Developing working relationships with clients
This element focuses on the professional skills required to initiate, sustain, and conclude effective working relationships with clients in public health settings. It explores how trust, empathy, and clear communication underpin client motivation and engagement, while also recognising the importance of support networks in facilitating sustainable health improvements. Learners will develop the ability to apply person-centred approaches that empower clients to take ownership of their wellbeing.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The RSPH Level 2 Award in Improving the Public's Health introduces you to the fundamental principles of public health and health improvement in the UK. You will explore how health is influenced by a wide range of factors, including lifestyle, environment, and social circumstances, and learn about the key strategies used to promote health and prevent disease at a population level. This qualification is essential for anyone working in health and social care, as it provides the knowledge needed to support individuals and communities in making healthier choices and reducing health inequalities.
The course covers four main areas: understanding the determinants of health, the principles of health promotion, the role of national and local initiatives, and the importance of evaluating health improvement interventions. You will examine real-world examples such as smoking cessation campaigns, healthy eating initiatives, and vaccination programmes, and learn how to apply behaviour change models like the Health Belief Model and the Transtheoretical Model. By the end of the award, you will be able to critically assess public health strategies and contribute effectively to improving the health of the population.
This qualification is particularly relevant in the context of current UK public health challenges, such as obesity, mental health, and an ageing population. It aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan and the government's prevention agenda, making it a valuable asset for careers in nursing, health promotion, social work, and community health. Understanding public health is not just about treating illness—it's about creating environments and policies that enable people to live healthier lives.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Determinants of health: The range of factors that influence an individual's health, including biological, lifestyle, social, economic, and environmental factors. The Dahlgren-Whitehead model is a key framework for understanding these layers of influence.
- →Health promotion approaches: The five main approaches—medical, behaviour change, educational, empowerment, and social change—each with different aims and methods. For example, the medical approach focuses on preventing disease through clinical interventions like vaccinations.
- →Behaviour change models: The Health Belief Model (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers) and the Transtheoretical Model (stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) are essential for designing effective health interventions.
- →Health inequalities: Systematic differences in health outcomes between different population groups, often linked to social determinants such as income, education, and housing. The Marmot Review highlights the need to tackle these inequalities to improve overall public health.
- →Evaluation of health improvement: The importance of using process, impact, and outcome measures to assess the effectiveness of public health interventions. This includes considering cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- Know how to develop and maintain working relationships with clientsKnow how to motivate and support clients to improve their health and wellbeingUnderstand the role of support networks in improving the health and wellbeing of individualsCarry out effective communication with clients
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Award credit for demonstrating active listening techniques (e.g., paraphrasing, open questions) to build rapport and understand client needs.
- Assess ability to maintain professional boundaries while showing empathy, avoiding dependency or over-involvement.
- Look for evidence of using motivational strategies tailored to the client's readiness to change, referencing relevant behaviour change models.
- Expect inclusion of support networks (family, community groups) in the client's health improvement plan, showing how they are engaged appropriately.
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡When completing case study assignments, explicitly reference the stages of relationship-building (initiation, maintenance, ending) and link them to client outcomes.
- 💡Use reflective accounts to show how you adjusted your communication in response to verbal and non-verbal cues, demonstrating practical application of theory.
- 💡In portfolio evidence, include examples of how you signposted clients to relevant support networks and explain the rationale for each referral.
- 💡Prepare to discuss how you handle disengagement or resistance, showcasing problem-solving and persistence within the scope of your role.
- 💡Use specific examples from UK public health initiatives, such as Change4Life, Stoptober, or the NHS Health Check programme. Examiners reward answers that demonstrate real-world application of concepts.
- 💡When discussing behaviour change models, clearly explain each stage or component and apply it to a health scenario. For instance, use the Transtheoretical Model to describe how a smoker moves from contemplation to action.
- 💡Always link your answers to the wider determinants of health and health inequalities. Show that you understand that health is influenced by more than just individual choices—mention factors like housing, income, and education.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Confusing a professional working relationship with a personal friendship, leading to boundary blurring.
- Failing to adapt communication style for clients with different cultural backgrounds, literacy levels, or communication needs.
- Assuming that simply giving advice is sufficient for motivation, without exploring the client's own goals and barriers.
- Overlooking confidentiality constraints when involving support networks, risking breaches of trust and data protection.
- Misconception: Public health is only about treating diseases. Correction: Public health focuses on prevention and health promotion, not just treatment. It involves creating conditions that help people stay healthy, such as clean air, safe workplaces, and health education.
- Misconception: Health inequalities are solely due to individual lifestyle choices. Correction: While lifestyle matters, health inequalities are largely driven by social determinants like poverty, education, and access to healthcare. The Dahlgren-Whitehead model shows that individual factors are just one layer.
- Misconception: Health promotion campaigns always change behaviour. Correction: Campaigns alone rarely lead to long-term behaviour change. Effective interventions combine education with environmental changes, policy support, and community engagement, as seen in the success of smoking bans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for ROYAL SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Developing working relationships with clients
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Basic understanding of health and social care principles, such as the concepts of health, wellbeing, and the care values.
- •Familiarity with the UK healthcare system, including the roles of the NHS, local authorities, and public health bodies like Public Health England (now UK Health Security Agency).
- •Knowledge of key health issues in the UK, such as obesity, smoking, and mental health, which are commonly referenced in the course.
Coursework AI Review
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Know how to develop and maintain working relationships with clientsKnow how to motivate and support clients to improve their health and wellbeingUnderstand the role of support networks in improving the health and wellbeing of individualsCarry out effective communication with clients
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