Make your wellbeing a priority – if you missed our live wellbeing webinars then there’s still chance to listen back. The content is timely and engaging and offers a great opportunity to learn and reset after a challenging year. The webinars were funded by our Trust charities based on a grant awarded from NHS Charities Together for recovery post-Covid.  

The webinars are:

• Leading Wellbeing  
• Relaxation
• Energy – prioritising your wellbeing

The sessions last 60 minutes and can be watched via Iris.

Email Divya.beri@nhs.net with any queries.

To support the Wellbeing Webinars, please see below Liggy Webb’s light and practical bite-sized eBooks that distil complexity and cover a range of powerful life skills.

• Behavioural Agility
• Burnout
• Collaboration
• Conversations
• Creativity
• Critical Thinking
• Curiosity
• Decision Making
• Healthy Eating
• Kindness
• Managing Emotions
• Menopause
• Mental Health
• Mindfit
• Mood Boosters
• Positive Mindset
• Relationship Building
• Relaxation
• Resilience
• Sleep Well
• Time Management
• Trust
• Uncertainty
• Wellbeing
• Winter Wellbeing

A Mindfulness course is a chance to take a pause, to learn a different approach to manage stress and difficulties, to reflect on what’s important to you and to take care of yourself.

The course is offered free of charge to all health and local authority social care staff across Sussex, including administrators and management staff. You will need agreement from your Manager to attend.

View the attached page for more information and how to sign up.

2022 Staff in Mind – mindfulness groups (all online)

• Thursdays 18.30 – 20.30 (21 April – 16 June)
• Thursdays 14.00 – 16.00 (28 April – 30 June *no session on 19 May)
• Saturdays 10.00 – 12.00 (30 April – 25 June)
• Wednesdays 11.00 – 13.00 (4 May – 29 June)
• Mondays 18.00 – 20.00 (9 May – 4 July)
• Fridays 15.30 – 17.30 (22 July – 16 September)
• Thursdays 18.00 – 20.00 (8 September – 10 November *no session on the 6 October)
• Mondays 18.00 – 20.00 (12 September – 14 November *no session on the 3 October)
• Thursdays 10.00 – 12.00 (15 September – 17 November *no session on the 6 October)
• Fridays 15.30 – 17.30 (30 September – 2 December *no session on the 7 October)
• Mondays 17.00 – 19.00 (10 October – 5 December)
• Tuesday 10.00 – 12.00 (11 October – 6 December)
• Fridays 10.00 – 12.00 (14 October – 9 December)
• Tuesdays 09.30 – 11.30 (18 October – 13 December)
• Mondays 10.00 – 12.00 (24 October – 12 December)

Our Chaplains are always happy to listen and are available to speak individually or signpost you to other services or agencies. Responsible for the spiritual and religious care of patients and staff, of all faiths and beliefs, or none. If you or one of your patients, or their relatives would value a listening ear please contact us:

Call St.Richard’s hospital ext. 35380; Worthing hospital ext..84004; Royal Sussex County site ext.4122; Princess Royal hospital ext.8232 or email uhsussex.chaplaincy@nhs.net.

The Library have a huge selection of rich resources to support your mental wellbeing and resilience and have put together a book collection based on just this. View the collection for more information.

You can also access more resources from the Health Sciences Library, Worthing Hospital: uhsussex.library@nhs.net, ext. 85025 and Dunhill Library, St Richards Hospital: uhsussex.dunhill.library@nhs.net / 32733.

Green Ambassadors is a new staff network for colleagues who are passionate about environmental sustainability and who want to share ideas, innovate and champion improvements in their teams. You can hear updates about local and national initiatives, get into contact with likeminded colleagues and departmental groups. There is also a focus on nature and wellbeing in terms of improving and promoting green spaces and active travel.

There’s no minimum time commitment and the aims are:

• to get everyone involved in the environmental strategy at the Trust
• create more sustainable clinical pathways
• work towards the wider NHS aim of getting to net-zero carbon by 2040.

To join or find out more, email uhsussex.green@nhs.net or check out Environment Week – UHSussex Intranet

Available on iris or on staff-net:

Headspace:

The meditation and mindfulness app Headspace has extended their offer to all NHS staff to join for free until 31 December 2022. Find out more about the Headspace app and how to sign up.

Please find some useful resources:

• Meditation on the brain video 
• Headspace Science 
• Google & Roche study 
• 10 days of headspace (beginners guide) 
• How to use Headspace (2 min video) 
• Headspace Youtube 
• Headspace founder Andy’s video on change:  
• Headspace frequently asked questions  

Stay Alive:

The Stay Alive app is a suicide prevention resource in the UK with lots of useless information and tools to help you or a loved one to stay safe in a crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.

Unmind:

Unmind is a mental health platform to empower staff to proactively improve their mental wellbeing. It includes digital programmes that are designed to help with stress, sleep, coping, connection, fulfilment, and nutrition. You can have free access until 31 December 2022.

Coming soon! Wellbeing hubs will be opening at RSCH, PRH, Worthing and St Richard’s soon. Pop in for a cup of tea, try your hand at a decompression activity and enjoy a massage. Look out for more details.

The NHS Retirement Fellowship is the organisation for retired NHS and Social Care staff, providing a bridge between life in employment and new opportunities in retirement. Members can enjoy a range of activities and interests meeting former colleagues, making new friends and participating in a variety of events. Walking, golf, photography and sightseeing are just some of the activities enjoyed, and members benefit from various discounts including cruises, holidays and annual worldwide travel, home and car insurance.​

Visit the website for details of over 150 branches, events, and activities: www.nhsrf.org.uk.

You can also call the free membership team number on 0800 9151455 or you can contact the secretary of your local branch, Anne Jones: annecjones@tiscali.co.uk

This is a confidential staff support line, operated by Samaritans, and is free to access from 7am-11pm 7 days a week. The line is here for you if you may have had a tough day at work, feeling worried or a little overwhelmed. Whatever your worries are, trained advisers are here to help with signposting and confidential listening.

Call: 0800 069 6222 or text FRONTLINE to 85258 for support 24/7 via text.

This support line is operated by Hospice UK and is free to access from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. A team of fully qualified and trained bereavement specialists are here to support you with bereavement and wellbeing issues relating to loss experiences through your work. Call: 0300 303 4434.

Follow the link below to access a range of free online learning sessions that provide you with a better understanding of the signs to look out for and skills required to approach someone who is struggling with either social isolation or suicidal thoughts. https://www.zerosuicidealliance.com/training

Do you know about sexual assault referral centres?

The NHS has launched a new national campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) – specialist NHS services that provide a safe space and dedicated care for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused.

Sexual assault and abuse can happen to anyone either through a single event or repeatedly, however, it isn’t uncommon for a survivor not to disclose their experience or have no physical injuries.

As NHS staff, understanding more about sexual assault and abuse including the signs and where patients can access further help is really important. There may also be colleagues who could access these services to find support dealing with their own experiences.

Information and resources

SARCs centres

These are located across the country and available for everyone, regardless of gender, age, the type of incident and when it happened. Their services include crisis care, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections. SARCs can also arrange access to an independent sexual violence advisor, as well as referrals to mental health support and voluntary sector sexual violence support providers. Find out more about SARCs, including your nearest service online.

SARCs animation

Watch this short animation which explains what happens at SARCs.

E-learning course

The Health Education England Identifying and Responding to Sexual Assault and Abuse Programme provides information and advice on identifying and responding to sexual assault and abuse.

Broader support

More information on the signs of domestic violence and abuse and accessing help can be found on these websites:

• NHS.UK website.
• NHS employers

As part of the health and wellbeing package at UHSussex, the Health and Wellbeing Team are pleased to offer free and confidential health checks for staff who are at a higher risk from COVID-19 due to their health, race, disability or pregnancy. Anyone who is over 60 or was previously shielding is also eligible.

The sessions are run by healthcare professionals from TPHealth, our external Occupational Health provider, and aim to support staff’s health and wellbeing during the challenging winter period. Sessions are self-directed and can address any aspect of staff’s health and wellbeing. Appointments could include activities such as a body composition, cardiovascular assessment, mental wellbeing assessment and a life style discussion.

At UHSussex, we are committed to equality for all our staff, and recognise the health inequalities that certain groups face. The staff at TPHealth are comprehensively trained to support individuals’ varying needs, including topics such as nutrition for different ethnic groups, Mental Health First Aid for LGBTQ+ communities, and exercise with at risk/clinical populations.

To book a health check appointment, please access the relevant links below. Only available appointments will appear and once all appointments are fully booked there will be no clickable appointment times. Dates for further clinics in the coming weeks and months will be released in due course, so if you are unable to book an appointment this month, please revisit this page at a later date.

• Worthing Clinics
• St. Richard’s Clinics
• Southlands Clinics
• Royal Sussex County Clinics
• Princess Royal Clinics

The booking system will confirm your appointment directly, and email reminders will be sent to you a week, and 24 hours before your appointment, along with a reminder on the day. If a booked appointment needs to be cancelled up to 24 hours prior to the appointment, please use the booking system below. If a booked appointment needs to be cancelled less than 24 hours prior then please email: healthandwellbeing@teamprevent.co.uk.

If you have any questions, please contact the Health and Wellbeing Team at uhsussex.staffhealth@nhs.net.

Following the success of the free massage sessions at our Wellbeing Events last summer, we are providing free 20-minute massages for staff working across our main hospital sites, over the next six months.

The massages at Worthing and St Richard’s hospitals will be taking place in wards and departments.  

At the Princess Royal and Royal Sussex County hospitals massage sessions will alternate between wards and departments and the staff lounges. Colleagues at these sites can sign up for either a head and neck, or back and shoulder massage using the following links:

Sign up:

• Princess Royal Hospital
• Royal Sussex County Hospital
• Staff lounges are based on Level 4 of the Thomas Kemp Tower, next to the F&E offices and on the first floor of the main building at Princess Royal hospital
• There will also be paper sign up sheets in the staff lounges for staff who do not have easy access to the intranet.

We recognise the diverse nature of caring responsibilities within our workforce. The purpose of the Carer’s passport is to enable staff with caring responsibilities and their managers to hold supportive and open conversations to discuss and document the flexibilities needed to support combining caring and work. These conversations involve balancing the needs of the staff members with the needs of the department, within existing UHSussex policies. The aim is to minimise the need to re-negotiate these flexibilities every time a staff member moves post, moves between departments or is assigned a new manager. The carer’s passport can be completed by any staff member who has caring responsibilities which they believe could have an impact on their ability to work currently or at some point in the future. All information will remain confidential between the manager and the staff member and not shared unless prior agreement is sort from the staff member. This is designed to be a ‘live’ document to be reviewed every year and/or in response to any changes in the nature or impact of the caring responsibilities.

You may also want to join our colleagues as carers group.

• Yoga with Sonia. Contact sonia.sobowiec@nhs.net. Every Tuesday 17:30-18:30pm.
• Football with Jamie. Contact jlewis7@nhs.net. Every Tuesday 17:30-18:30 in East Brighton Park. Sign up soon before summer ends!
• Knit and Natter with Joseph. Contact joseph.laffan@nhs.net.

This offer is a new and exciting programme available to NHS colleagues living with obesity, to provide support needed to stay healthy and active. The programme offers free, online access to a 12-week management programme which is designed to be personally tailored to support you on your journey to a healthier lifestyle. As a digital programme, it can be used anywhere, allowing you to complete the programme in your own time, at a pace that works for you. You can find out more details here.

The Healthier You programme can help those with diabetes to improve their diet, get more physically active, and achieve a healthy weight with an aim to support you on your journey back to a Healthier You.

NHS colleagues can find out if they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes using the Diabetes UK risk tool – it only takes a few minutes and could be the most important thing you do today. If your score comes back as a ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ risk, you’ll be invited to sign up to your free local Healthier You programme. Search ‘Know Your Risk’ or visit riskscore.diabetes.org.uk to find out more.

We have a pre arranged agreement with Specsavers to provide staff with a free eyetest voucher. In order to qualify for this you must be a ‘user’ as defined in our Display Screen Equipment policy (Section 4.7) and must have completed a DSE Checklist & Risk Assessment within the last 12 months. Once this is completed you can then apply for the voucher.

• Voucher for staff at Worthing, St Richards and Southlands hospitals.

The Health Passport is a new supportive tool for any staff that have long-term health conditions that may need to have a workplace or reasonable adjustment. The passport is voluntary and provides a structured way of having and recording meaningful conversations about health and adjustments between staff and their line manager or supervisor.

Visit the hospital information pages for details of what is available at each site.

We offer a service to all staff to assess, treat and advise on any musculoskeletal condition that are affecting your ability to carry out your duties at work.

This is a flexible service, tailored to the needs of staff, outpatients and their relatives, and visitors attending RSCH. You attend an initial assessment (15-20 mins) with a qualified smoking cessation advisor who help you to set a quit date and measure your carbon monoxide readings. You are then asked to return each week or fortnightly for a 5-10 minute consultation to discuss how you are getting on and to receive your nicotine products. Currently offering phone consultations rather than face to face due to Covid. Call Pharm@sea in Brighton on 01273523257, Mondays to Fridays 9.00am – 6.00pm, Saturdays 9.30am – 1.30pm.

You can call this support line provided by the Money Helper service for free and impartial money guidance from Monday – Friday, 8am-6pm. Contact details: Call: 0800 448 0826

WhatsApp, add +44 7701 342 744 to your WhatsApp and send the Money Helper service’s national support team a message for help with sorting out your debts, credit questions and pensions guidance.

Webchat, chat to one of the Money Helper service team via their online portal.

NHS England – financial support page

These series of financial wellbeing webinars are available for anyone working for any of our employer partners and they are completely free. The webinars are designed to help demystify the world of finance and to help you plan your future.

• Register for financial webinars
• Poster for full details

Simplyhealth offer a variety of health plans that allow you to look after your health and wellbeing before things turn into bigger and more expensive problems. They spread the cost of the treatment you might need to a regular monthly premium, starting from £10 a month. Simplyhealth cash plan offer access to a range of health services including online GP appointments, counselling and physio assessments and offer money back on dentist and opticians appointments. Simplyhealth Cash Plans include Cash back towards your healthcare costs, including sight tests, dental check ups, prescriptions, physio consultations, and much more. No need for a GP referral and you choose the practitioner you see. Free cover for up to four children. Access to a 24/7 GP and Counselling helpline. Simple online claims process with claims paid straight into your bank account.

The Trust recognises the rising cost of living in the UK and are aware this may have a significant impact of staff’s access to necessities such as food. To support your wellbeing, we have collated a list of local food bank websites that indicate the processes on how to access this food if you are in need in an emergency.

Brighton and Hove:

Information on how to get referred to a food bank and the available foodbanks near you in the area is available on the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership website. Specialised banks are also located in Brighton & Hove for the BAME community, refugees, asylum seekers and vegans.

Outside of Brighton:

Residents in Newhaven, Peacehaven, Fishersgate & Shoreham can also access foodbanks near them from the Hove Food Partnership website.

Haywards Heath:

If you are in the Haywards Heath area and can’t afford food, you can call 0808 2082138 for free (open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm). You’ll confidentially talk to a trained Citizens Advice agent and, if needed, they’ll issue you with a food bank voucher. For more information on how this works and what to do, please see the Haywards Heath Food Bank website.

Chichester:

If you are in the Chichester area, please contact one of the agencies on the website, who will discuss your situation and supply you with a foodbank voucher where appropriate. If you need help, please do call, or email for advice.  Centres are on the end of the phone Monday to Friday between 9am – 5.oopm. Chichester Food Bank website has more information on how to access your food vouchers in Chichester.

Worthing:

If you are in the Worthing area, please see the Chichester Food Bank website to access a list of local foodbanks, their contact details, and links to their websites. Worthing also have a vegan foodbank for those who need it – this is located on the website.

Extra links:

The benefits calculator can help you see if you qualify for food bank vouchers.

Citizens Advice (West Sussex)

Citizens Advice (East Sussex)

For immediate advice and support about getting food, shopping and meal deliveries, email food.access@impact-initiatives.org.uk or call 01273 322950.

Sign up and get access to information and services to help improve your financial wellbeing, such as payroll pay, exclusive travel offers, debt advice and lifestyle savings.

Save up to 30% on a new bike and pay monthly 

Our Cycle to Work scheme – run by Vivup – helps you save 22% to 30% off the a new traditional or electric bicycle and accessories up to the value of £6,000.  

You pay for your new bike in monthly instalments, taken from your PAYE salary before tax every month. Visit www.vivupbenefits.co.uk/ and register as a UHSussex employee to see how much you could save. 

Secure cycle stores 

If you cycle to work, you can use your Trust ID swipe card to access secure bike stories at most of our hospitals.  

New secure bike stores are also coming soon for Southlands and RSCH.  For more information, please contact uhsussex.greentravel@nhs.net 

Showers, lockers and changing facilities 

There are changing areas and showers at each of our hospitals.  

These can be located on the Green Travel hospital maps. The Green Travel team is looking to expand changing facilities for staff. 

Dr Bike free maintenance for your bicycle 

To support you to cycle to work, the Green Travel team invites Dr Bike to our hospitals to provide free services and puncture repair sessions. 

Slots are allocated on a first come, first served basis and last for 15-20 minutes and must be pre-booked via the Green Travel Team to check the safety of your bicycle and conduct minor repairs.

Dr Bike sessions coming soon: 

• Worthing: Thursday 23 June 7 Wednesday 24 August
• Southlands: Friday 24 June and Tuesday 30 August
• St Richards: Monday 30 June and Tuesday 23 August

Dates for the Royal Sussex County Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital will be released in due course.

Please contact the Green Travel Team on x67607 or email: uhsussex.greentravel@nhs.net 

• Download your booking form

Green Ambassador cycling group 

UHSussex Green Ambassadors champion environmental improvements across the trust. A dedicated cycling group promotes the interests of cyclists and suggests improvements. 

