Department of Health

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NHS Health Trainers Initiative

Brief overview

Health Trainers reach out to people who are in circumstances that put them at a greater risk of poor health. They often come from, or are knowledgeable about, the communities they work with.  In most cases, Health Trainers work from locally based services which offer outreach support from a wide range of local community venues. 

Health Trainers work with clients on a one-to-one basis to assess their health and lifestyle risks. They have facilitated behaviour change, providing motivation and practical support to individuals in their local communities, since 2006. 

Health Trainer Champions work with Health Trainers by providing clients with information and signposting them to the NHS and other community services that will help them to live healthier lifestyles and access the support they need.

The impact of Health Trainers

The Department of Health considers that the National Health Trainer programme has already made a positive contribution to health improvement and has the potential to have a significant impact on health outcomes, particularly in deprived areas.

Health Trainer strategic aim 2009-11

The Health Trainer (HT) programme will actively contribute to DH priorities 2009–11, by embedding HT services as an integral part of the regional and local work on tackling health inequalities, lifestyle challenges and health improvement.

All about Health Trainers

Local Health Trainer services are usually commissioned and managed by NHS primary care trusts (PCTs) or local authorities and work in a broad range of settings.

Health Trainers provide individual support and advice to help people to identify and achieve their own health goals and to make healthier lifestyle choices, most often in the areas of healthy eating, physical activity, smoking cessation and alcohol. 

Health Trainers’ clients can be referred by primary health care services, local authorities or voluntary organisations, or can self-refer. In many cases, Health Trainers work alongside colleagues in primary care services, helping to address some of the underlying causes of lifestyle-related ill-health.

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