About the Maternity and Neonatal Resource Hub
This resource has been created to provide a one stop shop for all matters relating to your health and wellbeing. The crucial role you play in supporting women, birthing people, families and neonates is vital and hugely valued. We recognise your commitment and hard work, but investing in your own health and wellbeing is essential, as this not only benefits you but also improves the quality of care provided to those you support. A well supported and healthy workforce is more resilient, motivated, and capable of delivering the best possible care.
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan recognises that in order to retain our workforce we need to support their health and wellbeing, working with local leaders to ensure integrated occupational health and wellbeing services are in place for all staff.
We hope you will find this page and all the resources useful. This page will continue to grow, and we will add more resources in the future. We would love to hear your feedback and comments about the content and any suggestions you have. Please fill in our survey so we can make this resource work better for all. Thank you!
Introduction to the maternity and neonatal resource hub by Lisa Jesson, Deputy Lead Midwife and Lisa Viola, Neonatal Clinical Advisor, NHS England, Workforce training and education
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Maternity elearning
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Neonatal elearning
https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/neonatal-psychology/
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Useful resources
This resource provides a one stop shop for all matters relating to your health and wellbeing. The critical role you play in bringing new life into the world and supporting women and families is vital, but it’s important that you also prioritise your own self-care.
Adequate rest, healthy nutrition, regular exercise, and engaging in activities you enjoy are essential to maintaining balance and resilience.
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Supporting mental health at workplace
Mental health in the workplace
NHS trusts should have supportive initiatives in place to ensure staff mental wellbeing in the workplace, and to maintain the quality of patient care.
The link below provides tools and resources to help you make positive improvements to mental wellbeing in the workplace:
https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/mental-health-workplace
Relevant bitesize learning can be found on the elearning for healthcare training portal, including sessions on Mental Health and Wellbeing and Workplace Health.
https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/Catalogue/Index?HierarchyId=0_41737_42670&programmeId=41737
Check my emotional and mental wellbeing
The free and confidential self-assessment tool can provide you with further information on the range of support offers that are available and help you to identify what option is the right one for you to access.
https://checkwellbeing.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/
The Health and Wellbeing Programme
Delivered by NHS Employers, the Health and Wellbeing programme is commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and works alongside NHS healthcare provider organisations to help them best support the health and wellbeing of their employees.
Further information is available on the link below including resources on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing at work, advice, guidance and information on a variety of health and wellbeing themes including stress, sickness absence and financial wellbeing.
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Supporting physical health and wellbeing
Supporting your physical health and wellbeing
Looking after your physical health is key to supporting your overall health and wellbeing, including your mental health.
Information about how to support your physical health and wellbeing is available here.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/physical-health-and-wellbeing/
Exercise
People who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing many long-term (chronic) conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.
Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, clinical depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Here are some tools to get you started:
Couch to 5k
Strength workout videos – you can do activities that strengthen your muscles on the same or different days as your aerobic activity – whatever’s best for you.
Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. Some helpful links with exercises you can try.
- strength and flexibility exercises
- sitting exercises
- strength exercises
- flexibility exercises
- balance exercises
NHS Live Well – a usefulguide covering exercise and all the things you need to support your physical and mental wellbeing
NHS wheelchair users’ guide to staying fit
Weight management
Whether you are looking to shed a few pounds, adopt healthier habits or gain a deeper understanding of weight management, we have the tools for healthcare professionals like you.
NHS Live Well weight management
NHS digital weight management programme
Drinkaware – calculate those calories from alcohol
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tools/unit-and-calorie-calculator
Quit smoking
We all know the damaging effects of smoking, yet for some, it’s still hard to break the addiction and the routine that comes with it. We have pulled together some resources to help you on your journey. Don’t give up on giving up!
NHS Live Well – a good start for further information on how to quit
Find your local services to help you quit
COPD – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/
Alcohol
If you feel you want to cut down, stop all together or just need some advice around alcohol consumption, here are a few resources that can help you.
NHS Live Well – a good source of information on how to cut down or stop
Drinkaware – calculate those calories from alcohol
Find addiction support in your area
Long-term health conditions
We understand that healthcare professionals are not exempt from experiencing their own health issues, whether they are chronic conditions, disabilities or other long-term ailments. Here you will find dedicated advice and guidance on supporting yourself and colleagues with some of the key long-term health conditions.
NHS Employers’ page – long term health conditions
Blood bourne viruses (BBVs) in healthcare workers
Supporting friends and colleagues with asthma
Supporting someone with diabetes at work
Sickle cell disease – work and employment
Access to Work can provide practical and financial support to help you overcome barriers to starting or keeping a job if you have a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition
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Supporting workplace wellbeing
It’s important to ensure our colleagues are looking after themselves in times of stress and get timely support should they need it, this in turn can help to support better patient care.
Scroll through the options below to find additional support that works best for you.
