Ambulance service unveils five-year wellbeing strategy

South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) is to introduce a wellbeing forum for staff as part of its new five-year Wellbeing Strategy.

(c) Ian Taylor/Unsplash

(c) Ian Taylor/Unsplash

The strategy for 2025-30, which was signed off recently by its trust board, will have at its heart the ambition to embed wellbeing in everything it does.

Two further core themes are covered in the strategy - learning from lived experience and developing a proactive response to wellbeing.

The wellbeing forum will act as a space where people can pitch ideas about wellbeing, share their own lived experience, and work collectively on how to improve and prioritise wellbeing across the organisation.

The strategy also sets out an intention to expand the Wellbeing Advocate Network, which currently has more than 50 wellbeing advocates, SECAmb employees who volunteer their time to support others and the trust's wellbeing agenda.

A wellbeing charter will also be introduced, outlining the mutual commitments between the trust and staff.

The strategy also commits to reviewing emotional support for new staff, enhancing training for managers, and aligning with the NHS England's Safe Learning Environment Charter to better support students.

The trust's much-valued Wellbeing Hub – which processed close to 2,000 referrals in 2024 – will continue to play a key role. Improvements will see it offer more proactive, and where appropriate, in-person interventions across five main pillars: mind, physical, social & community, spiritual, and financial health.

SECAmb's chaplaincy services will also continue to provide valuable support to colleagues' wellbeing. Through the newly-established Wellbeing Forum, work will take place to explore how chaplaincy could be even better utilised and supported across the organisation.

Trauma support pathways, including the SECAmb's Trauma Risk Management peer-support programme, will also be reviewed to ensure consistent, compassionate care for those affected by distressing incidents.

Chief executive, Simon Weldon, said: ‘This Wellbeing Strategy is our promise to our colleagues. The three key themes are not just words on paper; they will develop to underpin our commitment to creating a healthier, happier, and more supportive work environment.'

The strategy will be overseen by the wellbeing forum, with progress measured against NHS frameworks and staff survey results.

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