CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR STAFF
Staff Wellbeing (intranet access required)
CONTENTS
1. Central Bedfordshire Council Staff Wellbeing
It is widely recognised that social work and social care is an emotionally demanding and potentially stressful profession. Several studies have highlighted how important emotional resilience is to protect staff wellbeing and to enable high quality practice.
Although social care staff need to be emotionally resilient, it is vital to be clear that the responsibility for protecting wellbeing does not lie solely with the individual. Managers, employers and organisations play a crucial role in providing or withholding an optimum organisational context in which staff can thrive or survive.
Within Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) we have a number of mechanisms to understand the key issues for staff and a number of tools and activities to promote staff wellbeing.
2. Annual Health Check: Wellbeing Survey
As part of the employer standards for social workers we encourage our staff to take part in the Health check.
This national survey has a dedicated section on wellbeing that can identify if staff are experiencing issues in particular areas. The findings are analysed and compared and an action plan created to ensure appropriate action is taking towards supporting staff and their wellbeing.
3. Wellbeing App: Healthier Outcomes at Work
A partnership with Bath Spa University has resulted in practitioners contributing to the development of a Wellbeing app and toolkit. The app offers colleagues information and benefits to recognise the signs and symptoms of stress, where to access help in our organisation and beyond as well as information on ways to improve wellbeing, including local peer led wellbeing events (yoga lessons, team meditations, group guided meditations, team walks….). The app has capacity to suggest and submit ways to improve the organisation and individual support from a dedicated occupational therapist to assist with work related challenges.
To access the app:
- go to the App store or Google Play;
- search for ‘Healthier Outcomes at Work’;
- install the app and click on Central Bedfordshire Council;
- this is the password for CBC employees only.
4. Training Program Wellbeing
We have worked with our learning and development colleagues and partner agencies such as the wellbeing service and mind to produce a varied and invaluable program of wellbeing training to staff and manager. A number of the courses available as mentioned below:
- Managing Worries;
- Improving Sleep;
- Trauma in the Workplace;
- Improving Motivation;
- Developing Resilience;
- Introduction to Mindfulness.
To book please access via the Learning management system (LMS) on Success Factors (F5) under the section tile of Health, safety and Wellbeing.
5. Our Employee Assistance Program (Health Assured)
Our employee assistance program from Health Assured is much more than a helpline. It’s a free and confidential service dedicated to supporting your wellbeing both at home and at work.
With so much going on in life, it is often difficult to recognise the things that challenge us and the opportunities that can boost our health and happiness. This is why Health Assured provides a monthly newsletter to bring them to our attention!
Health Assured
Telephone: 0800 0305182
This is the username and password, for CBC employees only.
6. Further Reading
7.1 Relevant information
Health and Wellbeing of the Adult Social Care Workforce (Department of Health and Social Care)
