Wellbeing for social care staff

Details of resources designed to protect the wellbeing of adult social care staff.

Better Health at Work Social Care toolkit

The Better Health at Work Social Care toolkit has been designed to offer a wide range of support to staff working in the adult social care sector. In this toolkit staff and managers can access a range of resources and support services to help with:

alcohol
smoking
cancer screening
mental health
healthy conversations
healthy eating
physical activity
immunisation
sleep
sexual and reproductive health
employment practices

The toolkit is found on the Better Health at Work Award Social Care website.

Mental Health Support Services

Sometimes we all need a bit of extra help with our mental wellbeing and in order to support others we must first make sure that we take good care of ourselves. There are many support services that can offer support with mental health and wellbeing.

IMPACT on Teesside

IMPACT on Teesside is a psychological and wellbeing service available for anyone who lives in Teesside. People can self-refer or be referred by their GP.

Telephone: 01642 573924

Email: enquiries@impactonteesside.com

Teesside Listening Service

Teesside Listening Service is a listening service to support emotional wellbeing that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys. This can be accessed anonymously.

Telephone: 0800 0516 171 (option 3 then 3)

MIND

MIND also has a helpline service, which runs weekdays from 9am to 6pm.

Telephone: 0300 123 3011

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Trust mindfulness for health and social care staff

We know that social care staff care about looking after others. To look after others, it's important to take time to look after yourself too. Mindfulness is the natural capacity we all have to bring awareness and interest to what is happening in the present moment. Becoming more mindful can support our wellbeing and mental health. TEWV NHS Foundation Trust is offering a range of mindfulness sessions and courses to health and social care staff across the region.

Visit the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS website for more information.

Skills for Care wellbeing resource

Skills for Care recognises that wellbeing at work relates to every aspect of working life, from the working environment to how the workforce feels about themselves. Stress and burn-out are real issues for adult social care staff and with the added challenges and restrictions of the pandemic, workforce wellbeing has never been so important. Supporting the health and wellbeing of the workforce is essential in making sure that people with care and support needs and their families receive good quality care so they can live as independently as possible.

To support adult social care staff and their managers with their wellbeing there is a useful Skills for Care Wellbeing resource.

Local Government Association (LGA) mental health and wellbeing resources

The LGA have developed a website with key resources to support adult social care employee mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, which will be useful for our local providers.

Visit the Local Government Association website for more information.

Going Home Checklist

The Going Home Checklist has been created by the NHS. Based around caring, listening and improving work-life by encouraging reflection and mindfulness at the end of each working day. Thinking of the role of the staff taking care of others each and every day. Turning that round to remember to take the time to ensure we look out for them after what can be a very stressful and long day. Although developed for the NHS, the free Going Home Checklist will be useful for social care staff noticeboards or wellbeing areas.

Read the Going Home Checklist.

Bereavement resources for the social care workforce

Losing someone close to you, whether it's a family member, friend or colleague, can be devastating. Working in the social care sector, you may also grieve the loss of residents or care users, particularly those with whom you had a longstanding and meaningful relationship. Support can be accessed with Cruse Bereavement Service.

Cruse Bereavement has a helpline and online chat available for staff, residents and families.

Telephone: 0808 808 1677

Visit the CRUSE Bereavement Service website for more information.

Recovery College Online

The Recovery College provides a range of online educational courses and resources to people who might be struggling with mental health issues, covering topics such as stress, anxiety, mood changes, sleeping problems, trauma and adversity.

Visit the Recovery College website for more information.

Wellbeing for Life

Wellbeing for Life delivers courses that will support individuals and those who work with others to raise their awareness in subjects that will improve their mental and physical health.

Find out more on the Wellbeing for Life website.

Support for unpaid carers

Some social care staff will also provide unpaid care to family, friends or neighbours who live in Stockton-on-Tees and may need some support to help them in that unpaid caring role outside of work.

Our Carers' Hub webpage provides information, advice, and support to unpaid carers. The service offers a wide range of local, confidential support services to adult carers and parent carers.

Better Health at Work Award

The Better Health at Work Award (BHAWA) is free and available to all businesses in Stockton-on-Tees, regardless of size, location or type of business. Organisations will be supported by a dedicated workplace health team and have access to free workplace training including understanding stress and basic mental health. Many organisations already promote healthy lifestyles and consider the health of their employees. This award will recognise the achievements of these organisations and help them move forward in a structured and supported way.

Visit the Better Health at Work Award website for more information. For more information or to sign up for the Better Health at Work Award email catherine.buller@stockton.gov.uk.

The Care Workers' Charity

The charity supports current and former care workers with one-off crisis grants and also mental wellbeing and health support.

Visit the Care Workers' Charity website for more information.

Blue Light Card

This card provides those in the NHS, emergency services, social care sector and armed forces with discounts online and in-store.

Visit the Blue Light Card website for more information.

Community Connect

Community Connect (previously the Stockton Service Navigation Project) helps people to access local groups, activities and services in the community. It also offers support on using digital platforms, online shopping and GP appointments.

Visit the Community Connect website for more information.

Telephone: 01642 647770

Smoking cessation

The Stockton Specialist Stop Smoking Service offers free advice and support to the residents of Stockton-on-Tees Borough council areas and also clients who work in the Stockton-on-Tees area. It also provides a 12-week stop smoking treatment and support programme tailored to the individual needs of the client.

Visit the Specialist Stop Smoking Service website for more information.