help turn recommendations into practical and sustained improvement. It will be tailored but could draw on existing co-developed support offers provided by the LGA.
The universal support offer (link) will include a broad range of frameworks, shared learning, case studies, workshops and development opportunities to support continuous improvement.
The prospectus (link) outlines the 2026 – 27 improvement support offer to councils, and opportunities to engage with the Programme.
Get involved
Becoming a public health peer reviewer
The success of sector-led improvement depends on the expertise and commitment of the sector itself.
We are seeking Directors of Public Health, senior officers, elected members and system partners with relevant experience to join our growing network of peers.
As a peer reviewer, you will work as part of a small team to support councils through peer reviews and other improvement activity.
Why become a peer?
- Contribute to improving public health outcomes beyond your own organisation
- Develop your leadership, analytical and facilitation skills
- Gain insight into different approaches, systems and models of delivery
- Build networks across local government and the wider public health community
Peer reviewers are fully supported by the LGA, including training, briefing and ongoing development, ensuring consistency of approach and high standards of delivery. Each engagement is carefully matched to ensure that peers’ skills and experience align with the needs of the host council.
Participation is flexible and designed to fit around existing roles, with opportunities to contribute to peer reviews and wider programme activity throughout the year.
Contact
For further information about all of the above, or to get in touch to discuss more about the offer, please contact [email protected].
Highlighted pages
Public Health Improvement Programme Prospectus (2026–2029)
An introduction to ‘health in all policies’ (HiAP) for councillors
These wider determinants or ‘building blocks’ of health include warm homes, safe streets, good jobs, clean air, education, transport, green spaces and
Health and Wellbeing Board Maturity Matrix
This comprehensive tool is based on learning and insights from support provided by the LGA to Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs). It relates to ‘what works for HWBs’ – a checklist for what makes HWBs effective as strategic partnerships.
Health and Wellbeing Board maturity matrix rationale
This briefing sets out the reasoning behind every significant design decision in the HWB maturity matrix. It covers why the seven domains are configured as they are, how each domain relates to the Partners in Care and Health (PCH) seven-component framework from which the matrix was developed, why the domains are separated in the way they are, and why each descriptor is written as it is. It is intended as a standing reference for PCH in reviewing the draft tool and as a record that can inform future updates.