They are four key streams to the Central Bedfordshire wellbeing approach and they've adapted them in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wellbeing has been a key focus in Central Bedfordshire since they participated in a research and wellbeing project in 2019, in partnership with Bath Spa University and with support from public health and other council departments.
There are four key streams to their wellbeing approach and they've adapted them in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Support systems
Central Bedfordshire have implemented a workforce and wellbeing cell that provides a clear focus on the needs of the workforce. They help to identify and support any member of staff affected by COVID-19 and provide a point of contact. The Bath Spa University Healthier Outcomes at Work (HOW) app and wellbeing toolkit were developed with input from practitioners and they went live in October 2019. In the past six weeks, the University has supported an update to the app to ensure that content is COVID-19-related. It has further enhanced its support and extended access to the social care workforce.
Wellbeing promotion
Staff wellbeing is promoted through newsletters, and staff are able to express the diversity of their working days through videos, cards, drawings, stories and poems.
Peer-led initiatives
Staff themselves have introduced initiatives, such as meditation, yoga and physical exercise sessions.
Practice guides
Central Bedfordshire have produced guides for adult social care staff and managers to enable practice conversations about death, dying and traumatic situations.