Scottish allied health professions public health strategic framework implementation plan: 2022 to 2027

Strategic Goal 5: Health and Wellbeing of the Workforce

To ensure the expertise of AHPs will be used to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of health and care workers.

Providing more support to the NHS workforce to improve their health and wellbeing has been made all the more important in the context of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The unprecedented demands and changing ways of delivering services has taken its toll on the resilience and wellbeing of the workforce, which is why increasing the support available to them is so essential. The Scottish Government recognises this and a range of tailored support has been made available.

For the AHP workforce to provide a consistent and high-functioning service, the health and wellbeing of AHPs must also be prioritised. AHPs will benefit from access to greater support to manage and promote their own wellbeing, which will help to keep individuals feeling well and in the workforce. The expertise of AHPs that work within wellbeing and mental health promotion will also be used to greater effect to support the health and care workforce, thus recognising the role that AHPs can play in supporting their colleagues.

Key outcomes include:

• AHPs are supported to protect and improve their own health and wellbeing;
• AHPs will contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of the health and care workforce.

What?

We recognise that work and employment are one of the determinants of the health and wellbeing of the workforce and we will support AHPs in supporting people into work and returning to work.

By when? (short, medium or long term)

Ongoing

Partner

• AHP Directors
• Health Boards and Managers

What?

We will continue to encourage AHP engagement and leadership in the design and delivery of local workplace health initiatives.

This will include encouraging AHPs to participate in local team discussions that improve staff health and wellbeing using tools such as IMatters, WRAP and Wellness at Work and ensuring AHPs are connected to local workplace health teams, Occupational Health Teams and organisational Staff Wellbeing Groups to contribute their skills and expertise to the development of initiatives that promote workplace wellbeing.

By when? (short, medium or long term)

Ongoing

Partner

• AHP Directors
• Health Boards and Managers

What?

We remain committed to the health and well-being of the health and care workforce. That is why staff health and wellbeing is embedded in supervision and personal development reviews.

To build on this, we will promote the use of mental health first aiders resource widely Scotland's Mental Health First Aid (smhfa.com).

We will continue to raise awareness of the full range of support available to the health and care workforce from local Occupational Health services.

By when? (short, medium or long term)

Ongoing

Partner

• AHP Directors
• Health Boards and Managers

What?

We will continue to support delivery of a range of initiatives to promote the health and wellbeing of student AHPs.

By when? (short, medium or long term)

Ongoing

Partner

• HEIs
• Health Boards and Managers

What?

We will provide wellbeing support to the health and social care workforce through the NHS Recovery plan, recognising the extreme pressure that the COVID 19 pandemic brought to this workforce. We are providing £8 million to support the mental health and wellbeing of the health and care workforce. This includes targeted support to the primary care and social care workforce of £2 million.

By when? (short, medium or long term)

Short - Medium

Partner

• Scottish Government

What?

We will support the ongoing development of a National Wellbeing Programme, including a dedicated National Wellbeing Hub and a National Wellbeing Helpline, to embed wellbeing into everyone's working lives.

We will continue to signpost AHPs to the National Wellbeing Hub for information and resources to protect and improve their own health and wellbeing and that of their colleagues.

By when? (short, medium or long term)

Medium

Partner

• Scottish Government
• NHS Boards

What?

We will increase funding for psychological therapies and interventions in Health Boards by £2.5 million to March 2023, to increase the capacity and capability to provide psychological support to the health and social care workforce.

By when? (short, medium or long term)

Medium - Long

Partner

• Scottish Government