A Better Tomorrow for BTH Staff Issue 1: December 2016

Introduction

Welcome to this special newsletter which has been published to mark the one year anniversary of the Trust’s Healthier Workforce campaign.

The campaign was launched in July 2015 to embed staff health and

wellbeing in all we do as an organisation and ensure employees feel valued, included and able work in an environment which promotes good health and wellbeing.

There were a number of national levers as well with the NHS Five Year

Forward View heavily promoting the health and wellbeing of NHS staff, something that was backed up the Workplace Wellbeing Charter. But as someone who firmly believes in the benefits of physical activity myself I think it is the right thing to do as well and I am delighted to say we have made great progress over the past 12 months.

The first steps of the campaign have been to identify workplace health

priorities and implement health-related interventions to support staff to maintain or improve aspects of their health. We also want to do what we can to prevent ill health and reduce sickness absence rates, improve morale and improve retention rates within the workforce.

Our objectives over the past 12 months have been:

To conduct a baseline analysis of the health of the workforce. We sent a questionnaire to staff which had 1,485 responses.

To analyse the results of the questionnaire and generate areas of priorities which were found to be staff health checks, healthy eating sessions, stress workshops, exercise groups and weight loss support initiatives.

To introduce initiatives and interventions inline with the identified priorities

To introduce the workplace health champion role and recruit champions across Trust localities

To develop links with external partners such as: Lancashire Sport, Lancashire Mind, NHS England, local authority and third sector organisations

To develop strong working relationships with Trust departments such as Occupational Health, Public Health, Communications, Catering, Facilities, Nursing teams and other health professionals who can drive this project forward

I am delighted to say that we have acted on the recommendations and focused on four main areas: stress workshops, health check events, exercise opportunities and weight loss support initiatives including healthy eating and exercise and the benefits of what we have achieved so far can be seen in this newsletter.

If you haven’t had the chance to make use of any of the services on offer so far please have a look at the special website that has been set up on the Trust intranet site. I am sure there will be something there that will help you.

Tim Bennett

Deputy Chief Executive

Running Club Successes Three, 12 week programmes delivered by staff that have completed the England Athletics Leadership in Running qualification has supported over 90 staff members to start running. The programme follows a “Couch to 5k” style programme and is aimed at people who are either new to running or who have not run within the last 12 months. Upon signup staff are given some tips such as what to wear, how to warm up and a 12 week running programme which means if you miss a few group sessions you can keep on track. The development of this programme could not have taken place without the support of Julie Sherwood (Ward manager), the funding to support the training of run leaders from Lancashire Sport and the dedication of the newly qualified staff run leaders who volunteer their time to support others to learn to run. Since the programme started staff have recorded both positive physical and mental changes to their body and mind with some losing over one stone in weight, others are continuing to run on a regular basis and some have joined local running clubs in the community. Some of the quotes from staff include:

“It is fabulous that all ages, abilities

and sizes can work together. Brilliant initiative and support, it would not have been possible without your calm and encouraging

approach.”

“This programme has introduced me to some wonderful people that I will continue to stay in contact with following the completion of the 12 weeks. I will continue to run and am looking at joining a local running club as well as meeting up with other members of the couch to 5k on a Wednesday. The encouragement has made the group so much more enjoyable and I am really grateful for being able

to take part in this.”

“I feel like I have achieved something fantastic”

Enjoying the Workplace Challenge Staff from the Trust completed an eight-week county-wide workplace challenge and came in second place.

This challenge encouraged staff to record their levels of sport, physical activity and active travel which in turn created points and generated a leader board in partnership with other work-places across Lancashire. In total 99 Trust staff members en-gaged in this eight-week challenge, mounting up more than 2.5 million steps and walking more than 3,045 miles.

Simon Cook, Alcohol Liaison Nurse Specialist, won the Lancashire challenge with a staggering

49,353 activity points, winning him a £20 Amazon voucher and being named ‘Groundbreaker’ with the most points.

