Workplace Wellbeing Programme Thrive at Work Wellbeing Commitment Workplace Wellbeing Programme Sharon Lindop

Welcome to Thrive Thrive was launched by West Midlands Combined Authority at the beginning of 2017 to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in the West Midlands. One of the themes of Thrive focuses on wellbeing in the workplace using the Thrive at Work Commitment. The framework provides employers with a structured approach to workplace health and wellbeing with an extensive toolkit of resources to help meet the requirements of the commitment and achieve the Thrive Wellbeing Award. Its free, voluntary and open to any size and type of organisation.

Why is it important Why is it important A growing number of employers are already adopting measures aimed at promoting health and wellbeing among their employees. They recognise that the workplace can be used to promote or reinforce healthier working practices and lifestyle choices. They also know that they can influence several aspects of their employees physical and psychological wellbeing, helping to boost productivity, commitment and attendance levels

Thrive Evidence suggests that organisations can see a financial benefit from investing in employee health and wellbeing through reduced sickness absence, staff turnover, and improved productivity and job satisfaction Evidence suggests that organisations can see a financial benefit from investing in employee health and wellbeing through reduced absence, staff turnover and improved productivity and job satisfaction. You can read the stats for yourselves. An average sized firm with 250 employees is estimated to make a loss of £250,000 annually, due to sickness absenteeism. Promoting wellbeing can prevent problems from escalating and help create positive working environments where individuals and organisations can thrive. When we invest in keeping our team healthy, not only do they thrive, but their productivity soars, they have better engagement, and their happiness is elevated; everyone wins.

Commitment Themes The commitment contains 5 themes and 3 levels Enablers of health is the core area and covers the implementation of the policy throughout all levels. Commitment from senior members of an organisation needs to be in place to ensure that the necessary changes are possible. Mental Health and MSK health are one of the major contributors to sickness absence. 1 in 3 people suffer mental ill health. So by encouraging organisations to for-fill these criteria this will help to prevent and identify mental health and MSK issues in the workplace. The other themes are geared towards Lifestyles promotion and support on the effects of the different topics to ensure a long term healthy workforce. The commitment is awarded at different levels Bronze, Silver and Gold. The framework recognises that smaller employers may find it hard to achieve the same level of activity as larger organisations. For smaller organisations meeting the Bronze level should not involve significant financial investment and demonstrates excellence for an SME sized business. Businesses can choose to just use the framework to follow best practice and work towards the different themes to suit their business needs.

The process The organisation registers their interest to the Commitment and identifies a health champion to lead. Agree their approach and carry out the self assessment against the themes framework. Draw up an action plan and time scales. On line tool kit with national and local resources to help meet the required criteria The organisation identifies a lead officer to be responsible for leading the programme of activities known as the Health Champion. They agree the best way to approach the assessment. This will vary depending on the size and resources. Some set up small sub groups and work through the assessment together. Others will nominate staff to look at particular themes and smaller organisations in particular will ask one senior officer to work through the assessment. The organisation should work systematically across each level (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) for each of the themes. Stopping at the level where they find lots of gaps in activities. They then draw up an action plan with a section for each of the themes and identify activities or strategies to meet the gaps with timescales. Organisations who register their interest in the Commitment are offered support throughout the process. This can be through sign-posting to support services and resources to assistance with policies and procedures. An on-line tool kit is currently being developed as part of the Thrive resources with national and local resources to help meet the criteria.

Example assessment questions This is an example of one of the first criteria to undertaken a Health needs assessment. Develop a health and wellbeing policy/plan Establish a health and wellbeing champion

What you need to do This then shows you what you need to do and gives tips and resources as to how. A HNA is a good starting point for any wellbeing programme its purpose is for the organisation to assess their needs and priorities around health and work and find out the main issues affecting staff in the workplace. We offer access to a free on-line HNA questionnaire which covers the main topics and issues required to be able to build a wellbeing strategy based on the results of the survey. 

Accreditation of the Award The accreditation involves three stages: A review of evidence Interviewing members of staff Tour of the site Once an organisation has been successfully assessed, the Thrive Award is presented along with the logo. The organisation is placed on the register of Thrive Award Holders and their case study will be marketed through the webpages.

Accreditation of the Award The supporting evidence documents are uploaded through the on-line dashboard. This is reviewed by the Assessor and will either be approved or rejected if further details are required. Once the criteria is fulfilled it will be marked as completed. . If the organisation wishes to gain the award they need to gather a collection of evidence to show that the criteria has been meet. This can take a variety of forms. The supporting evidence documents are uploaded through the on-line dashboard. This is reviewed by the Assessor and will either be approved or rejected if further details are required. Once the criteria is fulfilled it will be marked as completed. You go through each of the criteria and once it is all completed you will then be ready for a site visit. A tour of the main sites is undertaken, which helps to get a feel for the culture, the staff facilities notice boards displaying information etc. And members of staff are interviewed. Once the organisation has been successfully assessed the Thrive Award certificate and logo will be given to display as an exemplar employer and the organisation is listed on the register of award holders. They will be invited to be celebrated at an awards ceremony.

Free toolkit, accreditation & awards Sign up today Sign up now for the Thrive at Work Workplace Wellbeing Awards www.wmca.org.uk/thriveatwork 0121 214 7861 Free toolkit, accreditation & awards Contact Sharon Lindop sharon.lindop@wmca.gov.uk 07557208863 So you have heard all the evidence so wants stopping you getting signed up today We are here to answer any question so come and pick up details and speak to us at our stand.