As we access healthcare or other public services whether it is an NGO or statutory service, the first people we meet on the phone or in person are the hardworking frontline worker.
When the media and general public sound off about how bad health, social or public services are.
It is quite hard for a dedicated committed worker to hear this narrative especially as most workers go above and beyond their remit in their role.
The impact of this constant narrative of poor or inadequate service provision can have quite a profound impact on the individual.
By the very nature of the type of work in the caring, support, or public services, the people who are drawn to dedicate their working lives to support others can very easily forget about their own self-care needs.
We can forget as frontline workers It is important to prioritize our well-being in order to provide the best possible care to our client group.
Easier said than done particularly as most employers whilst do provide very important EAP (Employment Assistance Programs) with access to counseling etc.
There is something extra required alongside the EAP ( Employment Assistance Program) when supporting a workforce.
In my experience, the stress felt in the workplace is not a result of just psychological difficulties (Although if issues of self-care are not addressed it very well may lead to psychological and health wellbeing issues). A lot of workforce stress and difficulties can be traced back to poor team cohesion or not having trust in your working environment to hold space for its workforce.
I would suggest the supports needed are more work-based, team wellness interactions. Not just training in order to comply with some other new policy or directive, which has been passed down along the line.
Having more meaningful support, something which instills a sense of belonging, team cohesion, and a sense of we are all in this together including self-care plans for the individual worker and the team. In essence a workplace culture of mutual support and meaningful authentic communication.
It is so important for an organization to have an understanding of the people who make up their team, as it is important for people working in the organization to have a clear and concise understanding of what the organization has set out to achieve.
It never ceases to amaze me when team leaders discover an important skill a team member may have and upon finding out, not invite the team member to share the skill. One of the most supportive environments for workers is when the skills, commitment, wisdom, and knowledge someone brings to a role are recognized appreciated, and utilized.
Practical supports which will promote this mutual sense of cohesion include the
the practice of self-care: in the quiet times or moments of intense times during work find a quiet place and practice deep breathing and grounding techniques, these practices of self-care are important for all healthcare workers, especially during times of crisis, uncertainty, and higher demands
Prioritizing self-care as a group or as an individual can help protect your and your team's health and well-being, increasing satisfaction with work and overall life experience.
Encourage the seeking of support amongst each other, the advantage of having an authentic mutual support culture can lead to a reduction of both emotional and stress exhaustion due to work. Always bear in mind that there are times when an EAP professional may be appropriate.
The trick to having such a self-care peer support culture is to have a self-care plan devised for both individuals and teams, with protected time set aside for self-care for practice in a non-hierarchy way.
Practiced in the wrong way peer support can be a burden and cause harm putting more stress on a team already struggling, it is important to have a coherent plan of non-hierarchy peer support.
Important to remember
Reflecting on the purpose and meaning of the work during these mutual self-care sessions can support people to stay motivated and engaged.
Each individual or group of individuals is unique with potential cultural differences the outcomes of support offered can be different.
The assistance of an experienced facilitator is invaluable in devising a bespoke mutual self-care plan tailored to the specific needs of the group. staff should be
What can I do?
Be selfish.
Advocate for a workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being.
Be open to people as they seek support and have an awareness, when you are not in a position to offer the support, but can signpost to where someone can seek appropriate support.
Be open to self-care plans and self-care approaches which build resilience into standard organizational cultural practice.
summary
Overall, it is important to prioritize your physical, emotional, mental, and financial health as an Irish frontline health service worker. Seek support when needed, reflect on your purpose and meaning, and advocate for a workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being.
If you require a bespoke team or individual self-care wellness plans team mutual support workshops, unique to your individual worker, teams, or organization, please feel free to contact, Martin Matthews At O87 8551000 or alternatively fill out the contact form on my website.
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