We are dedicated to your wellbeing
The Council has a wellbeing group which brings together expertise from HR, Communications, IT, Health and Safety and Public Health. The Council offers a range of supportive resources and activities for staff, including:
- Putting wellbeing at the heart of 1:1 conversations – the 'Our Conversations' framework encourages a specific discussion on wellbeing.
- An Employee Assistance Programme, provided by Health Assured which offers confidential advice 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Services include counselling, bereavement, legal, financial and medical support.
- Colleagues specially trained to listen and signpost when you need help, including mental health first aiders, and Respect at Work contacts.
- Regular employee engagement surveys, to seek feedback and understand how people are feeling about important topics at work.
Wellbeing workshops
All staff are invited to a monthly Wellbeing Hour delivered by external speakers and internal specialists. They are a great chance to have a break from work and to focus on yourself. Sessions are recorded wherever possible and posted, along with relevant resources, on the Wellbeing Hub.
Our other wellbeing initiatives
Our other wellbeing initiatives include:
- Putting wellbeing at the heart of 1:1 conversations – the 'Our Conversations' framework encourages a specific discussion on wellbeing.
- An active Equality and Diversity Network, including peer support groups.
- Making sure people get space for breaks throughout their day – We have introduced the ‘Protected Hour’ where colleagues are supported to avoid scheduling internal meetings during 1pm-2pm as well as building breaks into longer meetings and starting meetings at 5 past the hour or ending at 5 to the hour.
- Similarly, to the Protected Hour, colleagues have also been encouraged to add ‘focus time’ in their calendar to encourage focused work without any distractions.
- Flexible working such as 9-day fortnights, part-time, and hybrid working.
- Encouraging work-life balance and using Office 365 to support ideas such as a virtual commute, using Headspace. With most working remotely for all or some of their job, it’s easy to continue working late every day – we encourage people to stop at the end of their daily hours. Work life balance is important.
