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Carers/support workers - how does your work help your health?

2 replies

hrqs · 29/09/2019 12:10

I hope people don't mind me trying to pick your brains for this! Name changed to keep away from my main account.

What health/wellbeing/wellness initiatives does your work do that really benefit you? My company provides care to adults with learning difficulties, so our workforce is split 10% in head office and 90% operational staff out there in the community doing the hard work. We have one of those medical benefits to claim back dentistry etc and an employee helpline for counselling that everyone can access. Other than that we offer free water and fruit, but it's really only beneficial to the 10-15% of staff on site at head office, and the 85-90% only when they're on site a few times a year for training.

I can't believe we don't do more for our core staff, and want to change that but I appreciate it's very difficult for a remote workforce in a government funded company with limited funds. Engagement is low as might be expected in a low paid challenging job role without a history of caring for staff, and so we're not getting much back from the staff in terms of suggestions for what they want. I think it will take time but that by starting to introduce some wellbeing initiatives we can get some staff on board and start to make changes for the better.

So far we're looking at: mental health training/mental health first aiders, free holistic therapies once a month, discounted driving lessons, free workplace library. What would you think of any of those? What do you wish your work did? Or what does your work offer that you think is brilliant?

OP posts:
Aldilogue · 30/09/2019 04:19

My work can offer all they like but until more staff are rostered on, we’ll all feel the same, stressed and overworked. The shifts where we have full staff and we are training student staff make me like my job more.

JemilyJ · 30/09/2019 07:46

Not a carer but a service user (physical disability, home care). It strikes me that like a PP what would help the carers who come to me more is for there to be more staff so people aren’t constantly being guilt tripped to work longer hours and days off. And also most of their driving time between clients could do with 5 mins adding to.

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