Page 18 - Staff FocusSeptember 2020

Wellbeing Passport is opening doors

It has now been one year since we launched our interested in using it as it will help me to
Work and Wellbeing Passport to facilitate confident raise my difficulties and initiate that
conversations between line managers and team conversation myself. I like it as it is a way of
members on any issues which may affect wellbeing and recording my symptoms, sharing my
have an impact on working lives, writes Julie Duran. background and my triggers.
The world has changed within the last year. The “A big appeal is that I can decide who to
coronavirus outbreak is having an impact on everyone’s share my information with and therefore
daily lives with a consequent effect on wellbeing. The who is aware of that information and how to
latest SCTS guidance is available, including guidance share it. The questions have encouraged me
documents on wellbeing. These guidance documents to think more about my condition and
contain information on how to support writing it down allows me to
wellbeing on an individual basis; advice on form my thoughts and so I like
ways that managers can support the the structure of it. It gives me
wellbeing of their teams at this time; specific time to decide what I am
information on relevant areas including sharing and not over-share –
technostress, financial wellbeing, that is, I can come back and
bereavement, loneliness/isolation and edit it whereas you can’t with Reaching out: The importance of wellbeing has never been greater
domestic stress; and details of other organisations to a conversation.
contact for further advice and support. “Now I know more about my condition, I am able to talk because it allows both team members and line managers
Now more than ever it is important to create an open and more about it but still prefer not to have talk about it. The to have certainty for a set period of time. It helped my
supportive culture, where we feel confident to discuss our passport is a vehicle for me to express what is going on team member to decide how to share personal
wellbeing. The Work and Wellbeing Passport is one way with me in a much less intrusive way. As I also regularly circumstances, to determine what that individual feels
to bridge that gap – to discuss personal or work change line managers, I have had to initiate that comfortable with, raise awareness of issues quickly, and
circumstances with your line manager in confidence. conversation many times in the past. The passport have a base line of knowledge for both parties.
The scheme is already having an effect and one colleague allows me to share information about my condition “As the individual controls how to share that information,
has been kind enough to share their experience of using without having to start again each time. they are more confident about sharing as they decide
the passport. “My line manager was aware of the passport which who to share with and how to share that information. It
“I have mental health difficulties from time to time, helped. I feel that I have been supported by my line gives me as line manager clear guidance as to how they
namely depression, and it is sometimes difficult for me to managers with my difficulties and this has allowed me to want to share their personal circumstances so I feel more
attend work. When I have a bout of poor mental health, I continue in work, without the need to any changes in my confident. It also allowed us to have a consideration of
have always had to phone in to talk about it. On the first work environment.” the work environment together. It enables me to better
occasion I had to call in, I felt that I couldn’t talk about it Their line manager has also shared their perspective on support my team member.
and give it the name depression. the passport: “The conversation previously had to come about on a
“I first became aware of the passport at the launch. I was “Broadly, I think it is really useful for line managers