https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/neonatal-psychology/

Mental health in the workplace

NHS trusts should have supportive initiatives in place to ensure staff mental wellbeing in the workplace, and to maintain the quality of patient care.

The link below provides tools and resources to help you make positive improvements to mental wellbeing in the workplace:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/mental-health-workplace

Relevant bitesize learning can be found on the elearning for healthcare training portal, including sessions on Mental Health and Wellbeing and Workplace Health.

https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Catalogue/Index?HierarchyId=0_41737_42670&programmeId=41737

Check my emotional and mental wellbeing

The free and confidential self-assessment tool can provide you with further information on the range of support offers that are available and help you to identify what option is the right one for you to access.

https://checkwellbeing.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/

The Health and Wellbeing Programme

Delivered by NHS Employers, the Health and Wellbeing programme is commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and works alongside NHS healthcare provider organisations to help them best support the health and wellbeing of their employees.

Further information is available on the link below including resources on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing at work, advice, guidance and information on a variety of health and wellbeing themes including stress, sickness absence and financial wellbeing.

https://www.nhsemployers.org/health-and-wellbeing

Supporting your physical health and wellbeing

Looking after your physical health is key to supporting your overall health and wellbeing, including your mental health.

Information about how to support your physical health and wellbeing is available here.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/physical-health-and-wellbeing/

Exercise

People who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing many long-term (chronic) conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.

Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, clinical depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Here are some tools to get you started:

Couch to 5k

Strength workout videos – you can do activities that strengthen your muscles on the same or different days as your aerobic activity – whatever’s best for you.

Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. Some helpful links with exercises you can try.

• strength and flexibility exercises
• sitting exercises
• strength exercises
• flexibility exercises
• balance exercises

NHS Live Well – a usefulguide covering exercise and all the things you need to support your physical and mental wellbeing

NHS wheelchair users’ guide to staying fit

Weight management 

Whether you are looking to shed a few pounds, adopt healthier habits or gain a deeper understanding of weight management, we have the tools for healthcare professionals like you.

NHS Live Well weight management 

BMI calculator

NHS digital weight management programme 

Drinkaware – calculate those calories from alcohol 

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tools/unit-and-calorie-calculator

Quit smoking

We all know the damaging effects of smoking, yet for some, it’s still hard to break the addiction and the routine that comes with it. We have pulled together some resources to help you on your journey.  Don’t give up on giving up!

NHS Live Well –  a good start for further information on how to quit

Find your local services to help you quit

COPD – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/

Alcohol

If you feel you want to cut down, stop all together or just need some advice around alcohol consumption, here are a few resources that can help you.

NHS Live Well – a good source of information on how to cut down or stop

Drinkaware – calculate those calories from alcohol 

Find addiction support in your area

Long-term health conditions

We understand that healthcare professionals are not exempt from experiencing their own health issues, whether they are chronic conditions, disabilities or other long-term ailments.  Here you will find dedicated advice and guidance on supporting yourself and colleagues with some of the key long-term health conditions.

NHS Employers’ page – long term health conditions

Work health assessments

Blood bourne viruses (BBVs) in healthcare workers

Arthritis Foundation

Supporting friends and colleagues with asthma

Supporting someone with diabetes at work 

The Migraine Trust

https://migrainetrust.org/

Sickle cell disease – work and employment

Access to Work can provide practical and financial support to help you overcome barriers to starting or keeping a job if you have a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition

It’s important to ensure our colleagues are looking after themselves in times of stress and get timely support should they need it, this in turn can help to support better patient care.

Scroll through the options below to find additional support that works best for you.

Check my emotional and mental wellbeing
The Health and Wellbeing Programme
Health and wellbeing top tips for supporting line managers
Mental health in the workplace
Supporting colleagues affected by Long COVID
Health and wellbeing programmes
Handling difficult situations with compassion training programme
Civility and Respect
Support for our Diverse Colleagues
Coaching

We aim to support our healthcare professionals navigating the challenges of peri- menopause and menopause while continuing to deliver exceptional care to parents and babies. Menopause is a natural phase in life that brings about significant hormonal and physiological changes. As healthcare professionals you play a crucial role in supporting parents through pregnancy, childbirth and the early stages of motherhood. However, it’s important to recognise that you may also be experiencing your own journey through menopause, which can have a profound impact on your well-being, professional performance and overall quality of life.

Here are a few helpful pages to help you navigate or support you or your colleagues through this phase of life.

