Most of the content on this intranet is made up of ex county council information due to the county intranet being turned off. Please read the blog to find out more about how we have developed this new intranet and where you can go to find information that relates to you.
Wellbeing
Health and wellbeing.
The wellbeing of our employees is extremely important to Cumberland Council. We recognise that the main factors that affect your health and wellbeing at work are things like workload; relationships with managers and colleagues; whether you have the resources and the control over your own work to do the best job you can; whether you are able to work in a way that suits you; feeling that you are recognised and valued for the work that you do, and generally that you are treated well and fairly by colleagues and the Council overall.
We are committed to creating an environment where all employees of Cumberland Council can thrive and be happy at work, and we will work with staff at all levels and with trade union colleagues to keep improving that positive working environment for you. This is central to our Council Values, which emphasise that in everything we do we strive to be compassionate, empowering and collaborative; this applies as much to working with you as it does to providing services to the public.
In addition to aiming to provide you with a positive and supportive working environment, the Council provides a number of resources and services that can help you look after your own health and wellbeing. These are detailed further below. We also encourage you to speak to your line manager at the earliest opportunity if you need any further support or guidance in relation to your own wellbeing. You will continue to have support from a number of trained health advocates, workplace wellbeing champions; first aiders and mental health first aiders that can be accessed by visiting your sovereign council’s intranet pages.
Are you struggling?
Do you need urgent help or to talk to someone?
- In an emergency call 999 or go to your nearest accident and emergency department.
- If you need to talk to someone urgently the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 or online.
- Contact Mindline Cumbria, Tel: 0300 561 0000 or Text ‘Mind' and your question to 81066, send an email to: info@mindlinecumbria.org
Able Futures
Able Futures can help you manage your mental health at work so you can enjoy more good days.
They could offer nine months advice and guidance from a mental health specialist who can help you learn coping mechanisms, build resilience, access therapy or work with your employer to make adjustments to help your mental health at work.
Mental Health - Creativity
Several studies have shown that creative hobbies, such as art, writing and music, can reduce and even prevent stress. You may find that, after a stressful day, enjoying a hobby can help you de-stress and even give you an energy boost. Being creative may also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, and can help us express or manage our emotions in a positive and productive way. Especially when those feelings are difficult to put into words.
Wellbeing Check
Use the 5-minute wellbeing check to check in with what you need to focus on.
- Do I have enough sleep?
- What am I feeling right now?
- Did I show myself and others kindness?
- Do my muscles need stretching?
- Do I drink enough water?
- Am I eating healthily and regularly?
The Circle of Control
If we spend lots of our energy worrying about things we can't control, we end up feeling overwhelmed. The sweet spot is where we focus our energy on the areas we can control.
- What can you control in your current situation?
- What can you influence?
- What can you learn to accept?
The Change Curve
During any change process it is natural to be anywhere on this curve at any time.
You can move forward and backwards on the curve- even in the same day!
The key is to recognise where you are on this curve and what support do you need and who from?
If you do feel you need further support please explore the resources on this page or speak to your line manager/colleague, friends or family or a professional.
Wellness Action Plan (WAP)
A WAP is an easy, practical way of helping you to support your own mental health at work, and if you are a manager, helping you to support the mental health of your team members.
Everyone can complete a WAP; it's not just for people with mental health conditions that can benefit from one. It just means that you already have practical steps in place to ensure you are supported when you aren't feeling great.
There are two guides available from Mind, both with a WAP template that you can fill in electronically:
- Our Guide for line managers is for managers or supervisors who are interested in introducing WAPs to their team members.
- Our Guide for employees is for any member of staff who would like to try a WAP for themselves and introduce the idea of using WAPs to their manager or supervisor.
For more information, visit the Mind website.
Resources
Here are some useful websites with guidance and toolkits available to download: