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Wellbeing services

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Positive employee wellbeing can increase productivity and engagement, improve job satisfaction, and help to reduce sickness absence.

To find out more about our health, safety and wellbeing services, current prices or to discuss a bespoke package, email well-being@norfolk.gov.uk or call 01603 573562.

Wellbeing Stress Indicator Survey (coming soon)

The purpose of risk assessment is to find out whether existing control measures prevent harm or if more should be done. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Stress Indicator Survey can be used to identify whether work-related stress may be a potential problem for the workforce. It also provides a range of recommendations to address any potential stress risks accordingly. 

Our Wellbeing risk assessment includes: 

  • Completion of a confidential online assessment designed to understand employee wellbeing issues and identify potential areas of stress 
  • Provision of a bespoke report which summarises the view and experiences of the employee and provides recommendations for future improvements 

Wellbeing Action Plan support

This service assists an employee with the completion of a Wellbeing Plan. 

'My Wellbeing Plan' provides a valuable opportunity for the individual to think about, and discuss with their line manager, all the areas which impact on their wellbeing. The plan covers preferred ways of working and communicating, things that might adversely affect them at work, and what they can do to maintain good wellbeing. 

This service includes one to one support from a wellbeing representative, providing coaching and guidance to assist the employee to complete the plan. The Wellbeing representative can also help facilitate a meeting between the employee and their manager, to discuss and agree how best to support the employee. 

Wellbeing Pay As You Go advice and support service

This service offers an easy solution to access additional wellbeing help and support that is delivered in blocks of one hour and is charged at an hourly rate.

Our Pay As You Go service can be used for:

  • Guidance and support on running wellbeing development sessions
  • Coaching on wellbeing issues
  • General advice and support
  • Wellbeing mentoring for managers or employees

This service is particularly useful when you find you need extra wellbeing guidance that is not offered in our main wellbeing services. 

Psychological assessment 

Our psychological assessment service offers a clear diagnosis of an employee's mental health where it is preventing them from returning or remaining at work.  

A full psychological assessment is carried out by a member of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP). They are accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists (CBT) and qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP) covering the following areas with the employee:  

  • History 
  • Development 
  • Presenting problems 
  • Formulation including triggers 
  • Maintaining factors 
  • Risks 

Mediation

Our mediation service is designed to resolve disagreements between employees where it is affecting their working relationships.

For the resolution process to be successful, all parties involved in the dispute must be willing to work together to resolve their issues. 

Our mediation service can help resolve: 

  • Bullying and harassment 
  • Communication problems 
  • Unresolved disagreements 
  • Personality clashes 
  • Relationship breakdowns 

Mediation can be used at any stage in a dispute, but it is best to start it as soon as possible. The earlier the dispute is dealt with, the less chance there is of matters escalating. Sessions are delivered in blocks of one hour and are charged at an hourly rate. Based on our experience, in addition to administration or preparation time, the mediation will take approximately six hours of meeting time to reach a resolution.

Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation (MIRS) Scheme

The average wait for physiotherapy treatment on the NHS is eight weeks. Our MIRS offers a fast-track physiotherapy treatment service that will help employees with a musculoskeletal injury that has occurred at work, affects their ability to do their work, or is made worse by work.

This effective, fast-track scheme provides:

  • Triage assessment within 24 hours of a referral being made
  • Where appropriate, an initial treatment session offered within three working days
  • Treatment and rehabilitation to reduce the risk of injury reoccurring
  • Training for an onsite MIRS referrer
  • A discharge report
  • Access to an online portal containing useful advice and podcasts

Norfolk Support Line

Norfolk Support Line service is a confidential employee assistance programme that offers you impartial advice and support 24 hours a day. The service provides immediate telephone access to qualified professionals for issues such as:

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Bereavement
  • Stress and trauma
  • Workplace issues
  • Relationship issues
  • Finance and family difficulties

The service also offers a variety of self-help workbooks to help your employees explore several specific areas, which can be downloaded and accessed through an online portal. The service offers up to six sessions of face-to-face counselling to address short-term acute issues.

Norfolk Support Line provides advice and coaching for managers in relations to their management role. Examples of support include: 

  • Guidance in assisting staff with their problems 
  • Support in tackling difficult management issues such as coaching or delivering difficult messages 
  • Support prior to difficult one to one meetings 
  • Support in developing communication and empathy skills 
  • Assistance in supporting staff back into work after absence

Functional Capacity Evaluation

A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is a thorough assessment of an individual's musculoskeletal health. This includes looking at their ability to perform a range of movements, and activities, that would be expected in their normal life and in their specific job. The goal of an FCE is to enable the employee and manager make to decisions regarding work and musculoskeletal health based on objective information. 

An FCE would normally be requested for the following reasons: 

  • Prior to return from serious injury or illness 
  • Before or following redeployment 
  • In relation to 'ill health retirement' 
  • New employee with a history of musculoskeletal problems 
  • To understand an employee's limitations for health and safety reasons 

Workstation Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessment

This assessment optimises your working environment and desk setup by recommending adjustments to help maximise your comfort and meets the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations for working at your desk. 

The assessment will look at: 

  • The whole workstation, including equipment, furniture, and work conditions 
  • The tasks being undertaken  
  • Any special requirements of a member of staff, for example a user with a disability 
  • Where there are risks, steps to reduce them  
  • Offer advice to users who complain of pain or discomfort 

Users must also do a new workstation DSE assessment when: 

  • A new workstation is set up 
  • A new user starts work 
  • A change is made to an existing workstation or the way it used 

The assessment provides those with pre-existing musculoskeletal issues with guidance on posture, sitting, movement and the importance of exercise and desk setup. 

Workplace Assessment

Our Workplace Assessment involves a 2-4 hour onsite visit to the workplace, with the employee present, to assess what tasks they have difficulty in performing. A report will be provided within five working days detailing the employee's ability to undertake their job and the practical adjustments that might need to be put in place for them to remain at work or return to work sooner.

Remote Vehicle Assessment

This service is ideally suited to those employees who drive for work and report driving as having an impact on their musculoskeletal health. The 60-minute live video assessment will be undertaken by a qualified physiotherapist to optimise the employee's driving position and use of their vehicle. A report will be produced within five working days giving them advice on adjustments to reduce the risk of injury whilst seated in their vehicle.

Clinical Psychology Referral and Guidance 

Norfolk County Council has a stepped approach to supporting employees' mental health. This follows the National Institute for Clinical and Health Excellence, (NICE) Guidelines.  

This includes: 

  • Training managers and staff wellbeing champions 
  • Providing confidential support and counselling via Norfolk Support Line 
  • Providing psychological assessment and sessions via IPRS psychological services

Locally, access to mental health services can take a significant number of weeks or months. We can make ad-hoc referrals to our Clinical Psychology team:

  • To meet the needs of individuals with more significant, enduring or longer-term, mental health conditions
  • To support individuals in work or expedite a return to work

Occupational Health Manager Referral and Guidance 

Occupational Health (OH) relates to the effect of work on health, and the effect of health on work. 

OH will help advise whether an employee is fit to return to work, or if the implementation of reasonable adjustments may be needed. 

Referrals are managed via a secure and confidential portal and can provide guidance on: 

  • A return to work including any adjustments, if required 
  • Medical redeployment 
  • Ill health retirement 

A referral to OH can be useful if an employee has been absent from work for 4 weeks or more.  

If the absence is due to stress, anxiety, depression, other mental health problems or a pre-existing medical condition, a referral can be made sooner.