Teams play a vital part of our work in healthcare: how we work together and fit into our team has a huge impact on our daily working lives. We know that feeling part of a good, strong and safe team impacts positively not only on our individual health and wellbeing, but also the wellbeing and functioning of the team as a whole and on the care we provide to our patients. Supporting teams is therefore hugely important.
Local Team Support for HDFT and HIF Employees
Mental Health Champions
- Mental Health Champions are staff members who are passionate about mental health. Their role is to promote awareness of mental health and mental health difficulties, to challenge stigma, signpost team members to available support and to make it easier to have everyday conversations about mental health in a safe and non-judgemental environment. They are not mental health professionals or counsellors and their role is voluntary, alongside their ordinary job.
- The Mental Health Champion role is open to any member of staff with the right attitude, enthusiasm and commitment to take part. If there is no Mental Health Champion in your area of work and you would be interested in hearing more about this role, please contact the Occupational Health and Wellbeing team for more information on 01423 553400 or [email protected]
Schwartz Rounds
- What is a Schwartz Round? Schwartz Rounds are shared spaces for all staff to come together to reflect on emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare, which we know can be both rewarding and challenging. They are not designed to solve problems or focus on the clinical aspects of care. Rounds are open to all staff in all roles across the Trust, working in HDFT and HIF.
- What do Schwartz Rounds look like? Rounds follow a set format. First 2-3 story tellers share their experiences on an agreed topic. The audience are then invited to share their own reflections and thoughts, guided by trained facilitators. In HDFT we have chosen to have a mix of face to face Rounds and virtual Rounds via Microsoft Teams. We hope that this will enable all staff across the Trust footprint the chance to attend, should they wish.
- What are the benefits of Schwartz Rounds? Rounds can help staff feel more supported in their jobs, allowing them the time and space to reflect on their roles. Evidence shows that staff who attend Rounds feel less stressed and isolated, with increased insight and appreciation for each other’s roles.
- Watch a Schwartz Round: https://www.pointofcarefoundation.org.uk/our-programmes/staff-experience/watch-schwartz-round/
- Additional information: https://www.pointofcarefoundation.org.uk/our-programmes/staff-experience/about-schwartz-rounds/
- For more information or if you have a topic or a story to share please [email protected]
Team Time
- Team Time was developed from Schwartz Rounds, originally in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. It is shorter and focussed on a particular team or area, rather than open to employees across the Trust. The sessions are 45 minutes long, offering a safe space for reflecting on and sharing experiences of work.
- For more information see: Team Time – Point of Care Foundation
- If you are interested in arranging a Team Time session within your own area of work, please contact Mel Kavanagh (Interim Clinical Lead for Schwartz Rounds) on [email protected]
Psychology Team Support and Reflection
- The Humber and North Yorkshire Resilience Hub offer tailored support for teams, managers and organisations. You can find out more information by visiting hnyresiliencehub.nhs.uk or emailing [email protected]
Resources for Team Wellbeing, Connection and Strength
Looking After Your Team’s Health and Wellbeing Guide:
- NHS England have produced a helpful guide, designed to ‘support any team that is seeking to improve the health and wellbeing of members of the team.’
- Includes a wealth of information, ideas and guidance around creating a culture of wellbeing within your team, in a simple, practical and engaging format.
- Topics include: identifying and reviewing your team’s wellbeing goals, creating safe spaces to talk about wellbeing and knowing where to get support if and when it is needed.
- The guidance can be found here: NHS England » Looking after your team’s health and wellbeing guide
Going Home Checklist:
- The Going Home checklist is a poster which can be used to encourage reflection and mindfulness at the end of a working day. If you’d like to display in your area of work, click to download the PDF here: The ‘Going Home Checklist’
Mind Resources on Mental Health at Work:
- The mental health charity, Mind, has a comprehensive list of free resources aimed at supporting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. This includes information for managers on how to support staff who might be struggling with their mental health, tips around creating mentally healthy workspaces and ideas for tackling the causes of mental health problems at work.
- See: Useful resources – Mind