Local services team up to provide wellbeing support to key workers

Local NHS Trust, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP), has teamed up with two organisations to provide wellbeing support to key workers across Cheshire and Wirral.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is vitally important that the mental health needs of health and care workers, as well as other key worker such as teachers, paramedics and police officers are provided for. With this in mind, CWP, along with Healthbox CIC and Insight IAPT, are launching a series of initiatives for key workers to use for support.

Dr Anushta Sivananthan, Medical Director for CWP, said: “Key workers have been hugely important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring they have access to resources that will enable them to look after their mental wellbeing during this challenging time is incredibly important. We are delighted to be working with Healthbox and Insight to provide this vital support to key workers across our footprint. This new service will be in addition to the local resilience hub”

The service will have three main offers, an emotional support line, available from 8am to 10pm seven days a week, additional counselling services and services to key workers in acute care settings.

Simon Sandford, Director of Healthbox CIC, said: “In light of the current situation, we know that there is a growing concern for the public’s mental health and thus, our mental health services have never been needed as much as they are right now. As a nation, we have witnessed how incredibly important our key workers are, but in order to maintain their levels of mental health and wellbeing we know that they are in increasing need of support. That’s why we’ve set up a new service across the borough, to offer 1-2-1 therapy, delivered by our BACP qualified counsellors.

“Our aim is to start delivering this service to NHS key workers and then gradually expand and open up to other key worker groups, including care worker staff, social care, social workers, paramedics, teachers and more.”

If you or anyone you know would benefit from this service, simply text support to 66777 or email key.worker@nhs.net

Lynsey Terry, Service Manager of Insight Wellbeing at Work said: "We are proud to be partners of this essential service for our key workers, who have been on the frontline of this pandemic - both physically and mentally. We are offering a confidential space for emotional support and access to talking therapies and wellbeing resources. Our free emotional support line is open 8.00am-10.00pm daily. If you are a key worker, you can call us free on 0300 131 2074. You have been there for us, now we're here for you."

The development of these services is on a six month trial basis with regular reviews of activity and ensuring that the quality of the service is maintained. All three services will be provided to key workers in Cheshire and Wirral.

• CWP is a Foundation Trust that provides health and care services for local people in partnership with other organisations. Our services include mental health and learning disabilities, community physical health and all-age disability care. We have services across Cheshire and Wirral as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Sefton.
• Launched in 2010, Healthbox is a registered Community Interest Company (CIC), a not-for-profit organisation, delivering a wide range of health and wellbeing services in Cheshire and Wirral. Find out more https://www.healthboxcic.com/
• Insight Wellbeing at Work delivers emotional support, wellbeing resources, and talking therapies for a wide range of statutory, private, and charitable organisations. The service is part of Insight IAPT, a national non-profit organisation, providing free talking therapies on behalf of the NHS in Bassetlaw, East Midlands, Kent, Medway, Newcastle upon Tyne, Teesside, and the Wirral. Find out more at www.insightiapt.org.
• CWP was rated as being 'Outstanding' for caring  by the Care Quality Commission in our most recent inspection and shortlisted for Mental Health Provider of the Year in 2019 at the Health Service Journal Awards.