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Supporting your health and well-being

At University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), we understand the importance of promoting good health and well-being. That is why we offer a comprehensive range of support and well-being services to cater to your needs.

Our services are regularly updated to ensure that you have access to the most current information. You can contact us via email.

Chaplaincy Team

Chaplains are an essential part of the hospital workforce who are specially trained to provide excellent spiritual, religious, and pastoral care to both staff and patients. The Chaplaincy Team consists of trained members of various religions and beliefs, including chaplains from:

  • Church of England
  • Free Church
  • Roman Catholic
  • Muslim
  • Jewish
  • Sikh
  • Hindu
  • Buddhist
  • Humanist

Their primary role is to offer compassionate support to patients and staff, and they work closely with clinical teams on the wards to ensure that spiritual and emotional needs are met. Although the chaplains come from specific religious traditions, they provide their support to all, regardless of whether they have a belief or not.

The chaplains understand that everyone needs a compassionate and listening ear at times, and they are frequently called upon to offer their presence and support to staff during their work at the hospital.

If you or someone you know needs spiritual or emotional support, please reach out to the Chaplaincy Team. They are always available to offer their support, care, and comfort in any way they can.

Coercive control and domestic abuse

Domestic abuse can affect anyone. Not everyone’s home is a safe and happy place. Some adults and children risk facing control, abuse and violence at home, and may find that accessing support is more difficult. If you or someone you know is being abused please ask for help.

Counselling service for staff

Our staff counselling service provides all Trust employees access to a free professional and structured counselling service. It uses solution-focused brief therapy which focuses on strengths and resources to re-enable coping strategies that may have fallen from use.

You can contact the counselling service from Monday to Friday between 08:30 – 16:30. At other times, an answering service is available.

Disability

All staff should feel confident to share that they have a disability or long-term health condition, mental health condition, or neurodiversity. Furthermore, the Trust will make every effort to provide reasonable workplace adjustments that support your individual needs and help you to thrive in your role.

To learn more about the support available, including guidance with Access to Work and how to put in place reasonable adjustments, or for a confidential conversation about what is available to you, email the Inclusion Team.

Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and Confidential Contacts

The Freedom to Speak Up Guardian helps to raise the profile of concerns within the Trust and provides confidential advice to support staff raising any concerns they have, for example, about patient safety and/or the way their issue has been handled.

The Trust’s Guardian and their team of Confidential Contacts do not get involved with investigations or complaints, but help to facilitate the process of raising a concern where needed, ensuring policies are followed correctly.

The Trust’s Guardian is Professor Julian Bion, Honorary Consultant in Critical Care Medicine. His deputies and team of Confidential Contacts can be contacted directly, their individual details are available on the intranet.

This telephone line is available anytime, however the team will respond to messages between the hours on 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday.

Financial wellbeing

Financial wellbeing is crucial to overall wellbeing, but it is often overlooked. Poor financial wellbeing can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression, affecting a person’s ability to perform their job effectively.

At UHB, we prioritise our staff’s wellbeing, including financial wellbeing. We provide regular information through webinars and partner with salary finance for payroll deducted loans and access to their wellbeing hub.

We also collaborate with CitySave, a local credit union, for responsible lending and savings options. Our free Barclays Money Mentors program offers impartial financial education to all staff to help them achieve their financial goals. This free and impartial financial education is available to all staff, no matter which bank you use.

Staff who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless should contact the Inclusion Team to discuss additional support options.

For more information:

Health and wellbeing hubs

At our staff wellbeing hubs, we are committed to providing a welcoming and secure space where you can take a break, recharge, and access a wide range of wellbeing resources. Our friendly wellbeing hub assistants are on hand to offer you a warm cup of tea or coffee and a listening ear, whenever you need it.

Whether you are looking for advice on physical health, mental health, or online resources, our team is here to help. We understand that your wellbeing is essential, and we want to support you in any way we can. So, drop by and take advantage of our services.

You will find the Wellbeing Hubs at the locations below, which are open Monday to Friday from 09:00 – 17:00.

