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<p>Supporting the mental health of National Health Service staff is the responsibility
of NHS employers. NHS trusts are being supported to do this through the NHS staff
health and wellbeing framework and NHS Improvement’s NHS staff health and wellbeing
collaborative. Both incorporate the mental health standards in ‘Thriving at Work –
a review of mental health and employers’ produced by Mind.</p><p> </p><p>Recommendations
from the ‘NHS Staff and Learner Mental Wellbeing Programme’ report are being prioritised.
The report contained recommendations to support improved mental wellbeing and address
gaps or deficiencies in the system, including:</p><p>- the introduction of the Well
Being Guardian in every NHS trust and for primary care at a local level to be determined;</p><p>
</p><p>- the development of personal wellbeing supervisors for learners that are distinct
from those assessing the learner and check-ins with those tutors within two weeks
of placement;</p><p> </p><p>- a national NHS protocol implemented in every NHS organisation
to independently examine the death by suicide of any member of NHS staff or a learner
working in the NHS; and</p><p> </p><p>- the creation of/facilitating access to ‘safe
spaces’ which are accessible to all to be used for reflection, learning and during
breaks.</p><p> </p><p>The Workforce Implementation Plan (WIP) announced in the NHS
Long Term Plan is prioritising recommendations from Health Education England’s ‘Mental
Health Commission on NHS staff and learners’ which should give staff access to board
level Well Being Guardians and personal wellbeing supervisors, complementing work
with the Care Quality Commission and NHS Improvement to ensure staff have high quality
supportive supervision and are not asked to work excessive hours. Staff now report
any pressure to work excessive hours to the Guardian of Safe Working.</p><p> </p><p>The
WIP is also expected to include proposals for making the NHS the best place to work
with further commitments to improve staff health and wellbeing, tackling violence,
abuse and bullying of staff and provide better opportunities for flexible working.</p>
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