NHS England – Menopause, a selection of useful guides and blogs 

https://www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/information-for-professionals/nhs-midlands-equality-diversity-and-inclusion/resources/women/

NHS England – Supporting colleagues affected by menopause

https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/supporting-colleagues-affected-by-the-menopause/

NHS England » Supporting people in early and late career 

Menopause – Useful information for partners

https://www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2022/01/Menopause-for-partners-06.01.20.pdf

The Daisy Network is a registered charity is committed to providing information and support to women diagnosed with Premature Menopause, also known as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). It is the ONLY charity in the UK for women with POI.

https://www.daisynetwork.org/

Menopause resources

• Blog:‘It feels impossible to beat’: how I was floored by menopause(long read)
  An honest account by Rose George on how menopause has proved far worse than ‘low moods’.
• Blog: The menopause affects us all(anonymised male blog)
  From: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) – for World Menopause Day 2019
• Resources: Menopause – useful information for partners
  This document provides information and resources for partners of individuals who may be going through the menopause, to increase awareness and provide suggestions on things you can do to support.
• Awareness and training pack for NHS organisations: Why is the menopause relevant to our organisation and to me and my team?
  Slide pack for use with NHS organisations and teams.
• Document: Pre-menopause by the Daisy Network
  An overview of pre-menopause, sourced by information available via the Daisy Network. The Daisy Network is a registered charity is committed to providing information and support to women diagnosed with Premature Menopause, also known as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). It is the ONLY charity in the UK for women with POI.
• elearning: The NHS Menopause Awareness Programme (hosted on the NHS Learning Hub/e-lfh)

Health and wellbeing top tips for supporting line managers

With increasing workforce pressures and demands on NHS staff, it’s vital that managers are effectively supported in the workplace.

The best way to foster a supportive environment is to ensure that line managers understand their role in staff health and wellbeing, lead their teams compassionately, and provide the appropriate support to staff.

Visit the link below for top tips for supporting line managers at work and keeping them well:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/health-and-wellbeing-top-tips-supporting-line-managers

Supporting colleagues affected by the menopause

Menopause and perimenopause (the phase leading up to the menopause) can cause symptoms including anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.  Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.

The NHS workforce employs over 1.3 million people 76.5% of them (over 1 million) women, of which women between the ages of 45 and 54 make up 19.1% (over 260,000) of the entire NHS workforce.

Good menopause care has both direct and indirect impacts on workforce retention levels, productivity, and absenteeism.   Ensuring staff get the support they need is an important part of retaining experienced talent and skills. It would also minimise the impact of a person’s symptoms, health and wellbeing issues, and productivity on patient outcomes, their work, personal life, and relationships.

NHS England » Supporting our NHS people through menopause: guidance for line managers and colleagues 

As a line manager, how can I support a colleague experiencing the menopause?

• For colleagues off work due to menopause related symptoms, line managers are encouraged to maintain regular contact to support and connect during the absence. Please also review the Recording menopause related sickness guidance that advises line managers, HR colleagues and ESR users on how to record menopause related sickness. By recording accurately, we can gain a better understanding of the impact menopause is having on NHS people and put in place support that our colleagues need.
• Offer regular wellbeing conversationsto check in with colleagues and explore if making any reasonable adjustments to their working pattern would support them.
• Recommend that colleagues join local or national menopause support groups and peer networks to meet others who are experiencing similar challenges.
• You can also find tips for managers and leaders on how to support colleagues affected by the menopause in the ‘Supporting colleagues in late career’ chapter of our retention guide for line managers and employers.

NHS Employers have also published more detailed guidance on how to support colleagues affected by menopause, which can be accessed on the NHS Employers website.

As an organisation, how can I support my workforce?

Please see the following case studies from a selection of ICSs and organisations who are supporting their workforce in becoming menopause friendly:

• Supporting staff affected by menopause.

Supporting colleagues affected by Long COVID​

‘Long COVID’ is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute COVID‑19. It includes both ongoing symptomatic COVID‑19 and post‑COVID‑19 syndrome (NICE, 2020).​

The NHS has a range of support offers and services available to NHS colleagues to support with their health and wellbeing, including support for Long COVID symptoms.​

https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/supporting-long-covid/

Supporting your LGBTQ+ workforce | NHS Employers
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01935-3/fulltext
https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/equality/equality-hub/patient-equalities-programme/lgbt-health/
https://learninghub.nhs.uk/Catalogue/LGBTQIA-Awareness
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/top-10-tips-lgbt-inclusion-workplace –

Neurodiversity 

Supporting neurodivergent colleagues in the NHS | NHS
https://www.adhdadult.uk/resources/
https://www.adhdadult.uk/adhd-in-the-workplace/
https://adhduk.co.uk/adhd-and-work/