Issuu

Your staff health and wellbeing guide for all your physical health, mental wellbeing, fiscal and spiritual needs

Health

and

Wellbeing

Issue 3 April 2022

CONTENTS

Welcome

Not just any gym by Hannah Priestman

Nine Keys to financial security by David Russon

Free activities in your area

Financial tips and advice

A Recipe of Love - Catering special

Spotlight - Quit smoking for your health and finances

Books and reviews

Colour me stress-free by Debbie Fraser

A knit and a knatter by Vanessa Osborne

100 Leaders: Wellbeing hampers

Staff lottery

Staff staying active around the Trust

Health and wellbeing support contacts

Want to contribute to the magazine? Do you have an experience, review, picture or story you would like to share that contributes to your health and wellbeing? To get involved contact nth-tr.communications@nhs.net

WELCOME

Dear colleagues, I would like to welcome you to the third edition of our Health and Wellbeing magazine and our first issue of 2022. This issue has a very dedicated focus on finance, not the usual finance-focused narrative I provide you with, but more of a concentration on hints, tips, thoughts and ideas to support you with your own personal finances. We are so very lucky to have had contributions from staff right across the Trust for this publication. From recipes to money-saving apps and spreadsheets to ensure that colleagues are aware of some of the support available to anyone who might be struggling financially, or simply looking to organise their finances more robustly. The pandemic changed many peoples working dynamics affecting families and how they manage their household finances. As we continue to look at how we can support our staff within our Trust health and wellbeing advisory group; it is my hope that this latest edition of our magazine will hold helpful support and advice to help you to navigate the coming weeks and months. Please remember you are not alone; you have colleagues who are here to support you, as well as our occupational health teams should you need to access them.

Best wishes, Julie Gillon Chief Executive

LIFTING

O T uS J T

ANY GYM... By Hannah Priestman

Almost four years ago now, community dental nurse Hannah Priestman began her weightlifting journey at Teesside Barbell Club – a safe place for women to go to reach their health and fitness goals, form friendships and forget the day-to-day stress of life. Hannah’s only regret – not discovering it sooner. HANNAH: I love my job. But like anything, some days can be a bit much. The day-to-day pressures, issues and, not to mention, a global pandemic thrown into the mix – everyone has a breaking point. When I joined Teesside Barbell Club back in 2018, I was looking for a new challenge in a new environment. I had been to other gyms around the area and had tried a bit of Olympic weightlifting training which I instantly became addicted to. So when I saw that the club had an open day, I popped along and have never looked back since. Teesside Barbell Club is a women’s-only gym. Why? Because we need one. It offers a safe place for women of all ages, sizes and abilities. With a mix of strength and cardio-based classes, there’s something to suit everyone and no matter what your ability, everything is adaptable. But it’s not just that – it’s a fun, happy place where you can have a laugh, de-stress and surround yourself with fab women. To be honest, it’s kind of cheap therapy!

During the pandemic and endless lockdowns, the community has stood strong. Even after the most stressful day at work, I knew I could jump onto a Zoom session and would instantly feel a release of stress – all from the comfort of my make-shift gym in the garage.

When the gyms re-opened, we were all like kids on Christmas Eve. Just the thought of being back with my little gym family made the usual work pressures that little bit easier knowing that once my shift was done, I’d be going to escape it all with a heavy barbell in hand.

“

It’s a fun, happy place where you can have a laugh, de-stress and surround yourself with fab women.

The encouragement and support from the amazing women is second to none. Without the support of the coaches’ support and daily pick-me-ups, I wouldn’t be where I am today, physically and mentally. I have made friends for life with everyone at the Teesside Barbell Club and wouldn’t change it for the world. If someone asked me how I deal with stress and look after my mental health, I would say I simply surround myself with inspirational women. Give it a go – you won’t regret it. 5.

