Workplace wellbeing for local employers in South Gloucestershire
Creating working cultures that are supportive of and help to maintain the mental and physical health of staff has positive outcomes for everyone. It helps to attract and retain happy employees, reduces absences, and increases productivity.
Outlined below are sources of information and advice available to support all employers and their employees in South Gloucestershire.
Page contents:
- Local and national wellbeing schemes for workplaces
- Mental Wellbeing
- Physical Wellbeing
- Other sources of information and support
Local and national wellbeing schemes for workplaces
Signing up to one of these schemes can help you implement wellbeing policy and practices throughout your workplace.
Wellbeing Charter- Health at Work
The West of England Good Employment Charter
Workplace Wellbeing Index-Mind
We're here to help you support the mental health and wellbeing of your employees
The mental wellbeing of employees can have a big impact on a workplace. It is important to have a culture through your business that is open, and employees feel comfortable talking about their mental wellbeing.
Work-related stress
When pressures and demands at work are too high, employees can experience stress. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has lots of information on work-related stress and mental health. There is advice for employees and employers about managing work demands and keeping levels of stress down, including talking toolkits to support conversations around this.
British Heart Foundation (BHF) explains how stress can be linked to habits that can increase your risk of heart and circulatory diseases. Their website (Stress - BHF) discusses how important it is to look after your stress levels, along with healthy eating and lifestyle habits and provides resources to help you keep on track.
Sleep, stress and mental health are closely linked, all impacting on each other. When you are struggling to get good sleep, work and daily life become harder to manage. Work shifts and general demands also have the potential to influence your quality of sleep. Mind charity’s Sleep and mental health page has information, advice and tips for getting better sleep.
Support available for managers
Conversations about mental wellbeing are not always the easiest to have as a manager, but here are some resources to help.
- Free e-Learning for managers – the course is designed to equip managers with the confidence and skills to have supportive conversations with their staff about mental health and wellbeing. Developed in partnership with Mind, the leading mental health charity, the course is free to access.
- Suicide Awareness Training – this 20-minute training gives you a better understanding of the signs to look out for and skills required to approach someone you think is struggling.
- Mental Health At Work website – resources, toolkits and stories for managers and staff in organisations of all sizes.
- ACAS guidance- help in understanding the law behind supporting mental health in the workplace.
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England – Guides, resources, case studies and videos to help embed positive actions in workplaces.
- Business In The Community - a mental health toolkit for employers.
- Wellness Action Plan - a practical way of helping people support their own mental wellbeing and a good tool for managers to use to start the conversation.
Support available for staff
- Mind guidance for mental health at work – good guide for employees
- Support for staff receiving in-work benefits with career development with Future Bright
- Action for Happiness 10 keys to happier living
- 5 ways to wellbeing – steps to support your mental health and wellbeing.
- One You South Gloucestershire has a range of Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
The connection between mental and physical health and the importance of a healthy lifestyle are well documented. With the pace of change in society and at work, physical wellbeing is more important than ever in helping us stay resilient and able to meet the challenges of the day head-on. By promoting activities which are good for physical wellbeing, you can help keep your workforce healthy, drive engagement and reduce absences.
One You South Gloucestershire is the perfect tool to support your employees to look after their physical wellbeing. Access our range of helpful support and resources by visiting one of the links below;
- Manage your Weight: For information about maintaining a healthy weight, healthy eating and food support.
- Move More: For information about walking groups, running groups and resources to help get you more active.
- Quit Smoking: For information about local smokefree services, stop smoking aids and other tools and resources.
- Drink Less: For advice about cutting back on alcohol, alongside information on available treatment options.
- Check your Health: For information about the NHS Health Check programme, alongside other self-care apps and resources.
If you would like information on how to keep your family healthy and happy, NHS Better Health, healthier families has some great resources.
Other sources of information and support
- NHS Talking Therapies - free and confidential NHS service, you do not need to visit your GP you can self-refer. If you are suffering from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, excessive worry and low mood they may be able to help.
- The Samaritans
- Cruse Bereavement Care
- Carers Support Centre offer information and support for staff who are also carers.
- South Gloucestershire Drug and Alcohol Information