To find out more, email uhsussex.green@nhs.net. 

Adult cycle training

Whether you’re a complete beginner looking to start cycling or a regular cyclist who wants to brush up on their skills, our instructors will tailor a cycle training session to suit you.

Download the flyer for full details on costs and how to sign up.

There are different options available, from membership of the easitNETWORK to discounts with various bus companies in Sussex. 

Join the easitNETWORK 

UHSussex staff can benefit from the trust being a corporate member easit scheme.  Staff can buy an easit card for £5.05 and receive up to 15% on selected train services and 10% on some bus services.  

Several local services are included: 

• Bus service discounts 
• Train service discounts 

Visit www.easit.org.uk to apply for an easit card. 

Other benefits of the card include: 

• 10% off cycling accessories in-store at Halfords 
• Try before you buy – new bicycle loans 
• 25% off Eco Move Smart electric mopeds 

Brighton & Hove Buses annual network saver 

You can save money with an annual network saver pass paid in monthly instalments taken direct from your salary. 

For £69.17 a month (subject to change April 2022), you receive unlimited access to one of the best bus services in the country, covering a widespread area and including night buses.  

New Staff who may wish to use the Brighton and Hove bus services or Metro Voyager Service (travelling to areas between Brighton and Sutton) can apply for a FREE 28-day saver ticket.  

For more information, please email uhsussex.greentravel@nhs.net.

Up to the minute bus times are published at www.citytransport.org.uk/bus.html.  

Metrobus annual commuter pass 

Metrobus 272/271 bus service provides a commuting and inter-site service between Princess Royal and Royal Sussex County Hospital. 

The 270 service runs from East Grinstead to the Princess Royal and to the Royal Sussex County. 

An annual commuting bus pass costs £240, which can be deducted in monthly instalments from your salary.  

The Metrobus annual commuter pass scheme allows you to travel anywhere between Cuckfield and Royal Sussex County Hospital using the 272/271/270 services. 

Metrobus 272/271 Princess Royal to Royal Sussex pass 

You can apply for a Metrobus inter-site keycard to travel between Royal Sussex County Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital on trust business.  

Inter-site keycard holders can also make use of the 270 service, travelling between Princess Royal and Old Steine. 

Stagecoach 700 south coast service – 10% discount 

You can receive 10% off selected Stagecoach 700 bus passes.   

The company runs a regular service along the south coast – Portsmouth – Chichester – Littlehampton – Worthing – Shoreham – Brighton (Old Steine).  

Email uhsussex.greentravel@nhs.net for more details. 

Southlands > Worthing > St Richard’s staff minibus 

The Green Travel staff minibus is free to use by staff and runs regularly on weekdays. 

Stops include: 

• Southlands Hospital – main entrance 
• Brooklands Park – park and ride 
• Worthing Hospital – main entrance 
• Fontwell Racecourse – park and ride 
• St Richard’s Hospital – main entrance 

Please access the StaffNet minibus page for information on the free to use staff minibus.

From 3rd May there will be a new bus timetable to cover the increase in demand for the park and ride sites at Fontwell, Brooklands and Southlands.

Please note, new park and ride locations for staff will be introduced soon.  

Drive a new electric car – salary sacrifice 

NHS Fleet Solutions provided highly discounted lease-hire deals on new electric vehicles. 

Visit https://nhsfleetsolutions.co.uk/ for the latest deals on EVs, hybrids and other vehicles. For staff at Brighton and Princess Royal hospitals, register using VPD number 379; staff at Worthing, St Richard’s and Southlands, register using VPD number 279.

Electric bikes

Cycle faster uphill with an electric bike – salary sacrifice. Save between 22% and 30% on the cost of an electric bicycle up to the value of £6,000.  Visit www.vivupbenefits.co.uk/ and register as a UHSussex employee to see how much you could save. 

Get 25% off an electric moped 

Apply for an easit card and save 25% on the cost of an Eco Move Smart electric moped. 

New electric vehicle charging points coming soon. More EV charging stations are being introduced at each of our hospitals. Check back soon for more details. 

Become a Green Travel ambassador 

If you would like to see and support more green travel at UHSussex, why not sign up to become a UHSussex Green Travel Ambassador by emailing uhsussex.green@nhs.net. 

Visit the staff intranet or contact the transport bureau for more information about current parking arrangements for staff across all our sites: uhsussex.transport.bureau@nhs.net

Please contact uhsussex.green.travel.team@nhs.net. for more information relating to the above and help us in doing our bit to reduce our carbon footprint.