THOUGHTS

o t s y e K ancial security fin

F I N A N C I A L 6.

id Russon

av | By Chaplain, D

irstly ----- Start as soon as you can. Today is the first day of the rest of your life, today’s decisions will determine your future position.

magine ----- Your savings as a bill to pay. We often try to save what we have left at the end of the month, intentional saving is a better option.

egotiate ----- Your debts. Ignoring bills does not pay them, but if you accept them and discuss them with those you owe, there can be a solution. Try to pay through direct debit and manage your bills in a systematic way.

ccept ----- Responsibility. Ultimately your debts are your responsibility, take ownership of the problem, don’t put your head in the sand.

ever ----- Overspend. Learn to budget. The difference between being in the black and being in the red is £2. Either £1 in the red or £1 in the black.

all ----- For help. Help is not far away, a burden bared is a burden shared. Pride comes before a fall. Get help sooner than later.

nvest ----- Time and energy. Opportunities are often there for those willing to invest time, energy and creativity. Make the most of every opportunity.

mend ----- Any financially draining habits. Lifestyle is a good thing to check for draining resources. Some things in life can be adjusted to make life easier on a financial front.

ive ----- Within your means. Constantly be in touch with your income and expenditure. Make sure you manage your life according to your means.

FREE activities

Keep those pennies for a rainy day, while still enjoying an inexpensive day out with the family.

Teessauraus Park A rawr-some free park in Middlesbrough. tbiwwc.com/teesaurus-park-route

Tees Sculpture Trail Artwork scattered across the Tees Valley could you find them all? riverteesrediscovered.org/sculpture-trail

Cycling routes across Stockton Discover some self-guided routes and get on your bike! www.komoot.com/guide/61850/cyclingaround-stockton-on-tees

Kirkleatham Museum

The local history museum in Redcar and Cleveland with extensive grounds to explore.

redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/museums-heritage-redcar-cleveland

Seaton Carew Beach

Enjoy a stroll as the weather starts to warm.

www.explorehartlepool.com/curations/ seaton-carew

Dorman Museum

The Dorman Museum has a huge collection from natural history to victorian arts and crafts.

www.dormanmuseum.co.uk 7.

FINANCE

Financial tips and advice We can all agree that changing bad money habits or trying to find new and creative ways to make money stretch further is not always easy. Financial health can play a large part in our overall wellbeing as we worry about where every single penny is going. As prices continue to rise on everyday necessities this year, its important to know where you can find support, how you can spend with intention and where there may be money to be saved to help keep your finances manageable.

Food surplus services

Useful websites worth bookmarking

Help reduce food and household waste and possibly save yourself money at the same time: www.toogoodtogo.co.uk Reduce food waste and with end of day discounts at cafes, restaurants and supermarkets

• • •

www.moneysavingexpert.com www.moneyhelper.org.uk www.ofgem.gov.uk

www.olioex.com A local community based way to give and share free food and drink as well as lend and borrow household items

Make sure you track your budget It can be tricky to keep track of your budget, but being aware and remaining consistent with your spending can help you to keep on top of things. Sometimes laying it all out of a simple spreadsheet or bit of paper can help you to see where your money is going and if there are any surprising spending habits you may be able to change. Example

Personal Monthly Budget Income Item Water Gas Electric Council Tax Internet Petrol / Diesel / Transport Food shopping Entertainment (e.g. TV Licence) Birthdays Clothes Other Other Other Other Other Other Other Other Other Total

£1,000.00 Quantity Cost Total 1 £30.00 £30.00 1 £60.00 £60.00 1 £60.00 £60.00 1 £150.00 £150.00 1 £50.00 £50.00 1 £100.00 £100.00 1 £150.00 £150.00 1 £40.00 £40.00 3 £15.00 £45.00 1 £100.00 £100.00 1 £300.00 £300.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £1,085.00

Disposable income (D.I) DI per day (31 days)

Collect all your statements and receipts together Successfully budgeting means you need to accurately record your incomings and outgoings, accounting for monthly bills, as well as birthdays and other one off spends. It is recommended you start by looking at your spend for the last three months.

