UHBristol achieves Workplace Wellbeing Charter accreditation

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol) has achieved Workplace Wellbeing Charter accreditation. The Workplace Wellbeing Charter is a nationally recognised award open to public, private and voluntary sector organisations of any size. It provides an opportunity for employees to demonstrate their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their workforce through a voluntary, self-assessment framework that has been developed by employers and health professionals.

Evidence shows that having a healthy workforce can reduce sickness absence, lower staff turnover and boost productivity – this is good for employers, workers and the wider economy.

UHBristol is committed to the promotion of health and wellbeing to its workforce and has put in place dedicated resources to demonstrate this commitment. The Trust chose to become accredited with the national Workplace Wellbeing Charter to make this pledge public and to use the independent standards as a valuable framework to consolidate existing programmes, and to inform the design and implementation of future workplace initiatives. UHBristol’s focus is on supporting employees in taking responsibility for their own wellbeing as much as is reasonably practicable, through the provision of local and national awareness raising events and direct services onsite. These include physical activity challenges, pregnancy workshops, smoking cessation clinics, counselling and money advice.

The Trust took around a year to complete the standards, involving and engagng colleagues in the process, to consolidate existing wellbeing provision from across the organisation and promote and plan new initiatives which reflected the standards and needs of staff.

The Trust was awarded the charter on 25 May 2016 at the following levels:

• Health and safety – Excellence
• Leadership – Achievement
• Attendance management – Achievement
• Mental health – Achievement
• Physical activity – Achievement
• Smoking and tobacco – Commitment
• Healthy eating – Commitment
• Alcohol and substance misuse- Commitment

Melanie Fewkes, Associate Director of Occupational Health, Wellbeing and Safety said:

“I was lucky to have a dedicated wellbeing team who worked tirelessly with colleagues at all levels across the Trust to provide comprehensive view for the assessors in the form of interviews, testimonials and other evidence. I received the news that we had been accredited for each of the eight standards just before I took leave which was such a relief and a great start to my holiday!”

Next UHBristol will work towards excellence in each of the standards for re-evaluation in 2018. The new Staff Health and Wellbeing CQUIN is a major project.