Matt Simpson from Blackpool Stadium came a close fourth overall collecting 40,596 points and Gordon Richmond, based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, was the person with the most golf points, both receiving a £20 Amazon voucher. In total, 21 Trust teams and localities entered the challenge with Blackpool Stadium generating on average the most amount of points per person which won them an instant ping pong set presented by Lancashire Sport! Hannah Corless, Healthier Workforce Project Manager, said staff engagement in this competition has been fantastic. She said: “It was great to see how many staff are physically activate whether through active travel or recreational activity. Over the eight weeks we saw a variety of exercise types that staff were involved in including walking, running, cycling and swimming, weight training, badminton, boxing, dancing and skiing. ‘The challenge was inspiring and is believed to have motivated people to do more exercise. “It was great to see staff from the Trust rec-ognised regionally and by Lancashire Sport for their commitment to exercising and prioritising their health.’’

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Simon, Cook, winner of the Trust’s Workforce Challenge

How we have helped staff so far

THE first group of workplace health champions to complete a nationally recognised course in public health received their certificates. Members of staff from across the Trust studied for the Royal Society for Public Health Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement award and all passed the one day course. This qualification is aimed at organisations with an interest in the health and wellbeing of their workforce. It provides an ideal way of equipping key staff with basic health advice and methods of support which they can then use to inform and assist colleagues and/or customers. Holders of this qualification will have the underpinning knowledge and understanding necessary to work effectively in helping people who need support and encouragement to make positive changes in their lives, including how to help them access further assistance (for example, identifying barriers to change, and setting goals) towards the objective of adopting and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Hannah Corless, Healthier Workforce Project Manager, said: “As part of the Better Tomorrow….for BTH Staff campaign we are looking to encourage staff to be able to give advice on how they make improvements to their lives. “This course gives those staff the knowledge to do that and it was great to see that everyone passed the course.’’

Champions pick up new national qualification

Resilience and me training

Resilience and mental wellbeing

Three main factors to building

resilient mental wellbeing

Simple ways you can boost your

own resilience

Practical tools for building

emotional resilience

90% of staff have found the training useful or very

useful

87% of staff have used one or more of the tools

shared during this training session

73% - have broadened their knowledge and

understanding of mental wellbeing and resilience

58% - say it has made them think about how they

listen and communicate with others

58% - feel more positive

35% - feel more able to deal with difficult

situations

27% - listen more effectively to my team

27% - say it has helped reduce stress at work

23% - feel more patient

19% - feel happier for more of the time

19% – say they now communicate with their team

more effectively

Healthy catering award for Trust THE Trust was delighted to receive recognition for its efforts to make catering facilities more healthy. The organisation received the Blackpool Healthier Catering Award after meeting a number of stand-ards designed to make food and beverages on site as healthy as possible. A number of changes were made to the cooking processes by reducing fats, sugars and salt where possible as well as changes made to the goods on offer in vending machines.

Health Champions provide great support for staff STAFF from the Trust have stepped up to become workplace health champions and are doing a fantastic job to ensure their team can access information on healthier behaviours and initiatives. For example Health Champions from the Children’s Ward at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Clifton Hospital have been creative and proactive in their mission to support staff to achieve good health and wellbeing and have been busy displaying information on healthy eating, getting active, alcohol use, tobacco use and improving mental wellbeing. Their presentation board showcases the interventions available for staff to access in line with the healthier workforce project. The Trust currently has a number of health champions who are leading on different aspects of health which together will contribute to creating a healthier workforce. The beginner running club and the chronic illness support group are just two other focus’ of the project which are led by staff members. Hannah Corless, healthier workforce project manager, said: “The health champion role is for anyone who has a passion for health and wellbeing and for those who are enthusiastic in supporting others to lead a healthier lifestyle. With no experience necessary this could be a role you wish to take on. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the current health champions for their contributions over the last few months and that it is very much appreciated.” For more information on the healthier workforce project take go to the website and download the workplace health champion role description: http://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/healthierworkforce/get-involved.shtml.

