People’s health is shaped by the everyday conditions in which they live, work, and move. Secure jobs, safe homes, and accessible transport are all essential building blocks of health, and central to local authority functions. HiAP is a practical, cross-cutting approach to supporting healthier, fairer, and more sustainable decisions across Devon and Torbay.
Why this matters now
Local government is central to shaping the conditions for healthy lives. This is especially relevant in the context of local government reorganisation (LGR) and the English devolution agenda, as new governance arrangements take shape and prevention, health, and equity need to be embedded from the outset to support a greater shift towards prevention.
HiAP in Devon and the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA)
HiAP supports the priorities of the DTCCA as a system-level partnership bringing councils and partners together around shared priorities. It is not a standalone programme. It is a practical approach that adds value across the priority areas of:
- economic growth
- employment and skills
- transport
- housing
Public Health will work with partners as the DTCCA and new system emerges to:
- adopt the Local Government Association’s Health in All Policies framework
- embed health and wellbeing considerations into all major strategies and investment decisions
- work with the DTCCA and its partner organisations, with the Integrated Care Boards, to align housing, transport, and employment support with health outcomes
View the DTCCA’s cross-cutting themes.
What this looks like in practice
Public Health’s role is to support this work by offering evidence, advice, tools, and strategic input as part of shared system delivery.
Tools and guidance
- Local Government Association – HiAP manual
- Local wellbeing, local growth
- Health Equity Assessment Tool
Further information
We are working with the DTCCA and the Health and Wellbeing Board to embed HiAP as a cross-cutting theme. If you are a local government officer and wish to know more, or get involved, please email publichealth-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
We can support teams with practical advice, evidence, and strategic input.