Fill in your budget planner -£85.00 -£2.74

Example budget sheet people development coordinator, Jordanne McMullan uses to help her plan her monthly budget.

This will help you to understand if you are spending more than you earn, or if you could be putting left over funds into savings for a rainy day.

If you find you are overspending Look at where you may be able to reduce spending – this could be on credit cards, bills and mortgages, but also on your weekly shop or childcare costs. Money Saving Expert has an excellent step-by-step ‘money makeover’ guide, which helps to show you how to look at and overhaul your finances. www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/money-help

Mobile phone bills

TopCashback

You could find that you’re frequently being overcharged by your mobile network.

Spending for necessities is unavoidable and if you are already making online purchases such as your weekly food shop - use TopCashback as you spend to help you to earn money back over time.

Billmonitor can analyse online bills, assess your phone requirements and find suitable offers from retailers to help you save money.

www.topcashback.co.uk

www.billmonitor.com

Conserving fuel and finding the best prices With average prices for fuel on an upward trend this month, making conscious changes to how you drive can help reduce costs and filling up at the right forecourt could make a big difference – especially for our colleagues traveling in from further afield or working out in the community. How can I drive more efficiently and cut costs? • • • • • • • •

Keep tyres inflated Turn off the air-con at lower speeds Declutter inside your car and remove unused roof racks to reduce overall weight Don’t fully fill your tank – weighing down the car actually makes it less fuel efficient Accelerate and brake gradually Change up your gears sooner Pay using cashback credit cards – but make sure you repay the card in full each month so you’re not paying interest Think about setting up a whatsapp group for car sharing with colleagues – get green and financially lean

How do I find the cheapest fuel in my area?

Debt help and advice Remember, if you do find yourself bogged down in a financial quagmire, there is always help and support available. NHS England work alongside the MoneyHelper Service (www.moneyhelper.org.uk) to provide free, independent and impartial support for NHS colleague’s financial wellbeing from across the UK. You have a few options for getting in touch with the service:

NHS telephone support line 0800 448 0826 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Whatsapp service

+44 7701 342 744 Send a text to the MoneyHelper Service’s national support team to get help with sorting out your debts, credit questions and pensions guidance.

Webchat

Chat to one of the MoneyHelper Service team online Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Saturday, 8am to 3pm www.moneyhelper.org.uk

Use a comparison site/app to help to find the cheapest forecourt in your area for fuel www.petrolprices.com

PETROL PRICE APP

WEBCHAT LINK

FOOD

A recipe of love

by Richard Kirton, Development Chef

Honey, mustard and lemon glazed pork served with a delicious spring green fried rice

For the pork

Cost per serving

500g Pork Loin Steaks

£2.92

1/2 a Lemon

15p

For the pork

1tsp Clear honey or golden syrup

10p

In a large bowl, add 10mls of oil, the juice of half a lemon, half a teaspoon of mustard (preferrable Dijon, but cheaper alternatives can be used), your honey and salt and pepper. Mix the seasoning well.

1tsp Mustard

10mls Vegetable oil

Take your pork steaks and add to the bowl and give them a good coating of honey glaze then place on an oven tray. Cook in a preheated hot oven, approx 200c until cooked throughout and golden in colour.

For the rice

Method

For the rice Add oil to the pan, then scatter in the chopped spring onions, chilli, ginger and garlic and gently fry for about 2-3 minutes, until softened. Tip in the beaten egg and leave for 30 seconds until just set, then mash up with a spoon. Tip in the spring greens with a splash of water and cook until wilted. Add the rice and soy sauce and mix everything together, then season if needed. Serve in a shallow bowl or large plate alongside the grazed pork steaks. Garnish with spring onion slices and any of the additional pan juices from the pork.