  • Heartlands Hospital – Paediatrics Day Surgery Reception, Ground Floor, Frank Kerr Building
  • Good Hope Hospital – First Floor Richard Salt Building
  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham – Ground Floor Nuffield House
  • Solihull Hospital – Room 4, Education Centre

We also support our staff away from our four main hospital at Regent Court, Norman Power, and community services. Email the Inclusion Team for more information.

Maximus (mental mealth support service)

The Access to Work Mental Health Support Service, delivered by Maximus and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, provides confidential one to one workplace mental health support for UHB employees or apprentices.

Book your appointment today and gain expert advice and support for nine months, which includes:

  • A wellbeing plan to help you stay in, or return to work
  • Recommendations for workplace adjustment
  • Coping strategies

For more information:

Occupational Health

The Wellbeing Team work alongside Occupational Health in signposting and promoting wellbeing services.

Occupational Health can provide:

  • a consultant occupational psychiatrist
  • associate specialists in occupational health
  • specialist registrars in training
  • specialist nurse practitioners
  • counsellors

For more information:

OurNHSPeople

OurNHSPeople provides confidential listening by trained professionals and specialist advice including coaching, bereavement care, mental health and financial help. There is also an online portal, which has peer-to-peer, team and personal resilience support.

Psychological First Aid trained staff

We recognise the importance of supporting our staff during times of trauma and emotional distress. To support staff we have trained employees in Psychological First Aid (PFA) to provide effective assistance to those in need.

The goal of PFA is to help staff cope with stress-related reactions and restore a sense of safety. Our PFA-trained staff are equipped with the necessary skills to provide emotional and physical comfort, offer positive encouragement, and stay calm in the face of distressing situations.

These PFA-trained staff work in both clinical and non-clinical areas, so no matter what your role is within the organisation, you can access this support. If you require assistance and would like to speak to a PFA-trained member of staff but are unsure who to contact, simply email the Inclusion Team and we will put you in touch with a member of staff closest to you.

Professional Nurse Advocacy

Professional advocacy supports professional and accessible restorative clinical supervision (RCS) for practitioners. It also upholds a commitment to continuous quality improvement and education in practice that can facilitate the excellent care delivery required to ensure safety and improved outcomes for the people we support.

For further information about how the PNA role can support your team, please contact Louisa Murphy, Lead Professional Nurse Advocate.

Staff networks

Our organisation believes in the power of staff networks to foster an inclusive and supportive workplace culture. Our staff networks are created and run by staff, for staff, with support from our Inclusion Team. Each network is led by two co-chairs, who work closely with members to develop and grow the network.

Our staff networks provide a space for staff to share their lived experiences and have their voices heard. We welcome everyone to join, regardless of whether you identify with the group or want to be an ally and make a difference. You can join multiple staff networks if you wish.

By taking ownership of their networks, our staff are empowered to shape the direction and focus of each group. This approach helps ensure that our staff networks are responsive to the needs of our diverse workforce and genuinely represent their views and experiences.

For more information about staff networks, please email the Inclusion Team or the relevant network.

Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network

Disability and Long-term Health Conditions Staff Network

LGBT+ Staff Network

Men’s Staff Network

Mental Health Network

Multifaith Staff Network

Neurodiversity Staff Network

Women’s Staff Network

Staff support groups

Staff support groups offer staff informal peer to peer support, information and share resources. They are a chance for you to come together with others who may have a shared experience, discuss any concerns or successes, and keep informed on key topics.

Our staff support groups include:

  • Carers’ Cuppa
  • Long COVID-19
  • Parents or carers of neurodiverse children or young people

Menopause

We offer a comprehensive package of support for anyone who is going through the menopause or would like to learn more and support others, this includes:

  • M Club – a monthly peer to peer meeting held once a month on all four hospital sites, open to all staff
  • Menopause champions – staff who have been trained to offer a listening ear and provide signposting around the menopause
  • Menopause Passport – a supportive document owned by a member of staff to help them have open and honest conversations about the menopause and agree on any appropriate reasonable adjustments
  • Training – online menopause awareness training
  • Guidance – comprehensive guidance document detailing how we can support staff experiencing menopausal symptoms

To find our more information visit the Menopause page on the intranet or email the Inclusion Team.

