Wellbeing
As the strategic lead for social work, your role is to promote an environment that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of practitioners. This is done through using evidence-based safety measures at all levels. The standard highlights three core areas of focus for supporting practitioner wellbeing:
- safeguarding wellbeing and preventing harm
- responding to concerns promptly
- building and enhancing capacity
It's important to emphasise preventative measures when promoting a healthy organisational culture. Organisations are expected to:
- create a safe work environment to improve practice with open access to regular, reflective supervision. See Employer standard 5: Supervision
- develop an inclusive environment that prioritises safety and encourages speaking out
- recognise the emotional complexity and address its effect on wellbeing
- commit to removing mental health stigma
- promote open wellbeing discussions at all levels
- proactively manage safety and wellbeing risks
- include measures to prevent harassment or violence
- address the challenges of lone working
- provide practitioners with practical support, advice, and tools for their roles
- ensure wellbeing policies are flexible to meet diverse employee needs
- support evidence-informed flexible working arrangements that consider both practitioner wellbeing and service needs
- offer evidence-informed tools for self-care and wellbeing across the workforce
- use co-design to develop wellbeing frameworks and interventions, focusing on workforce wellbeing
Organisations are expected to:
- create systems that allow practitioners and managers to report issues, these issues include resource shortages and wellbeing concerns - the systems will ensure quick resolution
- set up confidential channels for disclosing wellbeing concerns and seeking extra support
- allocate enough time for wellbeing support, do this through reflection and talks - they should be in person and online
- offer guidance to supervisors and managers, direct them to further help about how to support employees with mental health conditions
Organisations are expected to:
- provide learning and development opportunities to improve coping skills and capacity
- offer relevant tools and resources
Next Page: Benefits of Achieving the Standard
The resources have been developed by
Research in Practice
in collaboration with
DfE.
Published: 30 October 2024
Last updated: 30 October 2024
Published: 30 October 2024
Last updated: 30 October 2024