Wellbeing Wednesday: 6th September 2023

Spotlight: Health & Wellbeing Champion

We’re so proud to share this brilliant story from our Health and Wellbeing Champion, Hussain Al-Zubaidi!

🌳🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ What a fantastic day at our Picnic in the Park Wellbeing Event! 🌞🍃 Patients and staff of all ages came together for a day of fun, fitness, and community.

🚶‍♀️ Our walking group enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the scenic park, connecting with nature and each other.

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Beginners in our running group took their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle, while our seasoned runners explored the hills to test their fitness.

💪 We kicked off with a lively warm-up, followed by invigorating plyometrics and strengthening exercises. It’s all about learning to live longer and better!

Thank you to everyone who joined us today especially my Lifestyle team @joflem13 @snaygohil @shahna_h . Here’s to health, happiness, and many more picnics in the park to come! 🥗🙌

🌳🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Fantastic day at our Picnic in the Park Wellbeing Event! Fun, fitness, and community in full swing. Thanks all! 🥗🙌 #WellbeingEvent #HealthyLiving #MedTwitter pic.twitter.com/sbILONbNYp

— Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi (@zubaidihussain) September 5, 2023

Let’s talk Menopause

Menopause supportive work cultures are essential to attracting and retaining valuable talent for the UK workforce.

If employers want to retain this talented and growing part of the workforce, they must break the taboo around menopause and have support structures in place that allow those who experience the menopause to continue to work and progress during this period of their working lives.

Below are resources to support individuals affected by the menopuase, managers and employers.

I am affected by the menopause

• A Self Care factsheet is available for those affected by the menopause transition and may also be useful for colleagues and line managers to help understand and support those affected.
• There are local menopause support groups and peer networks you can join to meet others with similar experiences, or you may wish to consider connecting with your Health and Wellbeing Champion within your organisation.
• This wellbeing action plan, although it belongs to you, is a tool to help you and your manager have open conversations about things that are important for your wellbeing.
• Consider connecting with the Health and Wellbeing Champion within your PCN.

I am a manager, supporting staff who are affected by the menopause

If you are supporting someone who is affected by the menopause we would encourage you to:

• Download the menopause checklist for managers template to help support those affected

• Normalise asking for help and reassure colleagues that it is ok to ask for help even when their symptoms are not too bad.

• Increase your own and your team’s knowledge and awareness about the menopause: Menopause – NHS.

• Link in with your employee assistance programme Vivup to understand how they can support you and your colleagues.

• Share details of the wellbeing support available to colleagues, including Wellbeing Wednesday, local NHS services and the national support offer.

• Encourage attendance at organisational menopause support groups and peer networks (where available) to meet others who are experiencing similar symptoms.

• Link with your PCN health and wellbeing champions to hear about any local support being offered to staff affected by the menopause. Find details here about support for colleagues affected by the menopause.

• Access free training to learn how to have safe and effective wellbeing conversations and offer regular health and wellbeing conversations to check in and see how colleagues are feeling. Here is a link to the national wellbeing conversations offer and here is a link to a wellbeing action plan

• Use these health and wellbeing conversations to discuss whether it would be helpful to consider any reasonable adjustments to their working pattern: for example, asking if working flexibly would support them in the workplace.

• Consider flexible working as one of the measures to help colleagues cope with symptoms.

• Read the guidance produced by the NHS Staff Council’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group to consider best practice in supporting colleagues experiencing menopause, as well as the guidance published by CIPD aimed at managers and employers.

I am an employer, supporting staff who are affected by the menopause

The following checklist provides guidance for employers to promote menopause awareness and ensure staff get the support they need.

Is there a menopause guidance document or policy in place?

• Is it clear from this document how the organisation supports those affected by the menopause?
• Is it accessible, regularly shared and reviewed

Is there an open and receptive culture around the menopause?

• Can menopause be talked about openly?
• Are there opportunities/forums for shared stories/experiences?
• Are there menopause events in your organisation?

Is the right menopause training and support available?

• Employee training?
• Line manager training?
• Human resource director and occupational health training?

Is menopause-friendly uniform/workwear available?

• Are uniforms in suitable, breathable fabrics?
• Are there extra uniforms/garments available if needed?
• Can uniforms/garments be adapted (eg for layering of clothes if needed)?

Are workplace facilities menopause-friendly?

• Can workplace temperatures be adjusted or is there access to desk fans for employees who need them?
• Is there access to cold water, washrooms and toilets?
• Can people have access to restrooms for breaks/is there a breakout space available if they are patient/customer-facing?