Staff Mental Health Hub

The Birmingham and Solihull (BSol) Staff Mental Health Hub is available for referrals for all health and care staff seeking help for the emotional and psychological impact of working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BSol Staff Mental Health Hub will accept referrals directly from organisations for their staff and will offer the following:

  • Rapid access to specialist psychological assessment
  • Advice, consultation and onward referral where appropriate
  • Advice for managers regarding concerns they have about a staff member
  • Access to some evidence-based brief interventions

Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 08:00 – 19:00.

Staff Well Clinic

UHB is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all staff by offering free and confidential health checks.

The Staff Well Clinic offers blood pressure, height, weight and body mass index measurements. If required, referrals can be made to specialist teams.

Get in touch to book a free and confidential appointment.

Wellbeing awareness training

The Inclusion and Wellbeing Team is here to support your wellbeing and is available to deliver bespoke training on the Trust’s wellbeing offer. Whether face to face or via Microsoft Teams, these sessions can be tailored to your team’s needs and can be delivered in as little as 30 minutes or up to one hour. You can incorporate the training into your team meetings, away days, or as a standalone session.

Additionally, we offer monthly wellbeing overview training sessions to provide a comprehensive understanding of the entire wellbeing offer available to all staff. Please email the Inclusion Team for dates and more information on how we can support your team’s wellbeing.

Wellbeing officers

Our wellbeing officers are available to support all staff at UHB. They will come to any area and department to ask how you are and discuss the wellbeing offer and signpost to further support.

Wellbeing officers can hold drop-in clinics within your department so staff can seek support and find out more about the wellbeing offered at the Trust.

To find out more or to contact a Wellbeing Officer directly, please email the Wellbeing Team.

Supporting you with finance

Citizens Advice Birmingham is on hand to provide dedicated, confidential advice to staff. This could include direct access to an adviser for an initial diagnostic review, triage and advice, with follow up appointments available either in person or over the phone.

Areas include:

  • Welfare benefits
  • Housing
  • Employment
  • Money advice
  • Referrals to specialist services such as debt or benefits casework
  • Income maximisation and budgeting support

The service operates Monday to Friday between 09:30 and 16:30. Please quote ‘COL support for staff – BSol’.

Supporting you with relationships

Relate Birmingham provides two offers of support around issues affecting relationships:

Option 1

Relate Counselling is available to support individuals and couples with issues such as:

  • Communication
  • Arguing
  • Conflict
  • Parenting
  • Family life
  • Separation
  • Domestic abuse
  • Intimacy
  • Work and money worries
  • Stress and anxiety

The service includes an assessment and up to six more sessions by webcam or phone with a qualified and experienced Relate counsellor. Sessions are up to one hour and appointment times include daytime, evenings and Saturday mornings.

To book an appointment or for more information, call (office hours are 09:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday) or email Relate Birmingham.

Please quote ‘COL support for staff – BSol’ as the subject.

Option 2

Relate Hub is a 30-minute chat by live chat or phone with a counsellor about any pressing or day-to-day relationship issues around the rising cost of living, stress or anxiety, feeling time-crunched, and challenges with partners, children, friends or at work.

Get in touch directly to schedule a chat with a counsellor. There are a range of times available from Monday to Friday, including some evenings. Alternatively, referrals can be made via the enquiry form on the Relate website.

Please quote ‘COL support for staff – BSol’ as the subject.

Supporting you with wellbeing and dependency

Are alcohol, drugs or gambling changing the way that you think and feel about yourself, work, or life?

Aquarius Life supports people affected by alcohol, drug and gambling issues. Whether you are concerned about yourself or are affected by someone else’s problem, they can offer support or advice.

Aquarius Life can support the following:

  • Alcohol/substance use/gambling education
  • Guidance on managing risks
  • Exploring alternatives short/long-term
  • Engaging in lifestyle changes
  • Basic coping strategies and relapse prevention
  • Familial engagement

Contact Aquarius Life and Quote the reference ‘COL support for staff – BSol’.

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