UHSussex takes positive action on health and wellbeing.
Our staff are our greatest asset. They work tirelessly to provide compassionate, professional, respectful and inclusive care – putting our patients’ first. We care for our staff so they can continue to provide outstanding care to our patients.
Quicklinks
Introduction to Sea Swimming course
Open to all staff, designed as an introduction to sea swimming. It’s suitable for all levels including beginners and will take place in Brighton.
Mental and emotional wellbeing
Please note that some links may only open on devices connected to the NHS network. If you have any questions about support and activities available please contact: uhsussex.staffhealth@nhs.net
Wellbeing webinars and bitesize wellbeing booklets
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:
The sessions last 60 minutes and can be watched via Iris.
Email uhsussex.staffhealth.net.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
Staff in Mind – mindfulness course
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)
Counselling
In-house 121 Counselling
In-house confidential support, counselling and psychotherapy.
Royal Sussex County, Brighton General, Princess Royal hospital:
HELP Service x63692
Worthing, Royal Hospital, Southlands:
Counselling Team x31624 SRH x85356 WGH/SLH
MindOut Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Mental Health Service
All MindOut services are confidential, independent and impartial.
MindOut is a project run by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer people. Our staff, volunteers and board of trustees, are all LGBTQ. We believe that sharing this identity is essential to our work.
Chaplaincy
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.
Library services
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.
Listening services
NHS links – one You and Staff in Mind
Schwartz Rounds/Team Time
Become a UHSussex Green Ambassador
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
Wellbeing Apps
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 useful 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.
Wellbeing hubs
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.
NHS Retirement Fellowship
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
Staff Support Line
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.
Bereavement Support Line
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.
Zero Suicide Alliance
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
Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness
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:
Support for Medical Colleagues
We have a range of services and information to help support our medical colleagues:
- BMA wellbeing services info: Your wellbeing (bma.org.uk)
- Mentoring page: Mentoring for doctors (bma.org.uk)
- Medical Managers committee work: BMA committee for medical managers overview
Physical wellbeing
Free health checks
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.
Free mindfulness meditation classes on Worthing beach
Dates:
- Saturday 1 October at 4pm
- Wednesday 5 October at 6pm
- Sunday 16 October at 4pm
- Wednesday 19 October at 6pm
Join Kalm Horizons for a free mindfulness meditation class on the beach in Worthing. Designed to help calm the mind, ease anxiety and help sleep come more naturally, the class involves some breathing techniques, aromatherapy inhalations with different essential oils, mindfulness meditation, visualisation, affirmations and a gentle discussion at the end about what people felt or noticed (people contribute as much or as little they want). It concludes with a simple guided self-massage technique at the end with a muscle soothing essential oil-based gel.
Kalm Horizons incorporates traditional mindfulness with elements of kindness and compassion – all to a soothing soundtrack of ocean waves.
Kalm Horizons is a Worthing-based company led by international wellness journalist and accredited mindfulness teacher, Mark Smith. The new business has been featured in The Times, Evening Standard, Sussex Life, Natural Health and European Spa magazine.
Each session is 45 minutes.
Location: on the beach in front of Bayside Social, East Worthing
What to bring: a towel to sit/lay on, a blanket and warm top/jacket
PREBOOKING IS ESSENTIAL.
Book your free place here: https://kalmhorizons.com/shop/
Free massage sessions at the Trust
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.
Carer’s passport
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.
Exercise clubs and leisure activities
- Yoga with Sonia. Every Tuesday 17:15-18:15 for all staff at the Terrace Restaurant, top floor of Audrey Emerton Building on Eastern Road. Please use the lift. Suitable for all ages and levels of flexibility. Contact son.yoga@yahoo.com.
- 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.
Digital weight management support for our NHS people
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.
Healthier You – NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme
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.
Eye tests
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.
Health passport
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.
Menopause cafe
Going through the menopause can be a difficult and stressful time for staff. In order to make sure you have the support you need we have put together a useful Menopause Guide with tips and advice on managing the many effects it can have. We also hold Menopause Cafés in order to create a supportive culture where staff feel comfortable and able to talk about how it is affecting them, their friends, their families and their colleagues.
The sessions will be led by specialists from within the Trust and cover a range of topics including symptoms, guidance and self-care for individuals, guidance for managers as well as supporting menopause in the workplace.
Additional support and advice:
Occupational health services
Onsite restaurants and refreshments
Physiotherapy for staff
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.
Staff rest spaces
Stopping smoking
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.
Financial wellbeing and discounts and cost of living support
Cost of living support, advice and helplines
Government support
Help with your bills
- From 1st October, a new ‘Energy Price Guarantee’ will mean a typical UK household will pay no more than £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years. This is automatic and applies to all households.
