In NHS Forth Valley we care about the health and wellbeing of our people. Our staff are currently working in very challenging times. It is important that we look after ourselves and each other. This section provides you with details of support and listening services available to all staff.
For wellbeing resources to support yourself, your colleagues and your staff visit the Wellbeing Resources page.
The Sanctuary
The library at FVRH is now a sanctuary for staff. Please come and have a tea or coffee, sit and be quiet, or chat to someone (psychologists and psychiatrists available there during weekdays if you’d like to have a listening ear), and find out about relaxation, mindfulness and other support sessions available. Please check with your manager about similar support in other Forth Valley hospital sites.
Psychological First Aid
Do you want to focus on self-care, maintaining resilience, positive coping and mental wellbeing on a 1:1 basis? Sessions are based on an internationally recognised appropriate form of support to be provided to frontline staff at this stage. Please book a 30 minute telephone or video based session with a clinical health psychologist or counsellor who routinely works in acute or primary care settings by calling 01324 614387.
Please note that this is not individual counselling/therapy, nor does it involve a detailed discussion of events that caused distress. For a poster on these and additional resources download Staff Support During COVID-19.
Coaching
Staff in all areas within NHS Forth Valley can access coaching. We have accredited coaches who can provide a confidential safe space and an opportunity where you have time to think and reflect on your thoughts and feelings. Coaching can support you with your health and wellbeing to increase resourcefulness and resilience in times of stress. Coaching can be face-to-face or remotely by phone, or video conference. If you are interested in having a coach, please contact margaret.kerr4@nhs.net or phone 07854447015.
External online coaches can also be accessed via the National Wellbeing Hub, which is supported by NES. To find out more go to www.knowyoumore.com/wellbeingcoaching.
Keep Well support
Keep Well NHS Forth Valley are currently offering a 1:1 telephone support for staff. Staff can access support and guidance from a Life coach who has extensive experience supporting people with health and wellbeing, and an Occupational Therapist, who specialises in supporting Mental Health & Wellbeing at Work. The intended support may vary from providing a safe-space to talk, through to practical signposting to other services such as debt, benefit and money advice, smoking cessation and other wellbeing resources.
To access this 9am – 5pm service, please telephone using the numbers below:
- Pat: 07976300267
- Jackie: 07909002795
or email fv-uhb.kwsupportcovid@nhs.net to arrange a suitable time to make contact.
Virtual Staff Room
What is it?
The Virtual Staff Room (VSR) is a space for you to spend time with colleagues online, while we are socially distant and can’t connect in person.
When is it? The VSR runs three evenings a week – Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday from 7-8pm.
What happens?
Different evenings will have different events – some nights will be a quiz night, others a book group – but they can be whatever you would like. From karaoke to board games, craft nights to a team get together over pizza, (almost) anything goes! If your team would like to have an evening out/in together, have a think about what you would like to do, and get in touch with Sarah Miller to book a slot.
Who is it for?
Any members of staff or staff groups can come along. We will run evenings for staff from particular areas or disciplines, or you can facilitate your own group. This opportunity is open to NHS FV staff and our partners – eg SERCO staff, staff in care homes or the hospice.
How do I join in?
All you need to do is click on the Microsoft Teams link to join the meeting. This can be done from a smartphone, tablet or computer – it works best if you have a camera and microphone.
Sessions planned:
- Tuesday 26th May: Quiz night
- Thursday 28th May: Session for staff who are shielding – an opportunity to connect with colleagues who are in a similar situation.
Medical Peer support
Forth Valley Medical Peer Support Network provides peer support for non training grade secondary care doctors working in NHS Forth Valley (e.g. Consultant, Staff grade, Associate Specialist, Specialty Doctor). It is provided by a group of trained senior Doctors who are willing to listen to and talk with a colleague seeking peer support. The conversation is confidential and no records are kept. You can find more information about the service, who the Peer Supporters are and how to contact your chosen Peer Supporter on the Medical Peer Support page of the staff intranet.