Total cost for two portions at Tesco prices: £4.44 10.

Ingredients

(Accurate March 2022)

Salt and pepper 1tbsp Vegetable oil

1 Egg, beaten

14p

Bunch of spring onions

37p

(Chopped into 3cm lengths, tops finely sliced to serve)

1 Green chilli, chopped

20p

Chunk of ginger, grated

10p

1 Garlic clove, grated

150g Spring greens, shredded

40p

(Spring greens are the first cabbages of the year they have loose heads, without the hard heart of other cabbages)

250g Pouch of ready cooked rice

35p

1 1/2tbsp Soy sauce, extra to taste

35p

Eating healthily and within your budget is something that as a hospital development chef, I am extremely passionate about. It is important that our patients (and staff) can have good quality, nutritious meals while they are in hospital. I’ve had the pleasure of working within the Trust for 30 years and during that time, I’ve won the National Hospital Chef of the year competition in London five times. I am hoping you enjoy our restaurant’s version of honey, mustard and lemon glazed pork and share your favourable reviews!

Richard’s top tips Some of these tips may seem obvious, but my many years of experience have taught me that nothing beats good planning and buying smart. Purchasing things when they are in season can also help to keep costs down. Here are my top tips for saving money when you plan your next food shop:

1. Planning is crucial. Plan your two-week menu in advance to control spending and stop impulse purchases.

4. Buy frozen produce. It lasts longer, is far cheaper than buying fresh and in some cases is just as good.

2. Buy in bulk. Buying in larger quantities of dry goods like pasta, rice and lentils is cheaper and dry goods keep well.

5. Batch cooking. Cook large batches of dishes that can be easily frozen and reheated - such as curries, chilli’s and casseroles.

3. Shop around. Shop smart and compare prices between your supermarkets, local stores and markets.

6. Substitute ingredients. For example, chicken thighs, turkey steaks and turkey mince (less expensive than beef mince).

Tees Tastes at home Tired after a busy shift at work? Turn on that oven, sit back and relax – we have our ‘Tees Tastes at Home’ dinner kits for two; to save you from a late night trip to the supermarket. An opportunity for staff to try some of Tees restaurant’s most popular dishes at home - the kits can be bought directly from the Tees Restaurant ar competitive prices. Take home dishes such as Thai fishcakes, Teesside Parmo or even a tasty Mac and Cheese.

11.

SMOKING

SPOTLIGHT

Quit smoking for your health and finances!

YOU COULD SAVE AS MUCH AS £2,300 OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR... Everyone knows smoking is bad for you. There are no health upsides to tobacco addiction at all. And it’s also very bad for your finances. With a pack of 20 cigarettes costing as much as £13.50, a tena-day habit could cost a whopping £2,300 over the course of a year. If you’re a smoker, isn’t there something else you would rather spend that money on? Natalie Brooks, the Trust’s new tobacco dependency specialist advisor, said: “Smoking is recognised as a disease, not just a poor lifestyle choice.

“The GetMeSmokeFree app can help you to calculate just how much you could save daily and offers 24/7 support and tips on cravings and triggers.” Any Trust colleague who smokes and would like help to quit, can now also claim a 12-week supply of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or a refillable e-cigarette package and behavioural support completely free of charge. To claim your free NRT and e-cigarettes: Email: ghnt.smokefreestaff@nhs.net OR text: 07980 969 259

“Our service is on hand to help our in-patients tackle their nicotene withdrawals or embark on a quit attempt with specialist support from highly trained staff, smokefree champions on the wards and nicotene replacement therapy.

Funding for the support scheme and the new Trust tobacco dependency treatment service has been awarded to the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

“Having worked in addiction services all of my nursing career, I’ve seen many success stories of people kicking their habits. For a lot of people, the cost of smoking is a huge motivator as well as improving their health and that of their families.

