Looking after staff health and wellbeing

Many staff working for us - both male and female - juggle caring responsibilities. They may be looking after children or caring for elderly relatives or other dependents. Many more staff simply want to pursue other interests such as education or leisure interest whilst in our employment.

We have developed a range of policies to help staff. These include generous maternity, paternity, adoption, carer and special leave policies. We also offer, where possible, a flexible work-life balance, such as:

• job sharing
• employment breaks
• flexi-time
• unpaid leave
• reduced hours

If staff fall ill, suffer from a mental health condition or muscular skeletal ailment, we also have a range of initiatives to support staff to cope and remain at work where possible.

Some of these initiatives include:

• Early access to physiotherapy – this scheme has been introduced to help those staff who would benefit from the early intervention of physiotherapy. The therapy is available free to all staff and provides up to six sessions to support them in maintaining/improving their health, and preventing a condition from deterioration.
• Early access to psychological therapies – we offer early access to psychological therapies for common mental health problems including: stress, depression and anxiety. It is hoped that such a scheme will be a preventative measure for staff to remain at work, or act as a faster rehabilitative catalyst for staff to return to work early.
• Phased return to work – if unfortunately staff have had to be on long-term sickness absence and are returning to work, the Trust will actively support them through an agreed and planned return to work programme.
• Occupational health services – we provide a free and confidential occupational health service for all Trust staff. The service can support with:
  • advice on health promotion
  • advice to staff and managers about potential adjustments to work to help maintain attendance at work 
  • advice on long-term sickness absence
  • screening for early access to physiotherapy and psychological therapy