Key Documents, Guidance and Policy on Workforce Wellbeing
NHS Staff Survey 2020. National results briefing. Survey Co-ordination Centre.
This survey was undertaken during the pandemic (October- November 2020) and received 595,270 responses from the 1.2 million NHS staff (47% response rate). The questions asked on wellbeing were:
- Satisfaction with opportunities for flexible working
- Trusts taking positive action on health and wellbeing
- Feeling unwell as a result of work related stress in the last 12 months
- Musculoskeletal problems as a result of work activities in the last 12 months
- Going to work in the last 3 months despite not feeling well enough
Workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care. Second House of Commons Report 18/05/21
The committee that produced the report was comprised of MPs, who were given evidence by 99 organisations including the GMC, NMC, BMA and Royal Colleges. Witnesses including Prof Michael West (King’s Fund), Prerana Issar (NHS Chief People Officer) and Dr Chaand Nagpul (Chair of BMA council) also gave evidence. Read more about the report in our blog.
WE ARE THE NHS: People Plan 2020/21 – action for us all
This plan from NHS E, NHS I and HEE published in July 2020 outlines the plans for collaboration across health and social care, for more staff, and for existing staff to be looked after and to belong in a compassionate, inclusive and innovative culture. For more information read our blog.
NHS Staff and Learners Mental Wellbeing Commission. Health Education England.
This report addresses a broad population: from secondary school aged young people who could work in the NHS, to those currently working in the NHS, whether they be nurses, doctors, paramedics, or any another member of NHS staff. The difficulties unique to NHS staff and learners are outlined and case studies of solutions are given, along with recommendations for NHS organisations, universities, UK Foundation Programme, Royal Colleges, Health Education England, Department of Health and Social Care, UCAS, Regulators, Representative bodies and NHS Careers.
This report considers current trends in staffing and means of improving recruitment and retention of health and care staff.
Healthy Workforce Programme. NHS England.
A collaboration between NHS England, Dame Carol Black, NHS Employers, Public Health England and the Social Partnership Forum. The group considered the core ideals needed to support staff health and wellbeing. As a pilot, eleven NHS organisations offered the following over a two-year period:
- Supporting and developing board level leadership and engagement
- Developing core line management training
- Supporting and enabling healthier food choices
- On-site NHS Health Checks
- Rapid access to health services, such as physiotherapy and talking therapies, promoting physical activity.
Workforce Health and Wellbeing Framework. Get Started. NHS Employers.
Informed by the NHS England Healthy Workforce Programme, the Health and Wellbeing Framework is an interactive document that lists the core standards needed to support the NHS workforce’s health and wellbeing.
Quality Framework. Health Education England.
This document sets out the domains, expectations and standards for high-quality training and education in work-based learning environments. It provides metrics for 6 quality domains:
- Learning environment and culture
- Educational governance and leadership
- Supporting and empowering learners
- Supporting and empowering educators
- Delivering curricula and assessments
- Developing a sustainable workforce
NHS Staff Survey 2019. National results briefing. Survey Co-ordination Centre, NHS England.
This survey has been conducted every year since 2003, although not all of the 300 organisations that completed this year’s survey will have the same amount of historic data. Out of the 1.1 million staff invited to take part, 569,440 completed the survey. Questions and results are split into 11 broad themes by the NHS England Survey Co-ordination Centre: 1) Equality, diversity and inclusion, 2) Health and wellbeing, 3) Immediate managers, 4) Morale, 5) Quality of appraisals, 6) Quality of care, 7) Safe environment –bullying and harassment, 8) Safe environment – violence, 9) Safety culture and 10) Staff engagement, 11) Team working.
Wellbeing Support
This resource from NHS E and NHS I offers:
• a dedicated health and care staff support service, including confidential support via phone and text messages
• specialist bereavement support
• free access to mental health and wellbeing apps
• guidance for key workers on how to have difficult conversations with their children
• group and one-to-one support, including specialist services to support our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) colleagues
• mental health resources and support, including for people affected by suicide
• a series of webinars providing a forum for support and conversation with experts.