The Trust

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

The background

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust needed to address the psychological stress employees experience because of COVID-19.

The objectives

• Make employees our priority.
• Support all levels of need for psychological support.
• Prevent the psychological impacts of factors related to COVID-19 on employees.
• Build longer term workforce resilience, with employees feeling well and supported in work.

The approach

• Introduction of 152 wellbeing champions who have all received psychological first aid training.
• SOS rooms being put in place with trained practitioners available for support.
• Introduction of reflective groups (Schwartz Rounds, leadership support circles and bespoke reflective practice groups).
• Critical incident stress management services.
• An app specifically designed to support trauma response (power to respond app).
• Psychological assessments.
• Referrals and assessments.
• Psychoeducation and therapeutic groups.
• Counselling.
• Mental health pathways.
• Post COVID-19 clinic.

The model

• Level 1 – prevention/proactive mental health work.
• Level 2 – psychological assessment, low level targeted interventions.
• Level 3 – formal structured therapy, group work.
• Level 4 – specialist psychological assessment and intervention, risk     management, complex needs.