Peer Support Service for Doctors-in-Training (DiT)
We have our very own peer support service for doctors-in-training. This service aims to provide a non-judgemental listening ear if you are having problems or experiencing tough situations in life. We also highlight resources or services that might be helpful. This service is completely confidential.
There is a peer support account (fv-uhb.DiTsupport@nhs.net) you can email which can only be accessed by the peer supporters.
Alternatively, you can choose to email us individually. One of us will get in touch with you within 48-72 hours, Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm. We can then arrange to meet in person or talk over the phone.
Who are the peer supporters?
- Malinder Singh, Rheumatology CDF (m.kaurbaldevesingh@nhs.net)
- Saskia Kane, MOE CDF (saskia.kane@nhs.net)
- Nur Jannah Radzif, CMT2 (nradzif@nhs.net)
Spiritual Care and Support
The Staff Support Hotline provides a safe and confidential space for staff to talk about what’s going on for them at moment. A member of the spiritual care team will triage calls, provide immediate support for those who need it and allocate less urgent cases to other team members who will call staff members back to schedule phone appointments. This service is available during working hours, Monday to Friday. A limited “drop-in” service is also available. Staff members who need immediate support may come along to the spiritual care centre at FVRH (during working hours, Monday to Friday).
The Staff Support Hotline number is 07824 460882.
Online Stress Control Classes
As people can’t get to a regular Stress Control class due to the current circumstances, Stress Control will live stream the sessions. Each session will play twice a day (at 2pm and repeated at 8.30 pm) on Mondays and Thursdays. The sessions will be led by Dr Jim White, consultant clinical psychologist, who created the class.
If you are unable to make these regular times then you can access similar information produced by NHS Fife Psychology Service – Step on Stress. It is recommended that to get the maximum benefit from this course to watch all four sessions in running order (1-4).
Accessing Support
We recognise that on occasion staff may need to access support outwith their own health board. If you think this would be helpful or applies to you please discuss this in the first instance with Robert Clark, Employee Director by email at robertclark@nhs.net or phone on 0773 679 9350, or Elaine Bell Head of Human Resources at e.bell@nhs.net
Trickle
Sign Up to NHS Forth Valley on the Trickle platform. Trickle is a mobile/web app that gives staff a voice: to highlight things that work well, suggest changes and see the feedback as ideas are shared and discussed. It takes no more than 60 seconds to get up and running, and you are guided through the process of logging in to either the web or mobile apps using this link.
The Team ID you need to sign in to the mobile app for the first time is: nhs-forth-valley.
NOTE: The PIN code process to sign in is only needed the first time you use the web or mobile apps.
Once you’re logged in, get involved! This is your chance to share ideas, start conversations and vote on what is most important to all staff in NHS Forth Valley. We can then use this to make things better for patients, colleagues, and ourselves.
Trade Unions and Professional Bodies
Many Trade Unions and Professional Bodies are offering additional support resources and services at this time. Contact them to find out what is available.
National
- Royal College of Nursing – 0345 772 6100
- Royal College of Midwives – 0300 303 0444
- Unite the Union – contact for Forth Valley is Sandy Smart, Regional Officer – 01315569676/07810157927
- UNISON – membershipassistancescotland@unison.co.uk
- British Dietetic Association – 0121 200 8080
(British Dietetic Association, 3rd Floor Interchange Place, 151-165 Edmund Street, Birmingham, B3 2TA)
Local
- Royal College of Nursing – Hilary Nelson – 07790930470
- Royal College of Nursing – janett.sneddon@nhs.net/cmorrell@nhs.net
- UNISON – Karren.morrison@nhs.net, 01324567239
- British and Irish Orthoptic Society – Laura McCartney
(Orthoptic Department, Falkirk Community Hospital) - Society of Radiographers – aileen.graham2@nhs.net
- GMB – Nick Hill nicholas.hill@nhs.net, 07554737972
Scottish Government Toolkit
Are you an NHS staff member experiencing financial hardship during COVID-19?
Please remember if you are experiencing financial hardship yourself then you can also get support from Scotland’s Citizens Advice helpline. You can find out information about accessing your local money advice service through the local authority in which you reside by checking out your council website.