Having safe and effective wellbeing conversations

The NHS People Plan sets out the ambition that every member of the NHS should have a health and wellbeing conversation with their line manager or a peer, and that as part of this conversation, line managers will be expected to discuss an individual’s health and wellbeing, and any flexible working requirements, as well as equality, diversity and inclusion.

Alongside a range of national resources that were published in March 2021, NHS England launched a national training programme in 2021-22 that was designed to support NHS colleagues in having safe and effective wellbeing conversations.  We are now pleased to confirm that this training programme has been extended into 2022/23.

Support for line managers and those holding wellbeing conversations

NHS England have co-designed a national training programme with support from a number of NHS organisations, that aims to offer delegates an opportunity to learn more about what a wellbeing conversation is, when it may be appropriate to initiate one and provide them with additional knowledge and skills to have safe and compassionate conversations about various aspects of wellbeing.  The programme, delivered by trained professionals from Passe Partout, also advises how to safely signpost staff to additional support when needed, and offer an opportunity to practice a conversation in a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space of the session.

Feedback from the initial cohort delivered in 2021/22 was incredibly positive, with 88.9% of delegates who completed the post course survey reporting that they felt confident or very confident to initiate a wellbeing conversation after attending the training.

The programme is aimed at line managers (of any profession, banding or grade), peers and colleagues working across the NHS in roles which have caring responsibilities for staff – for example clinical and educational supervisors, team leaders, members of staff networks, health and wellbeing champions or Wellbeing Guardians.

If you are interested in attending, please see below to view available dates.

“I completed the training on Monday 24 January 2021 and can honestly say it was the best wellbeing training I have ever attended. The framework is an easy guide to follow, with conversations organically moving through the stages.  The facilitator was passionate about his subject, which in turn kept all attending engaged for the whole session. The break out activities offered not only an opportunity to practice and explore the framework, but also allow us to discover more about ourselves.

I would highly recommend this training to all, as I strongly believe it could help all on an individual and team level.”

Emily, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2021/22 cohort.

Training dates

Please note each session is 3.5 hours long, delegates will need to commit to attending the full session. Please see below for remaining dates for 2022/23.  Given the high demand for these dates, we ask that colleagues please only book a date that you are able to attend and that you do not book on multiple sessions.

Training dates – March 2023

Training dates – April 2023