Staff benefiting from Trust Health check events OVER the past 18 months there have been a number of Health Check events for staff at various sites across the Trust. In total over 500 staff have accessed a health check with an option of having their blood pressure and cholesterol level checked and your body mass index (BMI) calculated. Community based services have attended these events to educate staff on local self-referral services, thus supporting staff in making a positive behaviour change around healthy eating, exercise, mental wellbeing, alcohol and tobacco. In total, local community organisations have engaged in over 1,900 conversations with staff, providing a motivational boost and supporting them through the behaviour change cycle. These events have taken place at Heysham Health Centre Morecambe, Slyne Road Community Offices Lancaster, Clifton Hospital St Annes, Whitegate Drive Health Centre Blackpool and Blackpool Victoria Hospital Blackpool. Support have been given from the Occupational Health Team who delivered the health checks, Volunteer Health Mentors and have been attended by partner organisations including; Lancashire Mind, YMCA and Y:Weight programme, Blackpool Sport, Salt Ayre Sports Centre, Horizon Drug and Alcohol Services, Smokefreelife Blackpool, Quit Squad, Healthy Lifestyle Service Blackpool, and many more. In some areas staff have recorded high cholesterol in over 20% of staff. Feedback has been extremely positive from staff who have attended these events with some staff being advised to visit their GP for further advice. Comments from staff include: “Had I not have been to the health check event I would not have known I had high blood pressure. Since the event I have visited by GP and taken up exercise to improve my health and wellbeing. I am now feeling fitter, healthier and really enjoying being active, something I never thought I would say”. “The cholesterol test showed I had high cholesterol. I was given some advice on how to reduce my cholesterol and since have changed the butter I use, have reduced to a lower fat cheese and have reduced the amount of meat fat I eat. I feel great for making some minor changes”. Further events are currently being planned so keep your eye on the Healthier Workforce website for updates!

Better Tomorrow campaign gets a “gold’’ medal In July 2016 Blackpool Teaching Hospitals was invited to take part in the Sport & Physical Activity@ Work Award (formally known as the NHS Sport and Physical Activity @ Work Award). This award recognises the level of work taking place to improve staff health and wellbeing through providing opportunities for staff to be more active. The evidence based on the benefits of being active on both individual and workplaces is well documented and highlights that the workplaces are ideally placed to promote the benefits of good health and wellbeing. An application showcasing the physical activity interventions staff can access, bringing together the work of the Healthier Workforce Project, the Staff Health and Wellbeing Centre and the Sustainable Transport committee was completed and we are delighted to share with you all that Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has been awarded a Gold standard. To be awarded this category, the Trust had to demonstrate that the physical activity programmes were; having a positive impact on staff morale, linked to the wider sustainability model regarding walking and cycling, targeting those who were previously sedentary, accessible during both the working day and out of hours and that wider engagement with community partners was evidenced, amongst many other measures.

Benenden is the leading sponsor for this year’s award. On Tuesday, November 22, representatives from the Trust picked up the award in London, presented by Sir Bruce Keogh. The Trust has also been put forward to Benenden for consideration for the “Best in Category” award.

Pam walks away with top prize in county challenge During May staff engaged in a number of activities such as “Put Your Feet to Work Week” and the Lancashire Sport walking challenge as part of the national Walking Month campaign. More than 70 Trust staff members from sites I ncluding Blackpool, St Anne’s, Wesham, Fleetwood and Lancaster pledged to increase the amount of walking they did throughout May, with more than 100 staff receiving pedometers, supplied by the Living Streets Project at Blackpool Council. The pedometers were used to help educate and motivate staff to increase the amount of walking they do each day in order to achieve the recommended 10,000 steps. In addition to the pedometers, Living Streets, Blackpool provided the Trust with a £50 “Love to Shop” voucher to present to one member of staff at random who had engaged in the activities throughout the month of May. The winner has been randomly selected and Pam Ridsdale, ward clerk from ward 34 (left on the picture) was chosen! Pam achieved her pledge of walking to and from work throughout May (weather dependant)and she also used stairs rather than the lifts and walked a lot throughout the day for work purposes. Carol Higgins (Pam’s manager) said staff from the Surgical Assessment Unit all tried to increase the amount of walking they did and promoted the use of stairs instead of lifts. Healthier Workforce Project Manager, Hannah Corless, thanked everyone who took part in Walking Month. She said: “A big well done to everyone who took part in Walking Month. “Remember, the small changes to a routeing can have substantial health benefits.’’ Below are some tips you may be able to adapt to which may help you feel fitter and healthier. Top tips: Take the stairs not the lift Take a walk at lunch time or after work Walk to work if you live within a one mile radius of work (it will probably take you

less than 20 minutes each way!) Park your car a little further away if you drive Have a walking meeting

Staff En-gagament Update

You can keep up to date about the campaign on the below:

Website address: http://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/healthierworkforce/

Twitter hashtag:

#BTHhealthierworkforce

Email address: BTHhealthierworkforce@bfwhospitals.nhs.uk