Funding of £355k has been provided to NHS Highland by the Scottish Government to support staff health and wellbeing for those delivering health and social care services in the board wide area.
Following consultation with staff, these resources are now being allocated out to teams, including for those who work in primary and social care.
Guidance on how this resource can be used is broad, and teams are being asked to spend this in areas such as:
• measures that support staff wellbeing
• to provide additional, evidence-based emotional, pastoral and psychological support for the workforce based on locally-identified needs.
• Aiding rest and recuperation with measures such as access to hot drinks, food, appropriate transport and rest facilities
NHS Highland’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy Group would like to see staff offered something practical / pragmatic to support teams and / or individuals to 'make their working day better'.
Fiona Hogg, Director of People and Culture for NHS Highland said: “There are around 20,000 members of staff, working for the NHS, Councils and other organisations, in social care, and in primary care across Highland and Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership.
“For over two years every one of them has worked through what has been a very challenging time – from hospital staff, colleagues in Primary Care, the teams looking after our residents in care homes and those looking after our care at home clients, our support services staff and our independent contractors – everyone has had to learn and adapt to what it is like providing health and social care services to the population we serve during a pandemic.
“The challenge is far from over as we begin to move forward in a world with less restrictions while also recognising that COVID is still here and can still impact on the services we provide.
“The health and wellbeing of those who look after us is so important and I look forward to hearing how this money is spent and how teams have benefitted.”
Allocations of the funding include:
• £114k to support staff working in independent sector social care
• £26k to support staff working in GP practices
• £91k to support other NHS staff
Staff are asked to speak to their line managers in the first instance and start a discussion amongst their team how they feel this could be used.
We will be gathering in feedback as to how this money gets spent and we are looking forward to hearing some creative ideas to support staff health and wellbeing locally.