- £400 off energy bills for households in Great Britain from this October. This automatic, non-repayable discount will be applied in six instalments between October 2022 and March 2023 to help all households through winter. There is no need to apply for the scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details.
- Households on means tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits, will receive a payment of £650 this year (in addition to the £400 energy bill payment).
- Around 6 million people in the UK who are paid certain disability benefits will receive a one-off £150 disability “Cost of Living” payment. Check if you’re eligible for the Disability Cost of Living Payment
- In the winter months pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills. This winter, they will also receive an extra one-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, which will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment. Check if you’re eligible for the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
- Cold weather payments – £25 extra a week if you’re getting certain benefits is available during the winter when the temperature is zero or below for more than seven days. Check if you’re eligible
- Warm Home Discount – This autumn nearly three million low-income households are eligible for a £150 rebate on their winter electricity bills. Check with your energy supplier to see if you are eligible
More information on these schemes and more, including help with household, childcare and transport costs, can be found at Help for Households – Get government cost of living support
NHS/UHSussex Support:
- Mileage allowance rate temporary uplift – temporary increase to mileage rate by 5p per mile. This applies to all staff and all mileage rates. This commenced 1st July and will be reviewed every 3 months.
Money Helper
- 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
- Simple Energy Advice offers impartial and independent advice to help you reduce energy bills and make your home warmer and greener, as well as information
- Mental Health Breathing Space is a debt respite scheme which provides protection for people in debt who are receiving specific types of mental health crisis treatment
- Turn2us is a national charity which helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help
- Citizens Advice (CAB) is an independent organisation specialising in confidential information and advice to assist people with legal, debt, consumer, housing and other problems. You can contact CAB on 0800 144 8848 or at: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- Step Change is a debt charity that help people with debt problems to take back control of their finances and their lives. Visit the website for advice and to webchat: www.stepchange.org or call 0800 138 1111
- National Debt Line. Call 0808 808 4000 (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm and Sat 9.30am-1pm). Sometimes debt consolidation or a personal loan may not be the right thing for you. If you are struggling with debt or are worried and need confidential debt advice you can call the above number.
- The Money Charity, Financial Wellbeing + Financial Education. Call 0207 062 8933 (Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm) Proactively provide education, information, advice and guidance to people of all ages, helping them to manage their money well and increase their Financial Wellbeing.
- GOV UK. Overview and options for paying off your debts www.gov.uk/options-for-paying-off-your-debts
Getting help with grants
Many organisations and charities provide access to financial support for healthcare staff through grant funding. Here are just some of the organisations you can apply for grant funding with:
UNISON
UNISON offers a one-off grant of £250 to help with essential expenses, urgent repairs, disability equipment and adaptations, utility bills and funeral costs. To be eligible to apply for financial assistance, you must have been a member of UNISON for at least four weeks and be up to date with your subscriptions. Get help from UNISON or telephone 0800 0 857 857.
Royal College of Nursing
The RCN offers benefits and debt advice, as well as RCN Foundation Benevolent Service hardship grants for all members of the nursing and midwifery professions that are finding it hard to make ends meet. Check whether you’re eligible or speak to an advisor for RCN Members on telephone 0345 772 6100. Not an RCN Member? Telephone 0345 772 6200 (lines are open 8.30am to 8.30pm, seven days a week).
Healthcare Workers’ Foundation
Healthcare Workers’ Foundation has opened it’s ‘childcare grant’ service. The maximum award is £1,000 for increased childcare costs and all NHS workers are eligible. You will be required to submit NHS ID and evidence of pre-and post pandemic costs, so please have this ready. Apply on the Healthcare Workers Foundation website.
The Care Workers’ Charity
The Care Workers’ Charity offers grants to care workers, including:
- Crisis grants up to £500. Check your eligibility.
- COVID-19 Emergency Fund grants. Check your eligibility.
- Crisis Funeral grants up to £2,000. Check your eligibility.
- Get help from the Care Worker’s Charity.
The Healthcare Workers’ Foundation
Healthcare Workers’ Foundation has opened its ‘childcare grant’ service. The maximum award is £1,000 for increased childcare costs due to the pandemic. All NHS workers are eligible. You will be required to submit NHS ID and evidence of pre-and-post pandemic costs, so please have this ready. https://healthcareworkersfoundation.org/grants-and-financial-assistance/
Cavell Nurses Trust
The Cavell Nurses Trust helps to support nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants across the UK in times of personal or financial hardship. You can access their website at: www.cavellnursestrust.org or contact them by phone on 01527 595999
Junius S. Morgan Benevolent Fund
The Junius S. Morgan Benevolent Fund can help nurses (who have practiced in the UK for 5+ years) with financial aid. This aid can help with rent/ mortgage, bills and medical equipment. You can find their website at: www.juniusmorgan.org.uk/grants/ or contact them on 020 7399 0110
Help Me, I’m a Doctor
Help Me, I’m a Doctor brings together five charities who are committed to helping doctors and their families, and helps you understand which charity may be able to assist based on your personal circumstances – simply fill out a few simple questions and they will guide you to the best charity for assistance. Their website is: www.doctorshelp.org.uk
Royal Medical Benevolent Fund
The RMBF is a charity which supports doctors and their families at all stages of their career. They can provide financial support, money advice, and information when it is most needed. The charity can also support medical students. Their website is: https://rmbf.org/
Gov.uk
Information on the energy cap, support for travel, childcare, housing support, income support and more can be found on Gov.uk.
