A new wellbeing strategy launched for IAPT

The new approach to supporting our staff in our talking therapies services, Talking Space Plus in Oxfordshire and Healthy Minds in Buckinghamshire, was developed following increased workplace pressures with the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about burnout.

A new wellbeing strategy launched for IAPT

Funded and supported by NHS England, the new strategy aims to ensure staff remain resilient for our patients by ensuring they are well supported at work, which should also help address staff recruitment and retention challenges.

It was jointly designed by our services with our partner, the Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), and the two other Thames Valley IAPT services in Berkshire and Milton Keynes.

The strategy is based on a wealth of research and practice from organisational development and workplace wellbeing. Drawing on wide ranging research with staff working in IAPT services about what would help them thrive at work, it can be adopted and adapted by any service.

Launched recently at NHS England webinar, the strategy includes a wealth of practical evidence-based suggestions on how to organise and run services in ways that work well for patients and the staff working there.

Dr Nick Broughton, CEO of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and a member of the Oxford AHSN board, said: “The pandemic not only highlighted the importance of IAPT services but also the need to proactively support the wellbeing of staff working in such services. It is essential that we do this if we are to have services that are resilient and sustainable.”

Dr John Pimm, Head of Service for Buckinghamshire IAPT, and Dr Joanne Ryder, Clinical Lead for Talking Space Plus, said: “Our staff are our most important asset and supporting them to be healthy and well at work is of upmost importance to us.”

The strategy focuses on:

  • Leading with compassion
  • Managing collaboratively
  • Team-working effectively
  • Belonging for, and by, all

The document and accompanying resources are available here.

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Published: 7 December 2022