ALEXANDRA PRESCOTT CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES & RICHARD JAGO CULTURAL OPERATIONS MANAGER LIFELONG LEARNING & LEISURE

Management Development Programme Improving Together: Delivering Excellence

Linkage To Scrutiny Committee On Obesity Two Projects Developing a Healthy Workforce Promoting Physical Exercise to Improve the Health of the Workforce

Why choose these topics? National agenda Cost of staff sickness to the Council is excessively high. Improved staff morale, increased performance, greater staff retention reduced absenteeism.

Wider Relevance The Council as a catalyst: 8,900 employees Domino effect Leading by example

Methodology What we currently have in place. Staff survey to gauge needs/ opinions. Research to ascertain best practice from national & international companies. Short term and long term recommendations.

Current Initiatives Flexi time Work unrelated learning Work life balance programme Staff concession on Platinum Card Membership

Staff Survey Staff were asked to rate 28 statements in relation to what was important to their health. Highlight 6 statements that were most important in making them feel healthy. 6 statements that reflected areas they would like to improve. What the Council could do to help.

Results Some of the top responses to what people perceive as being healthy: Being able to run without feeling out of breath. Eating the right food Being a healthy weight Taking part in sport

Results (cont.) Things staff would most like to improve: 30% ~ eating the right food. 21.5% ~ being a healthy weight. 19% ~ taking part in sport 11% ~ feeling healthy

Results (cont.) What the Council could do to help: 14% ~ Subsidised sports facilities. 10% ~ Offer and encourage healthy eating options. 7% ~ Lunchtime exercise classes. 4% ~ Regular health checks.

Best Practice Wellness programmes. Health observance days. On site health checks. Subsidised access to leisure facilities. Organised exercise and fitness classes Events Promotion

Outputs Chelsea Community Hospital America ~ “Wellness Programme”: 79% improvement in employee cholesterol. 41% improvement in employee blood pressure. Significant improvement in staff absenteeism.

Outputs Union Pacific Railway ~ “Staff Exercise Programme”: 80% staff felt that exercise was helping them to be more productive. 75% of staff believed that exercise was helping them to achieve higher levels of relaxation and concentration.

Outputs (cont..) Dupont Group ~ “Corporate Exercise Programme” 47.5% reduction in staff absenteeism over a six year period.

Ouputs (cont.) Duncan Aviation ~ “Health Awareness Programme” Eliminated 60% of identified employee health risks (high blood pressure, obesity, smoking) over a 13 year period.

Short Term Recommendations Regular employee health checks. Health Bus to tour outlying workplaces. Annual health promotion days. Access to greater healthy eating options in staff canteens.

Short Term Recommendations (cont.) Lunchtime information sessions on healthy eating and exercise. Greater promotion of what is currently available.

Long Term Recommendations Sign up to the Healthy Workplace Scheme developed by the Primary Care Trust. Provide resources and support to implement the scheme. Workplace health should be embedded in or strategies & polices. Free/ discounted use of Council run leisure facilities for employees.

Summary “Good health is good leadership!” A healthy South Tyneside Council could well lead to a healthy South Tyneside