Plymouth City Council Achieves Bronze

Plymouth City Council is celebrating after achieving Bronze status within the Wellbeing at Work Award programme and receiving recognition for its work to improve the health and wellbeing of its staff.

Plymouth City Council has been working alongside Wellbeing at Work for a number of years and has established Wellbeing Champions, an annual health needs assessment, and a health and wellbeing steering group.

Nita Dodd, Advanced Health Improvement Practitioner at Livewell Southwest, said:  “Plymouth City Council has worked tirelessly to achieve the Wellbeing at Work Bronze award during the COVID-19 lockdown. They have 30 trained Wellbeing Champions and will be training another twelve shortly. Many of their employees have accessed Livewell wellbeing training courses, including Understanding Mental Health & Wellbeing, which explores how we can all maintain our own wellbeing and that of people around us. Plymouth City Council will formulate their action plan going forward towards the Silver award, using the outcomes of their Health Needs assessment”.

In order to achieve a Wellbeing at Work Bronze Award, businesses have to set up a working group, carry out a workplace needs assessment, a health and safety assessment and establish wellbeing champions who are responsible for helping colleagues to keep healthy.  Throughout the process they are supported by Wellbeing at Work Advisor who offers support and guidance.

Jemma Freeman, the Wellbeing Specialist at Plymouth City Council said: “I am super proud that we have been awarded the Bronze award. When I started at the organisation last September 2019 I wanted to ensure that my passion to implement good Wellbeing for our employees was embedded into the working day in a guided and accountable format. The support from our work coach Nita meant that the work I was doing alongside our amazing Team of Wellbeing Champions would make a difference to our employees. The journey towards the Bronze award began pre COVID19 and with the support of my colleagues we had to adapt our support for employees from face to face to online. This feels like the start of a journey for us and I am eager and committed to working us towards the next award of Silver! “

Councillor Smith, Plymouth City Council, said: “This is great news! Achieving the Bronze Award for Wellbeing at Work is a step in the right direction and I am sure with determination the Silver level will be achieved. This award confirms to our employees that we are committed to supporting your wellbeing. I would like to thank our Well-being Champions for their contributions.”