Commitment to staff wellbeing recognised at awards ceremony

The achievement is a standard of good practice and a quality mark that recognises the efforts John Taylor Hospice has made to create a thriving workplace – with employee health and wellbeing at the core of its company values.

Gail Hipkiss, Director of Corporate and Commercial Services and the charity’s Wellbeing Champion, said: “We have made significant investments in workplace wellbeing and as a result have reaped the benefits by becoming a happier and healthier workforce. 

“We’re very proud to have achieved Bronze Level accreditation and I would like to say a special thank you to our Thrive Wellbeing Team. In addition to their usual roles the team has achieved amazing results – leading the way by introducing new initiatives, embedding cultural changes and taking positive action to improve the health and wellbeing of their colleagues.

“John Taylor Hospice has a clear commitment to staff welfare and there has never been a more critical time to look after employee health and wellbeing. And we look forward to developing our Thrive at Work programme even further to ensure our hospice remains an open and supportive working environment where employees feel engaged with, informed and valued.”

Here are some of the Thrive at Work initiatives introduced at John Taylor Hospice:

• The hospice has a Wellbeing Policy in place and has signed up to the ‘Time to Change’ employer pledge and ‘This is Me’ campaign. The hospice has also invested in Mental Health First Aid training for several members of staff. 
• Staff activities have included Dry January with non-alcoholic drinks, March’s Stop Smoking event where staff got together and a colleague dressed as a giant cigarette to give out quizzes, and staff blogs from senior team members in support of mental health awareness.
• Other initiatives included the launch of a book group, a walking group, a badminton club, weekly mindfulness and yoga sessions, compassion circles and a cycle to work scheme.
• The team widely disseminates news through newsletters, posters, emails and presentations.