Jill McGee
Health and Wellbeing Lead (Group)
- [email protected] / 01642 282 482
- [email protected] (alternative email)
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Jill, I have been a nurse in the NHS for the last 34 years. I have worked in a variety of nursing roles over the years and for the last 10 years my focus has been on supporting the staff health and wellbeing agenda working in Occupational Health. I am passionate about looking after our workforce, a happy healthy workforce is a productive workforce. Outside of work I love spending time with my friends and family. I enjoy gardening and being outdoors and listening to music. I’m also bit of a crazy cat lady. I have 3 cats and a rabbit however I love all creatures great and small.
What does your role involve?
As part of my role, I am here to support the delivery of the staff wellbeing agenda as it is a key part of our people plan. This involves ensuring all staff are aware of the wellbeing offer, examples include including menopause, and health and wellbeing conversations training amongst many other things.
Why is health and wellbeing so important in the workplace?
Having a healthy workforce helps to foster a positive working environment. This can help to reduce workplace stress levels, improve employee engagement, satisfaction and productivity and as a result reduce sickness and retain staff. Looking after our staff to stay well and happy at work, ensures our patients receive the best possible care which is what we all strive for working in the NHS.
What are your top health/wellbeing tips for people generally?
Be kind to yourself, make sure you have some ME time every day for example have a cup of tea in the garden and listen to the bird song.
Every day check in with yourself using the How am I? tool.
Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water as being hydrated helps with concentration and reduces fatigue amongst other health benefits.
Take your breaks away from your work area where possible and go for a walk.
Try and focus on what went well today, then switch off. Avoid screen usage at least an hour before bed, have a regular bedtime routine and relax.
If you need help reach out and ask for support . “It’s ok not to be ok”
Self-care is not selfish, it is essential . Lastly always remember ……… “you can’t pour from an empty cup ” that is why looking after yourself is so important .
Laura Robson
Health and wellbeing advisor
- [email protected] / 01642 282482
- [email protected] (alternative email)
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Laura, I have worked in occupational health for 13 years. I enjoy being directly involved in supporting our trust staff and ensuring staff have access to resources that maintain and enhance their own wellness. I am passionate about wellbeing and reminding staff of the importance of looking after themselves. When I am not at work, I enjoy running, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
What does your role involve?
As part of my role, I help to co–ordinate the health and wellbeing agenda. My current role involves promoting health and wellbeing initiatives throughout the trust and organising wellbeing campaigns for the trust. My role involves empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health and know what is available for them in the trust to support their health and well being.
Why is health and wellbeing so important in the workplace?
Health and wellbeing is very important because if we do not look after ourselves, we cannot give our patients the excellent, quality care they deserve. Healthy employees are often more creative and innovative. A positive work environment that promotes wellbeing can inspire employees to think outside the box and contribute new ideas. By promoting health and wellbeing in an organisation, we are creating a positive working environment as staff tend to be happier and more productive.
What are your top health/wellbeing tips for people generally?
Find a hobby that you love and that helps you relax
Drink plenty of water
Eat a well-balanced diet
Check in with yourself using the ‘How am I’ tool
Get a good night’s rest
Be kind to yourself
Take your breaks away from the workplace, if possible
At the end of the day think about what you achieved, not what you feel didn’t go as planned
Julia Frost
Health and wellbeing advisor
- [email protected] / 01642282482
- [email protected] (alternative email)
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Julia, I stared my career in south tees within the learning and development team where I became involved in menopause awareness training and support. I love working with our staff; I am passionate about staff being the best they can be whether that is with regards to their learning or their wellbeing.
As a lead menopause champion, I regularly deliver training in this subject with staff and managers and carry out one to one support session with those who need them. Being a champion encouraged me to look more closely at health and wellbeing, and what we do to promote and support our staff across the whole of the Trust. This has now led me to my role within occupational health as a health and wellbeing senior advisor.
I love working with people and being out and about. I am a trained coach, listening ear and wellbeing advisor and I enjoy supporting staff to be able to look after themselves and get the support they need to be able to do the job they love. When I am not at work, I enjoy crafting, reading, walking and spending time with friends and family
What does your role involve?
As part of my role, I help to co–ordinate the health and wellbeing agenda and annual calendar of events. My current role involves delivery of wellbeing training including menopause, menopause for managers, and health and wellbeing conversations part 1 (with more to come). I am involved in organising and promoting health and wellbeing initiatives throughout the trust and organising wellbeing campaigns as well as ward visits, coaching, one to one support and coordinating the menopause champions and the pink box initiative.
Why is health and wellbeing so important in the workplace?
Having a healthy workforce can help create a positive working environment. It can minimise stress levels, improve employee satisfaction and engagement, reduce sickness and retain staff. It can also encourage people to work more effectively together and ultimately it helps staff thrive at work. It also means that if we look after our staff and our staff are well, they can look after our patients better.
What are your top health/wellbeing tips for people generally?
Be kind to yourself, make sure you have some ‘me’ time.
Stop comparing yourself to others.
Drink plenty of water.
Get good sleep and rest.
Eat well.
Socialise with friends and family.
Take up a hobby whether it be a sport, something creative or just going for a regular walk.
Ali Wilson
Non-Executive Director, Vice Chair and Wellbeing Board Guardian – University Hospital Tees
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Hi everyone, my name is Ali and I am one of the University Hospitals Tees Non-Executive Board members and the Wellbeing Board Guardian. Starting my NHS career as a nurse in 1980, I have enjoyed over 40 years in the NHS and public sector in numerous clinical, managerial and educational roles. Prior to retirement from a full-time senior leadership role in 2018, I was the chief executive officer for the clinical commissioning groups in Darlington and Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees and was chair of the North East Leadership Academy.
In my spare time I like to run and walk, which is great for my physical and mental wellbeing.
What does your role involve?
As a Group Non-Executive Director I work with other Board members, sharing responsibility for the decisions made by the board which focus on creating an environment which supports the success of the organisation in leading local improvement of healthcare services. A key part of that role is how we value and support our staff in providing the best care possible to our patients.
Specifically, as the Board Wellbeing Guardian my role is to act as a ‘conscience’ to the trust ensuring that we prioritise the health and wellbeing of staff. In that role I undertake regular ward and service walkabouts with the well being team, to listen to staff challenges and hear about your successes, ensure you know how to access the wellbeing resources we have available and bring any key concerns to the attention of the Board.
Why is health and wellbeing so important in the workplace?
If we look after the health and wellbeing of our staff, staff are happier in their work, are more likely to enjoy a good work life balance, are able to achieve their ambitions and tend to be well motivated to do the very best they can for patients and carers. As a major local employer, that also means we are supporting our communities to have longer healthier lives.
What are your top health/wellbeing tips for people generally?
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you honestly could do today.
Practice doing simple acts of kindness towards others every day and don’t forget to be kind to yourself too.
Create some time each day to get some fresh air and gentle exercise, even if that can only be a 10 minute walk, to or from work, or is combined with shopping, collecting kids or visiting a relative.
Smile! You’ll be surprised just how many people smile back and if feels good!