World Mental Health Day: Prioritising Mental Health & Wellbeing For Our Team
Today, 10th October 2023, marks World Mental Health Day. At Step Up, we recognise the importance of mental health in the workplace and strive to create a psychologically safe and supportive workplace for our valued staff, supporting them to achieve a healthy work-life balance and thrive in their roles.
At Step Up, we believe that communication is the foundation of a healthy work environment. To foster this, we operate an ‘open door’ policy that encourages our team members to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas freely. Regular team meetings and Support & Supervision meetings provide valuable opportunities for discussion, ensuring that every voice is heard and every concern is addressed promptly. In each of our offices we also have Ideas Boards, which we use to capture any suggestions the staff team have for improving the way we do things.
We also understand that mental health challenges can affect anyone, and we are committed to providing assistance to our staff when they need it most. Our ‘Return to Work’ policy reflects our dedication to helping team members who have experienced mental health issues. We work with individuals to consider reasonable adjustments that can aid in their return to work and provide ongoing support to help them excel in their roles.
The role of our Team Coordinators is crucial in maintaining a healthy, safe, and supportive work environment. To empower them to carry out their responsibilities effectively, we are in the process of developing specialised training. These training programs will equip our Team Coordinators with the necessary skills to nurture the health, safety, and welfare of their teams.
We also recognise the importance of readily available support that fits our team’s busy schedules, and we offer our staff access to a 24-hour free counseling helpline. This resource ensures that our team members can reach out for help whenever they need it. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive list of local and national organisations that specialise in mental health support, further expanding the resources available to our team.
At Step Up, we understand that taking care of one’s mental health goes hand in hand with physical wellbeing. Our fully stocked kitchen ensures that our team has access to food and snacks throughout the day. In addition to this, we also provide ‘Filled Roll Fridays’, a favourite amongst our team, as well as Just Eat vouchers, which staff can use to treat themselves to a meal of their choice. In the past we have also issued staff with spa vouchers, offering a well-deserved escape to recharge the body and soul.
On World Mental Health Day, Step Up reaffirms its commitment to creating a workplace where mental health is a priority. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of openness, providing support when it’s needed most, and empowering our team to take care of their wellbeing. Together, we can break the stigma surrounding mental health and work towards a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce. At Step Up, mental health matters, and it’s part of the values set we continue to uphold every day.