For an idea on how much your habit may be costing you, visit: • www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/why-youshould-quit/how-much-will-you-save • www.GetMeSmokeFree.com

Porter Dan decides it’s time to quit for good...

Daniel Hawkes, who joined our portering team just a few short months ago, has enrolled himself on a 12-week course to help him quit smoking. When asked why he decided to take the step to seek support he told us: “I have been smoking a number of years and think it’s time I try and stop for good. “I have tried to quit in the past, and tried alternative methods but I have never managed to stay on track and I’m really hoping the team can support me to succeed this time. “There are many benefits to quitting, I want to be fitter, save money and most importantly be a better role model for my children. Changing my career to work in a hospital setting has also made me realise how important health is and the impact smoking can have.” If you need help to stop smoking contact the specialised stop smoking service: www.nth.nhs.uk/stopsmoking

REVIEWS Book review

THE CANNY COOK Phil Vickery Paperback (3 February 2022)

Review by Librarian, Deborah Elliott In the ‘The Canny Cook’, Phil Vickery shows how nutritious and convenient, canned and frozen food can be used for a wide range of value-for-money recipes. The aim of the book is to enable ‘a spend less, waste less’ approach. Step by step instructions and pictures show how to cook fast, fuss-free, good-for-youmeals that are busting with flavour. Inside you will find a selection of dishes to make from vegan and vegetarian, to pasta, meat

and fish, scrumptious desserts as well as healthy snacks. The recipes I’ve tried out so far are delicious and varied and enough to keep my taste buds alert, whilst helping me to keep a close eye on the pennies! Why not try the ‘Banoffee Toastie’ for yourself! Creative and inspiring recipes perfect for anyone looking to feed a family using everyday supermarket ingredients.

You can borrow a copy of ‘The Canny Cook’ from the ‘Health and Wellbeing’ collection available at the library. Knowledge and Information Service Ground Floor, South Wing University Hospital of North Tees

01642 624789 nth-tr.knowledge@nhs.net

Cancel Netflix...

Watch this instead By Jodie Lightfoot

Looking to pinch the pennies this month?

FOR GROWN-UPS

Well, cancel Netflix for a month and settle down on your sofa - we’ve rounded up some of the best shows on terrestrial streaming services.

The Tourist

FOR KIDS

Hurt, alive, but no idea who he is. Lost in the Australian outback, he’s running from a past he can’t remember – and someone wants him dead. Starring Jamie Dornan, settle in and switch to BBC iPlayer to watch all six episodes now.

Nick Cope’s Popcast

The Girl Before

Join Nick and his whippet Norman in a magical, musical series filled with funny songs for children.

A young woman moves into an ultra-minimalist dream home where she must live by the architect’s strange rules.

For songs like ‘Baby’s Done a Poo’ and ‘A Round of Applause for the Dinosaurs’, head to BBC iPlayer or www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies

Full of twists and turns, this thriller will have you on the edge of your sofa. Available now on BBC iPlayer.

13.

CRAFT

Colour me stress-free by Debbie Fraser, clinical effectiveness coordinator

I’ve always enjoyed crafts and colouring with my son, but it was during the first wave of the pandemic that I became much more involved with it. I found it helped me to unwind from the stresses of work and shift my focus. I’ve got lots of different books – some I use to record my favourite quotes, some to scrapbook scenic photos I’ve taken, and others I like to colour in. I’m a naturally creative person and it’s good for me to have an outlet. Journaling and colouring allows me to do that. It reduces stress, allows creative energy to be harnessed and you can do it as a family. I can sit down with my son and my mam (and my husband sometimes – though he won’t admit it) and take my mind away from any worries or troubles. 14.

