Your Wellbeing
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus how important it is for us to be healthy, happy and supported at work. We have lots of tools and resources to support with wellbeing at the council, and everything wellbeing related has now been brought together in one place, in the Our Wellbeing Offer booklet.
In addition to the booklet, we’ll share tips and ideas from across the council in this regular bulletin. We hope in these updates you’ll find some extra tools you can use to improve your wellbeing.
Winter Wellbeing
Winter is the season of shorter daylight hours and even more of that fine Yorkshire weather that we all know and love. With some of the ways we’d normally find cheer potentially off limits this year, lets take a look at some ways to help us through.
Be Active
For those working from home, it can be dark when you start work and dark when you finish. So it’s a good time to think about whether you can build in some time outside into your working day. Is it possible to take a turn around the block on your lunch break? Or why not try dialling in to some meetings from your phone?
Want to try something new? Our amazing Active Leeds are offering live streamed virtual fitness classes here. From Zumba to yoga there’s something for everyone!
Be kind
A little bit of kindness goes a long way at this time. A ‘Secret Santa’ by post could be a great way to bring a smile to colleagues’ faces. We also love this ‘Work Survival Kit’ from Shirley Morley in Business Support that she sent out to her team.
 Be connected
Though end of year get-togethers in person may be off the cards this year, there are still plenty of ways to connect. Check out our LCC colleagues Facebook group, take part in the DAWN network call a colleague campaign, or reach out to a Mental Health First Aider if you’re in need of further support – see the list of Mental Health First Aiders on Insite or call on 0113 37 83888.
Finally, for a whole host of self help resources, from a ‘Creative Coping Mechanisms’ workshop to a ‘Managing your mood through food’ video, check out the Feel Better Leeds website from NHS Leeds.
Your wellbeing at the council
Mid-year wellbeing check-ins – we’re taking a different approach to appraisals this year. Between now and the end of January you’ll have a check-in with your manager which is a chance to talk about your wellbeing, your achievements over the last six months and to ask any questions you might have about where the council is heading.
Wellbeing in the workplace webinars - Leeds Mental Wellbeing Services are offering a one-off wellbeing in the workplace session to all LCC staff. The session is designed to help you to better understand your mental wellbeing and steps you can take to improve this. The session is focussed on work and the impact this has (especially during a pandemic) on our wellbeing, but the learning can be applied both inside and outside of work. The session is on Thursday 17 December, 1pm until 3.30pm. See Insite for more information on these workplace wellbeing sessions or email wellbeing@leeds.gov.uk
How are you feeling? Our wonderful Healthy Minds network are holding regular virtual drop-in sessions on a variety of themes which give a great opportunity to listen and share with other colleagues. They’ve also been offering bespoke listening ear sessions for teams working on the frontline, such as in care homes. Email healthy.minds@leeds.gov.uk for further details.
Wellbeing for frontline colleagues - Similar to the How are you feeling sessions, Helen Saunders is also hosting facilitated discussions for frontline (not home/office based) staff to discuss how Covid is impacting on their work & lives. Initial sessions are Thursday 3 and Wednesday 16 December, both 6pm until 7pm. The sessions can be accessed on Skype via web browser on bit.ly/CELBeWell or by calling 0113 3784400 and when prompted enter the conference ID number: 3334138.
Health and wellbeing drop-ins (facilitated by Occupational Health)
With the aim of helping and supporting you during this period, the Occupational Health and Wellbeing service are running informal drop-in sessions every Wednesday afternoon. You can join the Skype call online, or alternatively by calling 0113 378 4400 and when prompted enter the conference ID number: 5970249.
Men’s wellbeing sessions
Under the umbrella of the Healthy Minds network, we have created a Men’s Wellbeing Group organised as a ‘drop-in' session running every third Thursday of the month, 3.30-4.30pm. The next session will be on the 17th December on the theme of Cardiovascular Disease. Please Join the Skype Meeting online, or alternatively by calling 0113 37 84400 and when prompted enter the conference number: 116673. This will complement work already established through the Women’s Voice network.
Wellbeing Pulse Survey 3 - thank you to everybody that filled out the latest survey. We’ll share the findings in January.
Upcoming events
International Day of Disabled People 3rd Dec – Our DAWN (Disability and Wellbeing Network) have teamed up with Leeds Anchor organisations to bring you a brilliant day of events, including many related to disability and health and wellbeing. Check out the DAWN staff network events flyer, Facebook, Twitter or email DAWN.network@leeds.gov.uk for more information. City-wide, Forum Central and the William Merritt Centre, with support from LCC Councillors and the LCC Equality Hub, have also brought together a fantastic programme of events over 1st to 4th December, including online accessible fitness sessions.
16 Days of Action against Domestic Violence – 25th November to 10th Dec - Jamie Jones-Buchanan and leaders across Leeds City Council stood up and said no to violence against women and girls for White Ribbon Day 2020 in this video. To take the pledge visit https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/day
If you are currently experiencing domestic violence or abuse please be assured that we want to support you. If you feel comfortable you could discuss your situation with your manager. Alternatively, there are a number of HR Domestic Violence Ambassadors who you and/or your manager can contact for advice about the options available to you while you are at work, information on this is on Insite. If you don’t have access to InSite an HR DV Ambassador can be contacted via the HR Advice line 0113 37 89450. For support beyond the workplace please contact the Leeds Domestic Violence Service 0113 246 0401 (24 hours) or visit their website https://ldvs.uk/ . If you are in immediate danger you should ring 999.
World Aids Day 1st December - Leeds will be marking World Aids Day 2020 by lighting the Civic Buildings in red to remember the lives that have been lost, challenge the stigma that still remains about HIV and raise awareness of the progress made in prevention and treatment. BHA Leeds Skyline are holding a remembrance event on the evening of Tuesday 1st December and you can register here: WAD event at Eventbrite here. The Lord Mayor will be opening the event and would welcome staff to join her in lighting a candle at home.
Money Awareness Week – 25th to 29th January. We’ll be joining forces with partners across the city to deliver a series of events around financial wellbeing for all council staff – more information to come in the next bulletin.
This bulletin is sent to all council staff via email with information stored securely within the GovDelivery software. Staff without council email can subscribe to the updates by visiting www.leeds.gov.uk/BeWell
If you have any tips of your own, suggestions for content, or feedback regarding this bulletin please email wellbeing@leeds.gov.uk .
|