Turn2us
Support with the Cost of Living and what help may be available to you through benefits, grants and other sources of support can be found on Turn2us.
Childcare
Credit union
Financial Webinars
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
- Free webinar on financial anxiety with some added practical tips from the charity Faithworks on saving some cash this winter.
Free webinar on financial anxiety with some added practical tips from the charity Faithworks on saving some cash this winter!
Managing financial anxiety free webinar! Tickets, Mon 26 Sep 2022 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
Discounts and freebies
Simply Health cash plans
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.
Food Banks
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.
For immediate advice and support about getting food, shopping and meal deliveries, email food.access@impact-initiatives.org.uk or call 01273 322950.
Getting help with feeding your family
Free kids’ meals
Asda Café
Children aged 16 and under can get a hot or cold meal for £1 at any time of day in Asda cafés across the UK, 7 days a week, with no minimum adult spend. Asda are extending this offer to the end of 2022.
Morrisons Cafe
Morrisons have FREE kids’ meals from 3pm on weekdays when an adult spends £4.50 in their restaurant.
Sainsburys
Sainsbury’s have a range of meal plans to feed your family for £5 or under.
Beefeater
Until 10.30am every day, if you buy yourself an adult Premier Inn Breakfast from a Beefeater, up to two under-16s eat for FREE.
Brewers Fayre
Kids eat breakfast for FREE any day of the week until 10.30am if you purchase an adult breakfast at one of their restaurants.
Too Good to Go
The Too Good to Go app helps to reduce food waste and save you money at the same time by buying ‘end of the day’ food from local cafés, bakeries and restaurants which have food leftover, and lets you buy it at a discounted rate. You can buy a ‘magic bag’ of food, which usually costs between £2 and £4, via the app and Too Good to Go says the food will be worth at least three times as much as if you’d bought it at full price. Once you’ve selected the store you want to rescue food from, you pay via the app. Then simply visit the location during the set collection time to pick up your bag (you’ll need to check this on the app, as the collection time varies from place to place). Simply download the app for free from Apple’s iOS app store or the Google Play Store. You’ll need to create a free account or log in via Facebook to browse participating restaurants near you.
Cooking on a Bootstrap
Jack Monroe’s Cooking on a Bootstrap website is filled with ideas and recipes for making the most out of the cheapest ingredients and discounted items in the shops.
The Batch Lady
Following the Batch Lady’s method will show you how to make fast, simple, homemade, portion-controlled meals, that can be prepared in advance then frozen for whenever you need them.
Feed Your Family for About £20 a Week
Shows you how to shop smart, cook clever and make more for less.
Approved Food
Specialists in surplus and short dated stock, or food that is either near or just past it’s best before date – which allows them to pass on huge savings. Customers typically save around £60 on their monthly shop compared to high street prices. They do not sell anything past it’s use by date. Online ordering is quick and easy.
The Community Kitchen have put on a batch cookery class for key workers/ those in voluntary & public sector who might be looking for ways to save money & time whilst still eating well (see below).
They also have cookery classes coming up – Low Energy Cooking, Basic Cookery Skills, Make your own Takeaway and more – https://bhfood.org.uk/events/?filtered=community-cookery
Mon 10th October, 6-8.30pm, special rate of £29.99pp
Join our cookery leader Emiliano and learn to cook tasty, balanced meals that are low-cost and budget-friendly. This class will celebrate the benefits of batch cooking – to reduce meal costs, learn to cook wholesome healthy meals, spend just a few hours cooking for the whole week, minimise food waste and cut down the amount of packaging and plastic waste produced.
Our Cookery Leader Emiliano will show you how to batch cook and portion your meals so that they can be properly stored/frozen; allowing you to have a ready-cooked homemade dinner available whenever you need it.
A typical lesson will include:
- Meal planning for the whole week (ensuring that they are nutritious and balanced)
- Practical cooking session (batch cooking for the whole week)
- Preparing nutritious and tasty snacks (savoury and sweet)
- Tasting your creations and taking away packaged food for the week ahead!
VIVUP Salary sacrifice scheme
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.
Local Council Wellbeing Support
Wellbeing Hubs
The wellbeing hubs can help you to find local wellbeing information and services. Wellbeing hubs offer a free, friendly and impartical advice and support on how to make small changes to improve your health and wellbeing, online, over the phone or in person.
