This page is for staff only; information regarding our services can be found here.
Looking after my own health and wellbeing
Looking after my own health and wellbeing
How can I look after my own health and wellbeing?
We've collated 5 basic tips for looking after your own health and wellbeing with top tips for you! It might seem like common sense, but it's important we get the basics right and start with firm foundations.
Prioritise sleep and rest
- Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night
- Recharge during your breaks
- Consider practicing mindfulness, meditation or breathing exercises
Stay physically active
- Take short walks or stretch when you can
- Use the stairs if possible
- Consider accessing the free Couchto5k app to improve your fitness
Eat well and stay hydrated
- Plan balanced meals and healthy snacks
- Avoid too much sugar and caffeine
- Keep a refillable water bottle handy and stay hydrated
Take time off
- Take your annual leave regularly to rest and reset
- Engage in hobbies and activities outside of work
Access mental health support
- Talk to a colleague or manager if feeling overwhelmed
- Use CWPT's support services if you need to
For details of the teams and individuals across the Trust who are ready to listen and support you:
Managers and supervisors
Prioritise regular supervision and use the space to try to process things that happen during work and impact on your wellbeing. Take part in wellbeing discussions in supervision sessions and in annual appraisals. As the adage goes 'a problem shared is a problem halved'. Sometimes, just talking about an issue can really help. These meetings are a perfect opportunity to speak to your line manager or clinical supervisor about the things that are going well, and where there are challenges.
Want to get more from your supervision and/or appraisal? The Trust now offers 'How to have meaningful supervision and appraisals' training, which is aimed at both team members and team leaders. Find out more on the Talent Platform:
Talk about what is affecting you with your manager, clinical supervisor, team or professional lead as soon as possible to address the issues you are experiencing. Keep speaking up if you don't get what you need the first time.
Professional Advocates
A professional advocate is a recognised clinical leadership and advocacy role within the NHS. Originally developed for midwives, the role now supports nurses, nursing associates, and allied health professionals (AHPs) using the AEQUIP model (Advocating and Educating for QUality ImProvement).
Our professional advocates are here to listen, inspire, and empower nurses, nursing associates and AHPs through confidential restorative clinical supervision (RCS) and career conversations. RCS offers a dedicated space for healthcare professionals to process experiences in their role and reflect on their practice, development, wellbeing, and the experiences of the people they support. Professional advocates can support reflective discussions one-to-one, or as a group.
Coaching
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust fully supports the use of coaches and mentors within the workplace setting and actively encourages you to explore this opportunity.
Coaching is available to provide you with positive support and feedback on individual or group objectives. For those people who have a coach they may find that they feel more supported and motivated, it can increase confidence and ultimately improve performance. A coach will help you reach your full potential and can be used to help you reach specific goals within work and beyond. For more info:
Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
In our Trust, we want an open culture where everyone feels safe to highlight concerns or poor practice when they see it, without the fear of repercussion or reprisal. Our Freedom to Speak Up Guardians are here to listen to staff who have concerns about patient care or safety, staff wellbeing, misconduct or fraud. For more info:
Chaplaincy department
The Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Team exists to support staff as much as service users, carers and visitors. The team provide a confidential listening and support service for all staff, and this can take place through formalised sessions such as referrals from Occupational Health, self-referrals or informal meetings. You don't have to be religious to make contact and we are always available so please do ask. You can contact Simon Moult, Chaplain amd Coordinator of Faith Services via email Simon.Moult@covwarkpt.nhs.uk or call: 07767 005987. For more info:
Equality, diversity and inclusion support
Whilst ensuring that staff are advised and supported on the wider equality agenda through training, the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Team support staff who may have experienced harassment, bullying or verbal abuse because of their religion or belief, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, sex or sexual orientation. We provide a confidential listening support service to all staff and patients. Support is also available to users and carers from minority groups to support them through their healthcare journey. Contact the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Team on 024 7684 4031. For more info:
Mental Health First Aid trained colleagues
The Trust has a number of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trained staff across the Trust, based in various bases. Staff who are MHFA trained can be identified by the MHFA badge and lanyard.
...with your team, in your service and with wider Trust staff networks.
A sense of shared purpose and working together as a team protects staff wellbeing. Take part in events in your service or across the Trust, contribute when asked for feedback or engagement.
Find out more about Trust Initiatives for connection here:
Sometimes we just need a quiet space to reflect on our work. The Trust offers a number of options to support staff to reflect on their own or part of a structured group session.
Talk to someone and sort things out as soon as possible
Talk about what is affecting you with your manager, clinical supervisor, team or professional lead as soon as possible to address the issues you are experiencing. Keep speaking up if you don't get what you need the first time.
For details of the teams and individuals across the Trust who are ready to listen and support you:
Adjustments can be made to your working arrangements to support your wellbeing. More information about adjustments:
Having access to learning and development opportunities is essential to staff wellbeing in the NHS. It empowers individuals with the skills and confidence to deliver high-quality care, reduces stress through competence, and supports personal growth and career satisfaction and retention.
Find out more about Trust learning and development initiatives here:
The work that we do can often be challenging but evidence suggests that remembering and celebrating the things that go well, even in a small way, can be protective of our wellbeing. Allow yourself time to focus on the things that are going well and celebrate in team meetings or your 1:1s. Find out about positive developments in the Trust here.
Details of the Trust's reward and recognition initiatives can be found here:
Don't forget to share your wins with the Communications Team so they can feature your achievements in Trust communications and consider the awards and recognition section of this guide.
Access Trust financial wellbeing initiatives and support
The Trust offers a number of financial wellbeing initiatives, from access to discounts to debt advice. You can see a detailed list of the Trust's financial wellbeing initiatives on offer .