Check my emotional and mental wellbeing
The Health and Wellbeing Programme
Health and wellbeing top tips for supporting line managers
Mental health in the workplace
Supporting colleagues affected by Long COVID
Health and wellbeing programmes
Handling difficult situations with compassion training programme
Civility and Respect
Support for our Diverse Colleagues
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Menopause awareness, training and resources
We aim to support our healthcare professionals navigating the challenges of peri- menopause and menopause while continuing to deliver exceptional care to parents and babies. Menopause is a natural phase in life that brings about significant hormonal and physiological changes. As healthcare professionals you play a crucial role in supporting parents through pregnancy, childbirth and the early stages of motherhood. However, it’s important to recognise that you may also be experiencing your own journey through menopause, which can have a profound impact on your well-being, professional performance and overall quality of life.
Here are a few helpful pages to help you navigate or support you or your colleagues through this phase of life.
NHS England – Menopause, a selection of useful guides and blogs
NHS England – Supporting colleagues affected by menopause
NHS England » Supporting people in early and late career
Menopause – Useful information for partners
The Daisy Network is a registered charity is committed to providing information and support to women diagnosed with Premature Menopause, also known as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). It is the ONLY charity in the UK for women with POI.
Menopause resources
- Blog:‘It feels impossible to beat’: how I was floored by menopause(long read)
An honest account by Rose George on how menopause has proved far worse than ‘low moods’. - Blog: The menopause affects us all(anonymised male blog)
From: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) – for World Menopause Day 2019 - Resources: Menopause – useful information for partners
This document provides information and resources for partners of individuals who may be going through the menopause, to increase awareness and provide suggestions on things you can do to support. - Awareness and training pack for NHS organisations: Why is the menopause relevant to our organisation and to me and my team?
Slide pack for use with NHS organisations and teams. - Document: Pre-menopause by the Daisy Network
An overview of pre-menopause, sourced by information available via the Daisy Network. The Daisy Network is a registered charity is committed to providing information and support to women diagnosed with Premature Menopause, also known as Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). It is the ONLY charity in the UK for women with POI. - elearning: The NHS Menopause Awareness Programme (hosted on the NHS Learning Hub/e-lfh)
- Blog:‘It feels impossible to beat’: how I was floored by menopause(long read)
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Health and wellbeing tips for line managers
Health and wellbeing top tips for supporting line managers
With increasing workforce pressures and demands on NHS staff, it’s vital that managers are effectively supported in the workplace.
The best way to foster a supportive environment is to ensure that line managers understand their role in staff health and wellbeing, lead their teams compassionately, and provide the appropriate support to staff.
Visit the link below for top tips for supporting line managers at work and keeping them well:
https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/health-and-wellbeing-top-tips-supporting-line-managers
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As a line manager supporting colleagues experiencing menopause
Supporting colleagues affected by the menopause
Menopause and perimenopause (the phase leading up to the menopause) can cause symptoms including anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards. Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.
The NHS workforce employs over 1.3 million people 76.5% of them (over 1 million) women, of which women between the ages of 45 and 54 make up 19.1% (over 260,000) of the entire NHS workforce.
Good menopause care has both direct and indirect impacts on workforce retention levels, productivity, and absenteeism. Ensuring staff get the support they need is an important part of retaining experienced talent and skills. It would also minimise the impact of a person’s symptoms, health and wellbeing issues, and productivity on patient outcomes, their work, personal life, and relationships.
NHS England » Supporting our NHS people through menopause: guidance for line managers and colleagues
As a line manager, how can I support a colleague experiencing the menopause?
- For colleagues off work due to menopause related symptoms, line managers are encouraged to maintain regular contact to support and connect during the absence. Please also review the Recording menopause related sickness guidance that advises line managers, HR colleagues and ESR users on how to record menopause related sickness. By recording accurately, we can gain a better understanding of the impact menopause is having on NHS people and put in place support that our colleagues need.
- Offer regular wellbeing conversationsto check in with colleagues and explore if making any reasonable adjustments to their working pattern would support them.
- Recommend that colleagues join local or national menopause support groups and peer networks to meet others who are experiencing similar challenges.
- You can also find tips for managers and leaders on how to support colleagues affected by the menopause in the ‘Supporting colleagues in late career’ chapter of our retention guide for line managers and employers.
NHS Employers have also published more detailed guidance on how to support colleagues affected by menopause, which can be accessed on the NHS Employers website.
As an organisation, how can I support my workforce?
Please see the following case studies from a selection of ICSs and organisations who are supporting their workforce in becoming menopause friendly:
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Supporting colleagues with long covid
Supporting colleagues affected by Long COVID
‘Long COVID’ is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute COVID‑19. It includes both ongoing symptomatic COVID‑19 and post‑COVID‑19 syndrome (NICE, 2020).
The NHS has a range of support offers and services available to NHS colleagues to support with their health and wellbeing, including support for Long COVID symptoms.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/supporting-our-nhs-people/support-now/supporting-long-covid/
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Equality and diversity
Supporting your LGBTQ+ workforce | NHS Employers
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01935-3/fulltext
https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/equality/equality-hub/patient-equalities-programme/lgbt-health/
https://learninghub.nhs.uk/Catalogue/LGBTQIA-Awareness
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/top-10-tips-lgbt-inclusion-workplace – -
Neurodiversity
Feedback survey
We hope you have found this page and all the resources useful. This page will continue to grow, and we will add more resources in the future. We would love to hear your feedback and comments about the content and any suggestions you have. Please fill in our survey so we can make this resource work better for all. Thank you!