Carmarthenshire health team bids for national award
Carmarthenshire County Council’s occupational health team has been shortlisted for a national award.
The team is up for a gong in the Mental Health and Stress Management category of the awards, which are held annually to celebrate outstanding achievement and recognise innovation, leadership and quality.
The basis of the council’s submission for the award is its work in delivering a stress management programme structured around Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Through close partnership working with the local health board, the team has piloted a programme offering individual sessions to staff who feel they need support. Group therapy and team building sessions are also offered in certain situations, for example if there has been bereavement within an office workforce.
As well as providing occupational health services to the authority’s 9,500 staff, the team also works with staff working in small local businesses and neighbouring authorities in the spirit of partnership and collaborative working. Its record in ‘good practice exchange’ has led to the team being used as an exemplar by the Welsh Audit Office.
Fran Wynne, occupational health co-ordinator, said: “We strongly value the need to have a healthy workforce to deliver the authority’s essential services, and are constantly looking for new ways to support the health and well-being of our employees.
“Our research has shown that this stress management programme has benefitted many members of staff already. When people have followed this programme they are less likely to take time off sick, which of course helps reduce costs due to sickness absence and the burden on staff to cover for absent colleagues.”
Carmarthenshire County Council has been successful over many years for its efforts in occupational health, and general health and wellbeing.
The authority achieved the Welsh Assembly’s Corporate Health Standard Gold Standard in 2006, and more recently became the first local authority to achieve the new Platinum award in June, 2009.
Cllr Pat Jones, executive board member for health, said: “We are fortunate to have a dedicated occupational health team which places great emphasis on the need to support staff. I am pleased that their efforts on this stress management programme have been recognised on a national level, and I wish them the very best as they go forward for the award.”
The awards will be announced at the Landmark London Hotel in December. For further information visit www.occupationalhealthawards.com
The team is up for a gong in the Mental Health and Stress Management category of the awards, which are held annually to celebrate outstanding achievement and recognise innovation, leadership and quality.
The basis of the council’s submission for the award is its work in delivering a stress management programme structured around Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Through close partnership working with the local health board, the team has piloted a programme offering individual sessions to staff who feel they need support. Group therapy and team building sessions are also offered in certain situations, for example if there has been bereavement within an office workforce.
As well as providing occupational health services to the authority’s 9,500 staff, the team also works with staff working in small local businesses and neighbouring authorities in the spirit of partnership and collaborative working. Its record in ‘good practice exchange’ has led to the team being used as an exemplar by the Welsh Audit Office.
Fran Wynne, occupational health co-ordinator, said: “We strongly value the need to have a healthy workforce to deliver the authority’s essential services, and are constantly looking for new ways to support the health and well-being of our employees.
“Our research has shown that this stress management programme has benefitted many members of staff already. When people have followed this programme they are less likely to take time off sick, which of course helps reduce costs due to sickness absence and the burden on staff to cover for absent colleagues.”
Carmarthenshire County Council has been successful over many years for its efforts in occupational health, and general health and wellbeing.
The authority achieved the Welsh Assembly’s Corporate Health Standard Gold Standard in 2006, and more recently became the first local authority to achieve the new Platinum award in June, 2009.
Cllr Pat Jones, executive board member for health, said: “We are fortunate to have a dedicated occupational health team which places great emphasis on the need to support staff. I am pleased that their efforts on this stress management programme have been recognised on a national level, and I wish them the very best as they go forward for the award.”
The awards will be announced at the Landmark London Hotel in December. For further information visit www.occupationalhealthawards.com
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