Archives: Resources

In demanding times, relationships of all kinds can come under pressure and have an impact on our wellbeing at home and at work. This May, KeepingWell NCL partnered with Islington CAMHS Early Years Service to raise awareness of the issues that can affect our staff at home, and how staff can support themselves and their colleagues.

Maternal Mental Health and Parental Self-care

For many health and care staff, the transition from caring for others to caring for a baby during and after pregnancy can be bumpy. This Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, we wanted to raise awareness among healthcare workers about the challenges this transformative period can bring in parents’ lives. Early Years and Hub practitioners Kate Watchorn and Panos Vythoulkas discussed common challenges for parents, parental self-care tips, and how the Hub can support individuals and managers seeking support for perinatal mental health difficulties. You can watch the recording of this webinar below:

Couple Conflict and Abusive Relationships

In part two of this webinar series, practitioners Fraser Anderson and Panos Vythoulkas discussed the important topic of couple conflict and how to seek support safely when relationships become abusive. Health and social care workers, particularly women and their children, are just as vulnerable to domestic violence and abuse (DVA) as those they care for. This webinar aims to reduce stigma and raise awareness about DVA among staff and managers, by discussing why this topic has been taboo socially and in the workplace, and providing information on identifying red flags for DVA and seeking support safely. You can watch the recording of this webinar below:

Live performance of health & care staff experiences of the pandemic, this Thursday 26th May

‘In Our Own Words’ is a verbatim performance of a collection of reflections from staff over the past two years. These reflections chart the extreme challenges but also the incredible moments, memories and people who extended themselves and achieved so much. Actors have performed these stories to Whittington Health staff in care homes, community clinics, meeting rooms and hospital wards across 7 sites since July 2020.

Wake The Beast Theatre company and The Whittington’s Clinical Health Psychology Team worked with staff from early May 2020, conducting interviews with over 200 staff, collecting over 140 hours of audio and presenting 5 theatre pieces to care home staff, B.A.M.E staff, community and hospital staff from June 2020 until December 2021.

This ‘In Our Own Words’ event, performed by Wake the Beast Theatre Company,  is a chance for us to say thank you to the 200+ staff who agreed to be interviewed about their experiences. It’s also a chance for family and friends and the public to witness the inspiring stories from ‘behind the scenes’ at one of London’s busiest NHS Trusts.

This one night only performance at Jacksons Lane on Thursday 26th May at 7pm will showcase a small collection of these stories. This uplifting and forward-looking reflection will illuminate the real people behind the ‘heroes’ narrative.

‘Long COVID’ is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute COVID-19.

As of 18 May 2021, estimates by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggested that approximately 122,000 healthcare workers and 31,000 social care workers were self-reporting symptoms of Long COVID.

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.

This includes:

  • Access to Occupational Health and Wellbeing services and local Employee Assistance Programmes through your employing organisations.
  • Dedicated rapid assessment through one of 40 system-wide staff mental health and wellbeing hubs.
  • Access to a range of health and wellbeing offers through the national support programme.
  • Access to support via online rehab services.
  • Guidance for line managers on supporting team members with Long COVID.

Bright Sky is a free-to-download mobile app, providing support for anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.

As well as information and advice, the app includes a UK-wide directory of specialist domestic abuse support services and questionnaires to assess the safety of a relationship. The app is available to use in English, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu.

Bright Sky is one of a set of wellbeing apps signposted by NHS England for NHS people.

This toolkit aims to help smaller organisations promote better mental wellbeing in the workplace.

Working for smaller organisations brings unique challenges – and unique opportunities. This collection of resources, curated by Mental Health at Work, aims to help smaller organisations to improve staff mental wellbeing. The toolkit includes: 

  • A handbook filled with advice and tips for small business owners and the self-employed
  • A free, simple and confidential mobile app to encourage employees to take care of their own wellbeing
  • Two practical tools that you can quickly and easily implement to start making a difference straight away.

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This resource offers tips, guidance and app recommendations to help people build healthier habits and lives.

The Better Health website, run by Public Health England, offers resources around four core health areas: losing weight; getting active; quitting smoking, and drinking less.

The content is based around the idea that healthier lives start with little changes. Whether you want to lose weight, get active, drink less alcohol or quit smoking, Better Health offers free tools and simple, actionable steps. You can also find simple ways to lift your mood in the ‘Every Mind Matters’ section.

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This resource offers information on how menopause can affect people at work, and practical guidance for employers.

Menopause symptoms can have a significant impact on people’s attendance and performance. This is not just a gender or age issue: menopause can impact colleagues both directly and indirectly.

It’s vital that all managers understand how to support their people to stay well at work during this time in their lives, and signpost to appropriate support channels. 

This resource on the NHS Employers website collates articles, reports and toolkits on how to support staff impacted by the menopause.

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Watch this recorded webinar, which was a live session ran by the NHS in partnership with Money Advice Service. This session focused on Saving for goals, financial independence and your wellbeing.

The session covers:

  • Getting into the savings habit and why it pays to save regularly
  • Saving for emergencies and putting the rest where it can work harder for you
  • Top tips for choosing a savings account
  • Help to Save if you’re on a low income
  • Credit Unions and saving

To find out more about the Money Advice Service, please visit their website here.

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The balance app aims to make menopause support inclusive and accessible to everyone, globally.

It is designed to help people become better informed and prepared during this time of their lives.

The app was founded by menopause specialist, Dr Louise Newson. Users can track their symptoms, access personalised content, download a Health Report, and share stories in the community.

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