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Check out wellbeing events coming up soon. 

• Guidance for managers & colleagues on shielding
• Health and wellbeing training aimed at BAME colleagues
• Coaching
• Resilience - free course
• Webinar - How to navigate the pandemic
• Psychological first aid training course for staff
• REACTMH conversation training: Empowering you to support the mental health and wellbeing of our NHS people

Guidance for Managers & Colleagues on Shielding

As lock-down restrictions are eased, vulnerable colleagues who have shielded at home will be invited to slowly and safely return to work in the NHS. This is likely to cause increased anxiety for some colleagues and will require compassion and flexibility when welcoming them back. This national NHS guidance via the link below has been developed to help:

• People who have been shielding as they slowly start to return to work to feel less anxious and more supported.

• Work colleagues and managers to understand what it may have been like for people who have shielded and how to compassionately welcome them back into the workplace.

https://people.nhs.uk/guides/shielding-and-returning-to-work/

 

Health and wellbeing training aimed at BAME colleagues
Bespoke mental health and wellbeing support for our diverse colleagues

As part of the national health and wellbeing programme for our NHS people, and working in collaboration with our staff networks, we have developed a number of bespoke support offers for our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) NHS colleagues.

MHFA training for NHS BAME colleagues (pilot)

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course that teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis.  The programme comprises of four half-day learning sessions, facilitated using MS Teams.  MHFA won’t teach you to be a therapist, but just like physical first aid, it will teach you to listen, reassure and respond.

We are working with MHFA England to offer a cohort of training sessions aimed at BAME staff, particularly those working in NHS trusts and primary care.

Training will commence in late February 2021 (dates to be confirmed).  We have limited places for this training project, places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

To apply please completed an expression of interest by 14 February 2021.

Strength coaching support for our BAME colleagues working in NHS trusts

The CliftonStrengths assessment is based on a general framework of positive psychology — an approach to psychology from the perspective of healthy, successful life functioning.  Topics include optimism, positive emotions, spirituality, happiness, satisfaction, personal development and wellbeing.

We are inviting colleague to participate in this programme and learn more about themselves and their developmental needs through the CliftonStrengths assessment.  The programme is aimed primarily at BAME employees working in NHS trusts, who have prior experience in coaching and/or facilitation.

The programme comprises of three half-day learning sessions, facilitated using MS Teams.  A Team (through MS Teams) will be set up for the programme with a channel for each cohort – this will be the “one-stop shop” for all programme communications and resources.

Three cohorts of up to 16 people are expected to begin the programme in February 2021, completing by the end of April 2021.  On enrollment, participants will be invited to complete the CliftonStrengths assessment, bringing their Top 34 strengths report with them to the first learning session.

We have limited places for this training project, places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

To apply please completed an expression of interest by 14 February 2021.

#LookingAfterYouToo: an individual coaching support offer for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic staff working in NHS and ambulance trusts

This programme has been developed to offer any NHS colleagues who identify as part of our Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic workforce in NHS and ambulance trusts, is supported to maintain their psychological wellbeing during this challenging time.  This individually tailored coaching support will focus on proactively supporting you to process experiences, offload the demands of whatever you are experiencing, deal with difficult conversations, develop coping skills and be supported in developing practical strategies.

To register for a session, please fill out an application form.  You can also manage existing sessions or bookings here.

 

Coaching

The practice of coaching involves the creation of a confidential thinking space to enable you to give attention to your priorities right now. The coaching conversation, guided by your coach, will give voice to your thoughts and ideas and create clarity about what you need to do.

This is a time of great challenge for our managers and leaders. Coaching offers a space to think through how to:

• look after, support and motivate yourself and your team
• make operational decisions and prioritise in a rapidly changing environment
• adapt your leadership style to the needs of the moment.

If you would like to access coaching support please E:Mail: plh-tr.hrcontrolcentre@nhs.net with the Subject “Covid Coaching Support” and we will respond within 24 hours. Please state what you would like coaching on and how you would like to be contacted by the coaching team

 

Resilience, Mind and Rhythm - free course

Colleagues may find the free course via the link below, on developing emotional resilience and increasing our ability to cope with life’s daily challenges helpful. It is made up of a series of lectures, quizzes and practical activities to help people cope with pressures and stresses that are especially heightened under the pandemic.

https://rhythmiabreathonline.thinkific.com/courses/resilience-mind-and-rhythm

 

Webinar - How to navigate the pandemic 

This video discusses the psychological challenges of four stages of the crisis by wellbeing guru Prof Ivan Robertson (of RobertsonCooper). Watch the webinar - How to navigate the pandemic.

 

Psychological first aid training course for staff

NHS staff and volunteers are now able to access a new psychological first aid training course. The free online course will help to develop skills and confidence in providing psychological support to people affected by COVID-19, including on issues such as job worries, bereavement or isolation.

The course has been developed by Public Health England with support from NHS England and Health Education England. The course is free for all frontline workers and volunteers dealing with the public during the pandemic, and can be accessed via the social learning platform, Future Learn. No previous qualifications are required and participants will be able to access articles, videos, peer reviews, and quizzes. The course takes approximately 90 minutes to complete, with three parts which can be done in intervals or in one session. A certificate of achievement will be issued on completion of the course.

Please see the Future Learn website for more information.

 

REACTMH® conversation training: Empowering you to support the mental health and wellbeing of our NHS people

As a good employer, it is our moral imperative to make sure our people have the practical and emotional support they need to do their jobs. Across the NHS it is the aim to equip NHS managers, supervisors and those with caring responsibilities for NHS people to confidently hold supportive and compassionate mental health and wellbeing conversations, during and beyond COVID-19.

Why this training is important?

The mental health and wellbeing of staff is of paramount importance. We know that line managers and those with similar supervisory and supportive roles can have a significantly positive, or negative, impact on the mental wellbeing of the people in their teams and communities. Having supportive wellbeing conversations enables people to continue to effectively deliver patient care, as psychologically healthy people are likely to perform better. Evidence shows that managers and those in similar supportive roles who are trained in identifying the need for and facilitating supportive mental health and wellbeing conversations with their team members and colleagues can reduce their risk of longer-term mental ill health by 90%.

Booking on REACTMH Conversation Training           

What you will learn?  This short remote live REACT Mental Health training session will enable you to identify people in your team or community who may be struggling with their mental health, initiate a supportive wellbeing conversation, confidently hold the conversation using active listening skills, and signpost them to appropriate support. You will gain new knowledge and have a chance to put this into practice during the session. The training is underpinned by psychologically sound principles and the REACTMH technique comprising of: Recognise, Engage, Actively listen, Check risk, and Talk about specific actions. The REACTMH technique is well-established and has been delivered for the past three years to thousands of people across public and private sector organisations.

Who is it for?  All managers, supervisors and those with caring responsibilities for NHS people, in clinical and non-clinical NHS services, across all our NHS, health and care organisations – in particular those working in areas exposed to high risk of stress, burnout and disadvantaged groups during COVID-19.  Delivered virtually:  Sessions last up to 1.15 hours and run remotely using virtual platform technology.

Who delivers it? NHS England and NHS Improvement are working in partnership with March on Stress who are experts in managing wellbeing during crisis situations to deliver their REACTMH training.

How do I book? Visit our people.nhs.uk website and register /  sign into your account https://people.nhs.uk/sign-in  and then visit our events page https://people.nhs.uk/events  to search for and book onto a REACTMH session at a time and date that suits you.

What happens next: You will be emailed joining instructions a couple of days before the event starts. Please make sure that your chosen IT equipment (e.g. computer, phone, and tablet) has the required working software (Zoom) to run the session in advance.