The government has launched new guidance for care workers to help them manage their personal mental health.
‘Health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce’ is for people who work in adult social care and provides employers with guidance and tools
The guidance comes at a time when the country is still learning to live with COVID-19 and the Government continues to recognise the ‘dedication and commitment’ shown by care workers and others throughout the pandemic.
It adds: ‘Care workers, caterers, cleaners, nurses, occupational therapists, personal assistants, registered managers, social workers and others have all had a crucial role in ensuring that people’s needs are met.’
Consider your health and wellbeing
The guidance states that it’s crucial that all those providing care and support – both employers and employees – take some time to think about their own colleagues, residents and family’s health, safety and wellbeing now more than ever before.
It says social care staff may still be concerned about several things, including:
- The desire to continue to provide high-quality services will result in worry or anxiety for some people – particularly when absences among colleagues are adding to individual workloads
- Social care staff will face challenges caused by the pandemic in their personal lives too and will be worried for themselves and their own families
- While not all care workers have high-risk dependants, there are many who will have school-age or pre-school children, or other care duties, and are balancing an increasing workload and are less able to take time off
- Many registered managers are struggling to maintain resilience – it’s important that, as far as possible, we safeguard the wellbeing of those who work in adult social care
Support for registered managers
For registered managers, the guidance stresses the importance of peer support and signposts resources. Skills for Care has opened its members Facebook group to other registered managers and frontline managers in similar roles. This is used to share advice, experiences and good practice.
Also, registered manager networks can offer local support and are establishing WhatsApp groups to allow registered managers to stay in touch.
Skills for Care also provides an advice telephone line (0113 241 1260) and email inbox ([email protected]).
Additional support from Skills for Care for registered managers can be found online:
- Deputy manager networksprovide an opportunity for deputies to build supportive networks and share experiences and ideas with others
- Registered manager webinarsare 30-minutes long and cover a range of topics to support managers and their services. They are all delivered to a live audience and recorded for further viewing
- Good and Outstanding care (GO) range of resourcesdraws on practical examples from Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports and regulated providers, to share best practice, help managers prepare for inspection and improve their services
Guidance for lone workers
For domiciliary care workers, personal assistants and those working in isolated services, Skills for Care provides guidance on how to support staff who regularly work alone. It includes a section on supporting mental health and wellbeing and on communication and support.
Skills for Care has developed the Workforce Wellbeing Resource Finder, which makes it easier for employers and staff to locate relevant wellbeing resources.
Additional Resources from QCS
QCS has also developed a number of resources aimed to help in this area and for customers there is a wellbeing section that provides further useful information in the Resource Centre.
- Wellbeing Training for Managers – wellbeing and resilience are key components for any care manager who works under pressure
- The survey says – how gauging the temperature of your staff is a great way to ensure their health and wellbeing are always a priority
- Mental Health First Aiders in the Workplace – how to make your workplace better for staff
Further information and useful resources
