Staff health and wellbeing
Welcome to our staff health and wellbeing page.
As we continue to manage and care for patients during these difficult times we will all feel anxious about the situation. If you need support please speak to your line manager. Our staff health and wellbeing (SHAW) team are also here to support you as well as our Health Assured employee assistance colleagues who provide an online and telephone support.
We have 28 trained mental health first aiders (MHFA) who provide initial istance listening, reassuring and responding - you can speak to a MFHA by contacting our staff health and wellbeing team on Ext 7015.
Healthy Minds - a free NHS mental health support service. You can contact the crisis line on 0330 726 0110 or https://www.northessexiapt.nhs.uk/westessex
Mind - you can call them on 01371 876 641 or visit https://www.mindinwestessex.org.uk/
Samaritans – you can call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/ - text FRONTLINE to 85258 for support 24/7 via text.
Listening line - 0300 303 1360 between 12 - 8pm, 7 days a week.
Bereavement support line
We have a confidential bereavement support line, operated by Hospice UK and free to access from 8:00am – 8:00pm, seven days a week. A team of fully qualified and trained bereavement specialists are available to support you with bereavement and wellbeing issues relating to loss experienced through your work.
Bereavement and trauma support line for our Filipino colleagues - 0300 303 1115
There is a team of fully qualified and trained professionals, all of whom are Tagalog speakers, ready to help you at our NHS Bereavement & Trauma Line for Filipino Staff. This assistance is available from anywhere in the country and is provided by Hospice UK.
Counselling support from ACC
A free service developed and funded by the Association of Christian Counsellors, who are offering up to 10 online or telephone counselling sessions to:
- People working within the NHS who are directly impacted by COVID-19
- People working in residential care homes who have been impacted by caring for those with COVID-19
- Anyone who has been bereaved during this time
We’ve partnered with Project 5 to make free 1-2-1, confidential support sessions available for our NHS people. Project 5 is led by Clinicians and coaches and can link you to professionals with the skills to assist at a time of crisis.
Virtual staff common rooms
Culturally Diverse and All Staff Virtual Staff Common Rooms.
Colleagues in the national People Team in partnership with NHS Practitioner Health have been busy developing virtual Staff Common Rooms for NHS colleagues across the NHS and from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
To register, please visit our online events calendar where you will also see a range of events run by NHS England and NHS Improvement throughout the UK on a variety of topics.
REACT MH® conversation training
Our aim is 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.
We recognise that this is a difficult time for our NHS people and we know that financial concerns have consistently been in the top 5 reasons our people call the free support helpline run by the Samaritans. So, we’ve partnered with the Money Advice Service to bring you financial wellbeing support to help you manage your finances at home. NHS people can also join one of our online financial wellbeing events
Place2Be has launched a free programme of support and arts and craft resources for keyworker parents and carers, including all NHS colleagues, to support the mental health and wellbeing of their children.
CARE: Support for those in Social Care
The Department of Health & Social Care has developed additional, specific support available to those in Social Care, including unique access to:
- Support lines
- Mental health apps
- Bespoke online platform
Substance misuse and gambling support
Recognising the increasing pressures on NHS staff, we have put together a range of information on substance misuse and gambling support available through a number of organisations.
Finding calm amongst the chaos
Here you can find a short video collection designed to provide you with simple tools and techniques to reduce stress wherever you are and effectively using what little time you may have to attend to it.
StartWell>EndWell was developed by North Bristol NHS Trust’s senior clinicians, lead psychologist for staff wellbeing, quality improvement team, and perform team during the early stages of covid19. StartWell>EndWell has been designed to provide a practical approach to support colleagues and to promote effective teaming particularly during challenging periods.
Additional support available at PAHT
Calling x 7015 (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm) - please leave a message out of hours
Or emailing paht.shawcovid19@nhs.net
Employee Assistance Programme: Health Assured
Our employee assistance programme, can offer 24/7 mental health support and future counselling sessions.
Please call 0800 783 2808 or visit: www.healthassuredeap.com
Coping with COVID: psychological support for health and social care workers in Essex
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) is offering a new service for people working in health and social care in Essex, who need support with managing stress and emotional difficulties in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service is available seven days per week between 08:00 and 20:00 and can be accessed by phone on 01375 898837 or email to epunft.staffpsychsupport@nhs.net.
Anyone contacting the service will be asked about their concerns and receive appropriate support which may include online resources or a phone or video call with a psychological therapist or qualified psychologist.
This service is offered in addition to any existing employee assistance programmes (EAPs) and local IAPT services, and is intended to provide immediate, confidential help for health and social care workers who are dealing with unprecedented levels of stress owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