STAFF GROUP

A knit and a natter by Vanessa Osborne, senior dietitian (community)

We’re a sociable bunch here in the nutrition and dietetics department. We’re a family and, as families do, we like to share with one another. But sharing our experiences and skills doesn’t stop at the clinical setting – we share and teach each other fun skills too! Many moons ago, back in 2019, we set up a ‘lunch club’ where we gathered over lunch once a month to have some fun. We shared our talents, our passions, our pastimes with one another. As a team, we learned how to cook a perfect Spanish tortilla, learned how to best look after indoor plants, how to meditate and shared our favourite books with one another – even going so far as to set up a little library in our break area. The themes are all chosen based on people’s interests so it’s a really good way of getting to know more about what someone enjoys. It’s lovely to hear about our colleagues’ hobbies and if you learn a thing or two, well, it’s a bonus.

Our lunch clubs have been a really fun addition to the working day. They can help to be that break away from work, taking your mind off your busy schedule, even if it’s just for 10 or 15 minutes. A personal highlight of mine was learning how to knit. I’d never considered learning this before, not until I was at least 60-years-old anyway. Now, it’s a skill I’ll likely continue for the rest of my life. I found it very challenging to begin with but I stuck with it, leaning on my pals at work for support and guidance. Since then I’ve knitted loads of things – from clothes for my baby nieces, even a hat for my husband. But recently, I used this new skill to knit a little dietitian for my team leader for her secret Santa present. (Shh!) We’d been a little short-staffed and all she wanted for Christmas was another dietitian. Being able to make this gift brought me a lot of joy and was the perfect way of giving back to my little work family. 15.

100 LEADERS

with Rachel De Silva

In December 2021, the Trust took delivery of our wellbeing hampers. As part of the 100 leaders development programme, this initiative was designed to reinforce the importance of wellbeing through carefully chosen, sustainable products. We spoke to pack leader, Rachel De Silva, about the impact her project has had. Why did you decide to create a wellbeing pack as part of your 100 leaders project? Initially, our pack started the programme with a different idea but we quickly realised that it was not feasible to execute. We knew that we wanted a project that would support our staff and focus on wellbeing given the events of recent years. The idea for the pack came about in our pack discussions and organically grew to what was distributed.

16.

The 100 leaders programme was a brilliant opportunity to execute this wellbeing pack. It has opened up doors in terms of networking, allowing me to make the contacts needed to bring this idea to fruition. How did you decide what to include in the pack? My pack brainstormed ideas of what to include based off the Trust’s values for looking after staff and what we thought would be useful. One area we felt particularly passionate about was hydration, ensuring that all staff had a reusable travel cup and water bottle. This fitted in with Chief Nurse, Lindsey Robertson’s communication around the importance of hydration so we knew that this would support the executive’s message and care for our staff. We had many volunteers to distribute the packs but, in the end, staff were coming down physically to pick up their hampers. They were so appreciative and I received loads of emails thanking me, which made my day!

100 LEADERS What would you consider the most important part of the pack? For me, it would be the wellbeing information on the pen and card. There is a lot of work going on in the Trust to support staff with their wellbeing and we wanted to distribute that information everywhere. As well as boosting morale and recognising the work of our staff, the pack was designed to boost awareness of the many initiatives ongoing. We cannot look after our patients if we are not looking after ourselves. Why do you think Trust staff should focus on their wellbeing? For me, it is evidence based that happy staff equals better outcomes for patients and better quality of care. We need to give our staff the space to look after themselves. At the start of Covid we rallied together but we knew that the mental health impact of the pandemic would be much later. I am so glad that the packs came out when they did as it allowed us to shine a light on wellbeing and how much the Trust does to support this.

