Have you ever thought: ‘can you just stop the ride, please, I want to get off now’? It’s certainly crossed my mind over the last few years.
When the rollercoaster that is the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, colleagues across health and social care jumped on, strapped in and went full throttle into doing everything they could to provide safe, high-quality care for the people we’re here to serve – and we still do so today.
But unlike a ride on a big dipper, it hasn’t been a case of ‘once around the track’ and then jumping back off.
Never before has taking care of our people across health and care been more important.
At Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, we take our commitment to our workforce seriously. We’re here for each other, for everyone, at a time when it may feel like you’re only able to focus on being there for those you serve.
Over the last few years, we’ve been working alongside colleagues across the partnership to provide opportunities for support, for learning and to provide safe spaces to connect with others and discuss our shared experiences.
From men’s health to getting proper rest, from managing our money to taking care of our psychological and emotional wellbeing, thousands of places have been booked across a broad range of events designed to support those who care for our local communities.
Humber and North Yorkshire (HNY) was one of the first integrated care systems (ICSs) to become menopause friendly-accredited and we delivered Menopause Festivals in October 2021 and 2022. With the support of our network of menopause champions, we saw over 2000 places booked across 16 different sessions in October.
Why the menopause? Around 75-80% of people working in our system identify as women and around half of those are over the age of 45, yet there is still taboo around something that affects so many.
Sessions have included dedicated spaces for people who are supporting someone going through the menopause – partners, friends, family members – as well as guidance for line managers.
We have provided access to the Peppy Health app for people who need extra support with their menopause symptoms and we continue to provide information sessions around this important life stage.
But we haven’t stopped there… February 2023 saw our first Financial Wellbeing Week that included four different events as well as 60 sessions of one-to-one financial support.
We’ve developed a cost of living newsletter with the first edition focusing on money saving tips for your food shopping and we’ve rolled out access to free period products via partner organisations as part of our commitment to period dignity.
The HNY Resilience Hub continues to offer free, confidential help and support for colleagues across our system and our ‘HNY Our People’ app provides access to handy health and wellbeing information at your fingers tips.
We currently have events booked in until the middle of summer but we’re always keen to hear what colleagues might find useful, or email us at hny.wellbeing@nhs.net with your suggestions.
We are committed to continuing to do all we can to support the health and wellbeing of our people, across the whole partnership, now and in the future.
We may not be able to put the breaks on the rollercoaster, but we can sit next to and support each other to ride out the highs and the lows. We can all commit to taking care of ourselves like we take care of those we’re here to serve.
So please, if you feel like you need some support, if the ups and downs are getting too much, if you’re not sure how to get off the rollercoaster – reach out to the resilience hub. Have a look at the HNY Our People app to see what’s on offer. Come along to an informal online session…
We can’t promise you candy floss but we can promise a safe and friendly space to step back for an hour where you’ll find support and practical tips and advice.
There are no lengthy queues, no height restrictions, it’s free for everyone and all are welcome (screaming optional). We hope to see you soon.