MD Kate Jackson says she has been encouraged by the large uptake of businesses seeking advice on how to set up their own mental health policies and how to support staff at work
The new training facility at Wellbeing Therapy Solutions’ new premises which can hold up to 12 delegates.
Just over four years ago, the ‘Thriving at Work’ paper was published – the Stevenson/Farmer Review of mental health and employers.
The document was produced after a request from the then Prime Minister, Teresa May who wanted to find out how employers could better help employees with ‘mental ill-health or poor wellbeing’ in all kinds of employment, ‘to remain in and thrive through work’.
The fascinating 84-page review made a series of recommendations which encouraged and urged companies to implement measures that would aid and improve the mental health and wellbeing of their employees.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic that has made the last two years incredibly testing for everyone, those recommendations seem even more prevalent now.
Recommendations
Wellbeing Therapy Solutions (WTS) have experienced a large uptake of businesses seeking advice on how to set up their own mental health policies at work and also supporting members of staff to complete Mental Health First Aid courses, all of which can now be held at WTS’ wonderful new premises near Leicester.
The recommendations of ‘Thriving at Work’ still offer excellent advice for any company, particularly small ones or SMEs, who are looking into how they can provide support for their staff.
They say that even the smallest of companies can…
Produce, implement and communicate a mental health at work plan
Develop mental health awareness among employees
Encourage open conversations about mental health and the support available when employees are struggling
Provide your employees with good working conditions
Promote effective people management
Routinely monitor employee mental health and wellbeing
Those suggestions can not only help make staff more aware of how to help themselves and their colleagues but can also provide the impetus to help keep more members of staff at work – and not sadly off work with mental health difficulties.
Mental health support
Wellbeing Therapy Solutions MD Kate Jackson said: “It has been very encouraging to see so many businesses, schools, charities and other organisations make positive moves to offer more mental health support to their staff and members in recent times.
“The pandemic has hit all of us and more and more people are struggling with their mental health as a result. Unfortunately, we cannot just switch off from mental health worries when we enter the workplace.
“So, measures that are put in place by employers to support their staff are crucial and, as we have found, very welcomed by the workforce too. Statistically, they are likely to have less days off work if resources are investment are there to provide support for staff’s mental health.
Training room
“Wellbeing Therapy Solutions provide a whole range of training and education to employers to help them to help their staff – and our new premises now have a specific training room which can host up to 12 delegates for various courses and workshops.
“WTS also offer a flexible employee assistance programme whereby our experienced team of occupational therapists can offer assessments and interventions for employees experiencing mental health challenges. Our team can support a person to remain in work by making recommendations for reasonable adjustments and also develop return to work plans for anyone who has needed to take time off due to their mental health.
“We don’t offer packages, we work with each individual business to create services that meet their needs and budget. Examples of current services to businesses include group wellbeing workshops, Mental Health First Aid training, 1:1 therapy sessions, mental health awareness sessions, consultancy for development of a mental health strategy/policy and assessment and recommendations for return to work plans.
With the NHS under tremendous strain, Wellbeing Therapy Solutions is now better equipped to help more people in a shorter amount of time
Wellbeing Therapy Solutions’ experienced and expanded team are driven to support those people who have struggled to get the help they need during the Covid-19 pandemic.
MD Kate Jackson has not only moved the business to beautifully designed new premises for 2022, she has also welcomed four new occupational therapists to her growing set-up.
All new members of the dedicated group specialise in different areas of therapy and means there are now six occupational therapists available for appointments with Wellbeing Therapy Solutions.
Kate says her reasons for expanding have been developed due to the incredible increase in demand for her services in 2021 and a willingness to try and reach those people who have not been able to access services through the NHS, as quickly as they may have hoped to.
Mental Health NHS services
“The demands placed on mental health services in the NHS, such as CAMHS, during the coronavirus outbreak in the UK have been well reported and unprecedented. They have put a huge strain on the NHS’s dedicated therapists and staff members,” said Kate.
“Unfortunately, despite their sterling efforts, there just isn’t enough support to make sure that those in need are seen as quickly as may have previously been the case.
“I know that everyone in the NHS will be working as hard as they can to help as many people as possible during this difficult period.
“But I also know that the numbers of adults and young people requiring support for a myriad of mental health challenges has increased dramatically so Wellbeing Therapy Solutions are now better equipped to deal with the amount of enquiries we have had.
Wide variety of therapies
“Myself and our therapists: Marjolein, Beth, Rebecca, Lindsey and Clare all bring their own experience to the group and specialism in a wide variety of therapies.
“We feel that this gives Wellbeing Therapy Solutions the ability to reach more people that may be struggling in the New Year. Through a limited amount of sessions with us, we hope to get them looking forward and helping them develop practical plans to put themselves in a better place.”
