Healthy Workplace Initiatives

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Healthy Workplace Initiatives

• Jane Abraham
• SW Reg HWWB Coordinator

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Definition of a healthy workplace

• A workplace that prevents staff becoming ill by
  having a safe working environment, that supports
  staff when they are sick and in addition also
  helps all staff to become healthier and fitter
  and themselves advocates of healthier lifestyles

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Recent publications

• Health, work and well-being Caring for our
  future (DWP, DH, HSE 2005)
• Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives a cross
  government strategy for England (2008)
• Working for a Healthier Tomorrow Dame Carol
  Blacks review (2008)
• Improving Health and Work The Governments
  Response (2008)
• NHS Health and Well-Being Review Boorman Review
  (2009)

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Why invest?

• Reducing staff sickness absence
• Increased productivity
• Reducing presenteeism and functioning impairments
• Improved morale and better job satisfaction
• Reduced recruitment costs due to staff retention
• Becoming an employer of choice
• Ability to cope with change receptive and
  resilient
• Decrease in accident claims and insurance
  premiums
• Happier, fitter workforce who feel valued and
  secure

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Challenge Fund

• Aimed at small to medium enterprises with between
  1-249 employees
• Local partnerships established to help SMEs with
  workplace health agenda
• Expressions of interest and full bid closing date
  31st Dec 2009 and 31st Dec 2010
• Apply www.workingforhealth.gov.uk

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My first tasks

• Audit of where we are in the SW in terms of
• - good practice
• - resources
• - partners
• - initiatives and award schemes
• - key stakeholders
• - training and development

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What next?

• Establish a network of both stakeholders and
  businesses who have an interest in HWWB
• Provide a point of access for the latest
  information and initiatives for businesses and
  organisations
• Mental health provide line managers with the
  skills and tools to be able to identify and help
  those experiencing mental health problems
• Ensure synergy between the awards schemes
  currently available
• Assist NHS and LA to implement the
  recommendations of the Boorman Review on NHS
  Health and Wellbeing

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Some proposed resources

• Interactive online website with information on
• - internal business policies
• - self assessment tools for stress
• - new government policies and information
• - health promotion newsletter for SW
• - Signpost to providers/resources/agencies
• - highlight local good practice
• - Govt initiatives i.e. C4Life
• - PriceWaterhouseCooper toolkit

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And other ideas!

• Mentoring/buddy scheme
• Educational programme in schools of what to
  expect within a healthy workplace
• New business packs
• Online CoP for businesses to share problems and
  ideas
• Continued research into the effects of HWWB with
  academic partners

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Vision for the SW for 2011

• Raise the profile of the area and the excellent
  work that we do
• Ensure that businesses in the SW are supported to
  create a culture where staff feel valued and have
  opportunities to lead a healthier lifestyle
• Establish a sustainable programme with a robust
  network of businesses and partnerships
• Establish SW as leaders into the research of the
  effectiveness of these interventions
• An engaged and happy workforce within the public,
  private and voluntary sectors of the SW

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Quotes

• Far and away the best prize that life has to
  offer is the chance to work hard at work worth
  doing (Theodore Roosevelt)
• There are two kinds of people, those who do the
  work and those who take the credit. Try to be in
  the first group there is less competition there
  (Indira Gandhi)

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Contact details

• jane.abraham_at_gosw.gsi.gov.uk
• Telephone [phone]