If you would like to be in with a chance of being one of our lucky monthly winners, as well as helping to support staff wellbeing projects please sign up at: https://nthstafflottery.co.uk Tickets are £1 each and you can play a maximum of five tickets per month – the cost of each ticket is taken directly from your salary. The staff lottery is a fun way to raise funds. Please do not gamble more than you can afford and if you feel you have a problem, there is help available: www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/ gambling-addiction

FEEDBACK “Just passing on my sincere thanks for my Well Being Thank you pack. A lot of hard work has gone into coordinating this and really makes myself feel appreciated and know help is just at my fingertips with my mental health whenever I may need it both inside/outside the Trust” - Lindsay Rhea, workforce systems and quality assistant “I would just like to say thank you very much on behalf of my team for the wellbeing packs. Everyone is really pleased with them and has had a lot of fun unpacking them and seeing what was inside. It’s a really nice gesture and has certainly made staff feel valued.” - Lucy Pocock, clinical coding training and audit manager

EXERCISE around the Trust...

Helens a clubber through and through HR and training advisor for NTH Solutions Helen Smith says the key to keeping fit and losing weight is to have fun and enjoy what you are doing. Helen has attended clubbercise sessions for the past five years, and has not only lost weight and built both strength and fitness. She has also met some friends for life and had a blast along the way! Helen enjoying a clubbercise class

Clubbercise is a dance class with a difference - raving to disco music in the dark with lights and glow sticks to burn some calories. Helen told us: “I was introduced to clubbercise by a colleague and close friend of mine, she told me it was great fun and crazy, and I would fit right in. “It’s the best thing I ever did, I now attend a range of classes from clubbercise, to funky step and bums ‘n’ tums, I aim to attend five classes per week. “One of the biggest advantages for me is how much of a stress relief it is, although the classes are loud and energetic I find it’s the best way for me to wind down after a days work. The people who attend are so welcoming and I have genuinely made some friends for life. “I really would recommend it to anyone looking for something a little different to the gym. Even if you don’t manage all of the steps, as long as you keep moving that’s all that matters - an added bonus is that it’s in the dark so no one can tell if you do get it wrong!”

The team at the end of their walk

Lunchtime walk for body and mind Members of the health and safety and HR team find it really important to take the time to get away from their desks and screens. On their lunch breaks they take the opportunity to walk a circuit of the hospital grounds and took time out to share their route: The walk begins near Tithebarn house, at the entrance of a cycle/walk path which takes you around the full outside of the hospital grounds. The path eventually leads back to the estates department and the team continue their walk back past the front of the hospital. Not only is it good to get a break from screen time and stretch your legs, the social element can have a real benefit too. The team enjoy chatting as they walk - boosting both their mood and morale for the rest of the day.

Route the team takes on their lunchtime walk

The walk takes around 20 minutes, is approximately 1.4 miles, 2400 steps and can burn off on average 95 calories.

SUPPORT

Key support

INTERNAL CONTACTS

EXTERNAL CONTACTS Able futures • • •

Regular advice, guidance and support. Help you learn coping mechanisms, build resilience, access therapy or work with your employer to make adjustments to help your mental health at work. Available from 8am - 10.30pm weekdays or refer online.

Chaplaincy Offering one off support

Contact: 01642 383138 jim.wright@nhs.net

Contact: 0800 321 3137 Access online: able-futures.co.uk/individuals

Occupational health ICS TEWV staff wellbeing hub

Offering workplace support

Confidential advice and support helpline. 7am - 9pm (7-days a week)

Contact: 01642 383211

Contact: 0191 223 2030

Recovery college online A range of online courses to support with aspects of wellbeing and mental health.

Access online: www.recoverycollegeonline.co.uk

Staff psychology support hub

Facilitated by the psychology department

Contact: 01429 522048

IMPACT on Teesside - talking therapy Provide talking therapy, counselling and alternative therapies. Staff are placed on a priority list but must state that they are NHS staff at the time of referral. Initial assessments are relatively quick but the wait for therapy is currently a number of months. (Note: Therapy type determined from assessment will dictate how quickly staff can be seen). Available 9am - 5pm (weekdays) and online referrals can be made anytime. Contact: 01642 573924 Visit www.impactonteesside.com

Domestic violence advocate Confidential staff support

Contact: 07789 506664

kelly.thomson10@nhs.net 19.

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” - Mark Twain