Wellbeing Therapy Solutions’ new, modern premises on Braunstone Lane, near Leicester (shared with the Bodie Hodges Foundation) are warm, inviting and have a calm waiting room for parents, family or friends if they would like to accompany and support any visitors.
Bookings are now being taken for one-to-one sessions and are invited to be directed to kate@wellbeingtherapysolutions.co.uk who will put clients in touch with the therapist who can offer them specific support based on their background work and areas of expertise.
OT Marjolein Cleaver speaks with MD Kate Jackson (left) and new OT Rebecca Woods (right) at WTS’ new premises.
Team excited by bright, welcoming and comfortable new premises
Wellbeing Therapy Solutions are heading into 2022 with a bang!
Due to incredibly high demand for its services during 2021, the therapy provider is moving into expanded premises with a greatly extended team.
Wellbeing Therapy Solutions will share lovely new modern premises on Braunstone Lane near Leicester with the Bodie Hodges Foundation, a very popular Leicestershire-based charity, which provides amazing support for families bereaved of a child.
The new building has free parking and will be fully-equipped with calming therapy rooms, toilets, a kitchen and a waiting area for families and friends.
Moving into specious new premises has allowed MD Kate Jackson to expand her team with the addition of four new occupational therapists who all bring different backgrounds and experience to the set-up.
Kate, along with current OT Marjolein Cleaver will be joined by Beth Gardiner, Rebecca Woods, Clare Pinchess and Lindsey Mitchell for what promises to be a very busy 2022.
“I am incredibly excited to have brought a group of OTs to the business who have such a wide range of experience and who are all united in our drive to offer support to as many people as possible during these challenging times,” she said.
“To be able to link up with the tremendous people at the Bodie Hodges Foundation is amazing too and means that we can share a lovely, modern building that offers space, warmth and light to create a welcoming environment that visitors feel comfortable in.
“I have been looking long and hard for new premises and this is the ideal setting for where I would like to take our services in the future.”
Wellbeing Therapy Solutions are open for one-to-one bookings for the New Year for both adults and young people.
Find out more about the services available by emailing kate@wellbeingtherapysolutions.co.uk or visiting www.wellbeingtherapysolutions.co.uk
Our children are being well looked after on their return to school but who is looking after the teachers and their support staff?
While our children return to school after the summer holidays, there has been lots of talk around how we secure their safety, wellbeing and positive mental health after what has been a really tough 18 months for them.
But who is securing the wellbeing and mental health of the people we are charging with that task?
Who is looking after the teachers and support staff at our schools?
It was great to facilitate and encourage some support for those very people on a visit to Loughborough High School, a private school for girls, the other day.
The pandemic seems to have gone on for so long, it is easy to forget how much fun face-to-face delivery can be and it was really good to interact with so many people, both teachers, assistants, support staff and the senior management team, led by head teacher Fiona Miles.
Hybrid Event
There were still some people isolating from home, however, but they joined in via Zoom for what I am proud to call my second ever hybrid event!
I started the session with some ideas and discussions around how education staff can support the wellbeing needs of their students and learn a little more about particular topics, but the main focus of my session was to offer support and wellbeing tips to the staff.
School staff across the country have had to deal with so many changes on a regular basis during the pandemic, as well as get on with their jobs as question marks have remained over their safety in the classroom.
Some of those fears are naturally still there as Covid continues to spread through society so it is really important that school staff help each other to look after themselves.
Engaged audience
The Loughborough High School team were a really engaged audience and while I delivered some ideas which could benefit them over the coming term and beyond, I also made sure that we discussed the topics in question so different ideas could be shared and put into practical use.
Thanks to everyone who took part and I hope the topics we discussed can provide you all with some help, ideas and support over the coming months.
As within lots of walks of life, it is important that we do what we can to support each other during these testing times.
So, when you are thinking about your own children’s wellbeing at school this term, just spare a thought for the teachers and support staff whose job it is to provide guidance, and calming leadership in the face of a storm. Anything you can do to have a positive effect on their wellbeing, will be very well received I can assure you.
Making the decision to seek help with any personal issues is a sign of strength, though it can feel like a big step. So we want to be clear about what you can expect with Wellbeing Therapy Solutions
Making the decision to seek help with any personal issues is a sign of strength, though can feel like a big step.
That’s why we want to make what you can expect if you make an enquiry about the services we offer at Wellbeing Therapy Solutions as clear as possible.
Every enquiry will be treated confidentially with respect and compassion and without judgement.
We will always explore whether our therapy options are the right approach for you first of all and, if we jointly agree that they are, each individual session with your therapist will be tailored to enable you to find a positive way forward.
We will collaborate to develop practical strategies and both realistic and achievable goals.
We will also enable you to find ways to feel supported outside of our sessions.
As always, if you have any further questions, please get in touch with kate@wellbeingtherapysolutions.co.uk