Wellbeing hubs within the local area:
Healthy Travel
The UHSussex Green Travel team supports staff to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to work.
You can benefit with discounts on bicycles, electric bikes, mopeds and cars, bus tickets and train travel.
On this page you can find healthy travel options that are better for you and our planet.
Cycling
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
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.
Public transport discounts and staff minibus
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:
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.
Go electric
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.
Parking
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
Further transport contact information
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.
Leaders Toolkit
Our NHS People have put together useful guides and resources to help you manage your own health and wellbeing whilst looking after others.
The NHS South East Leadership Academy offers leadership development opportunities for future and current leaders empowering you to create a truly inclusive and vibrant leadership community across the South East to deliver better health and care outcomes for our patients. Working with NHS organisations and systems in the region, they harness the talent and potential of all our workforce so we can collectively meet the objectives set out in the People Plan and the ambitions of the Long-Term Plan. Find out more about how they can support you, your team, your organisation and your system by visiting se.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/
Supporting your Team
Building an effective team
Building an effective team – Tuckman’s explanation of the stages a team goes through to be productive and cohesive and the managers role in this.
Does your team have the right balance? Meredith Belbin’s nine team roles and recognising the way team members like to work.
Psychological safety – 3 videos exploring this topic: how to lead in a crisis, why Psychological safety is important and 3 ways to create this in a healthcare setting.
Supporting teams through challenging times (COVID-19).
Build team resilience
Resilience training for individuals or teams is available to book via staffnet for WGH, SRH, Crawley and S’Lands or via IRIS for those working at our Brighton sites, PRH, Newhaven, Lewes Vic, Bexhill or Eastbourne.
- Team building exercises and activities
- Setting team objectives toolkit
Structuring an end of shift huddle, some examples and tips
Leading with compassion
Compassionate leadership resources
Civility and respect is about how we treat each other at work. All NHS employees are responsible for tackling bullying and harassment and the importance of creating a civil and respectful culture. View the NHS Civility and respect toolkit to find out more.
Creating a restorative just culture is a commitment to your workforce, patients, organisation and the wider system, in which you pledge to take every opportunity to listen, act, learn, improve, support and create an environment that enables your people to be the very best they can be and to do the very best they can do.
Top tips for holding virtual meetings and leading virtual meetings from the Kings Fund.
Supporting individuals
Regular 121 discussions, appraisals and wellbeing conversations are an essential part of leadership. Understanding, supporting, and building an effective working relationship help support engagement at work. These tools will help facilitate discussions:
Wellbeing conversations are now part of our annual appraisal, however as a people leader you are encouraged to have these regularly with your staff. Here is some support and a video on what these are and how to get started. There is also wellbeing conversations training available
Coaching and mentoring support for NHS staff.
Supporting difficult conversations
Supporting mental wellbeing: Everyone has mental health, just like everyone has physical health. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. As a people leader you are in the best place to recognise when your staff member or colleague might be acting differently or showing signs that something is wrong and in the best place to act early to provide support or signpost them to help:
Mental Health First Aider training
Accredited by Mental Health First Aid England. This two-day online course is for all people leaders at UHSussex. The course will enable you to:
- Learn what mental health is and why looking after it matters
- Identify signs of distress and common triggers
- Feel confident in starting conversations
- Develop your interpersonal skills
- Learn practical tools to support mental health and wellbeing
- Know when to recommend professional help
- Build a supportive and healthy work climate
To find out more about this free course please contact uhsussex.staffhealth@nhs.net.
The mental health escalation sheet provides contact details and guidance.
Developing your skills and looking after yourself
Make your wellbeing a priority with our pre-reocrded webinars and listen anytime. The webinars were funded by our Trust charities based on a grant awarded from NHS Charities Together for recovery post-Covid:
The webinars are:
The sessions last 60 minutes and can be watched via Iris. (type ‘wellbeing’ into the search function for a quick access). Email uhsussex.staffhealth@nhs.net with any queries.
To support the Wellbeing Webinars, Liggy Webb’s light and practical bite-sized eBooks that distil complexity and cover a range of powerful life skills. Also available on Iris
A series of NHS leadership development programmes to help you grow as a leader Programmes – Leadership Academy
Look at your own management style and work on achieving a balance between task-orientated and people-orientated leadership.
Bitesize learning – covering inclusive leadership, manging different people, leading through tough times, courageous conversations and more https://learninghub.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/all-bitesize/
Supporting teams through challenging times (COVID-19) https://learninghub.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/support-for-leaders/
Guide to working remotely
Short guides covering getting a good night of sleep, personal resilience, support for line managers, guidance on how to be a compassionate leader during a bereavement and tips on how to run your own 10 minute Pause Space.
