Welcome

Welcome to April's wellbeing update. April is Stress Awareness Month and we've included guidance for managing stress at work, and information and support for coping with stress outside of work.

We've also featured two colleagues who work to support your health, safety and wellbeing - Suzy Zammit and Lynda Martin. We hope you find this update useful and please feel free to share with colleagues. 

Stress awareness

Stress Awareness Month takes place every April and aims to raise awareness of the causes, signs and coping strategies for stress.

Stress is the adverse reaction we experience in response to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on us. Whether those increasing demands come from our work or personal lives, many of us will go through periods when it is hard to cope.

Managing stress at work

Everyone experiences some sort of stress at work. However, sometimes this stress can become overwhelming, and it can affect our ability to deal with both significant issues and even day-to-day matters.

We have a legal duty to protect you from stress at work by carrying out a risk assessment and acting upon it. If you are experiencing problems with your stress:

• talk to your manager (or a colleague, HR, trade union representative, GP or Occupational Health).
• follow the advice given in Stress – Where to go for help
• complete a stress risk assessment with your manager or other nominated person

Following feedback from staff and unions, we have updated the stress risk assessment process. The new streamlined process provides more information about the support available and allows for a more detailed assessment to take place. The new risk assessment and supporting documents can be found under documents on the stress awareness intranet page.

Please email HealthSafetyPCC@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or Suzanne.Zammit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, Staff Wellbeing Coordinator, for more information and advice.

Resources for you

Stress awareness intranet pages

Our stress awareness intranet pages have guidance on the signs and symptoms of stress, self-care tips and activities to help manage stress.

Find out more

Employee Assistance Programme

Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is here to support you with life's ups and downs including any concerns related to work, housing, relationships, money, health and wellbeing, rights and retirement.

Access Employee Assistance Programme online by using the organisation code PCCuser. Under the My Wellbeing section, there is a range of resources aimed at helping with stress, as well as other wellbeing topics such as anxiety and worry. EAP is also available at any time by calling 0800 1116 387.

Find out more

NHS Every Mind Matters

The NHS Every Mind Matters site offers excellent support and tips on how to manage your stress - including a video on things you can do and a 'mind plan' to help deal with stress, improve your sleep and boost your mood.

Find out more

Bookboon

Bookboon is a free platform offering audios and eBooks on a wide selection of topics including wellbeing. This week, we have featured titles on dealing with stress. We hope you find these helpful and please feel free to share with your colleagues.

Keep Moving: Building your Resilience This expert talk walks you through the process of developing resilience and being able to stand up against anything. Download

Practical Mindfulness Wisdom teachings and practical exercises to help deepen your awareness, significantly reduce your stress and become more mindful. Download

Expert Talk: Tips on Stress and Happiness Listen in to learn new perspectives on stress, happiness and how habits affect how we perceive our outer world. Download

Lunchtime yoga

Learn about the wellbeing benefits of yoga by joining a special lunchtime learning session led by Jo Florio on Tuesday 26 April from 12.30pm - 1.30pm.

Jo works in the Careers and Progression team and is an experienced yoga teacher. She will lead an introduction to breath work and a guided meditation - which you can do at your desk or lying down. Everyone is welcome and please contact lunchtimelearning@portsmouthcc.gov.uk for an invite.

Meet the team

We have a dedicated group of colleagues working to support your health, safety and wellbeing at work. Today, meet two people who are integral to this work - Suzy Zammit and Lynda Martin.

Meet Suzy Zammit - Staff Wellbeing Coordinator

"Hello, I'm the interim Staff Wellbeing Coordinator for the council which involves delivering our staff wellbeing strategy, coordinating our excellent wellbeing champions network and ensuring staff have the wellbeing provisions they need. 

I've worked within Children and Families Services for 10 years in a number of different roles, the most recent being the Fostering Business Support Team Leader. Staff wellbeing was a really important part of my previous role and I'm passionate about supporting all staff members to improve and maintain their mental health and emotional wellbeing both at work and in their personal lives.

I'm currently completing a Level 2 Counselling Skills course and a Level 2 Awareness of Mental Health Problems course, which I'm hoping will provide me with a better understanding of the different types of mental health problems and possible causes.

We have lots of plans for the remainder of the year and I'm looking forward to having open conversations with colleagues to learn what more we can do to support staff wellbeing, so feel free to contact me at any time if you have any suggestions."

Meet Lynda Martin - Corporate Health and Safety Manager

"Hello, I joined the council last spring as Corporate Health and Safety Manager and lead the Corporate Health and Safety team of Andy Kill, Kim Langley and Holly Richards.

We are health and safety professionals, proud to provide specialist advice, training and support to members, managers and staff - committed to helping to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and those affected by the council's activities Over the past year, I have been busy reviewing the council's health and safety provision and have produced an action plan.

You can find details of the action plan and progress updates in the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Board meeting minutes on the Health and Safety intranet page. We have also produced a Health and Safety Strategy which aims to:

• modernise the health and safety culture and policy in the council, achieving continuous improvement through integrating health and safety into business decisions, management leadership and the involvement and commitment of staff
• ensure managers are provided with the procedures and guidance they need for legal compliance and the safety and wellbeing of staff and those affected by our activities
• make our processes as easy and efficient as possible, and provide easy access to health and safety information and training for staff and managers
• ensure a proportionate approach to risk when delivering our public services, activities, and community events

We will keep you posted on our work and if you need any further information or advice about any health and safety issues, please email HealthSafetyPCC@portsmouthcc.gov.uk."