NHS Employers is launching web tools including an online sickness absence calculator to help organisations manage their workforces more effectively.
As well as the calculator, which shows the potential savings from reducing sickness absence rates, the employers’ group has added a health and well-being section to its website. Subjects covered include building a business case for wellbeing, training line managers and successful case studies.
An NHS Employers spokeswoman said: “Evidence from organisations seeing success in delivering health and well-being strategies show that board engagement is vital.
“Our new section includes a guide for health and well-being leaders on how best to achieve support and buy-in from the most senior level of the organisation, as well as advice and resources to help develop and implement a health and wellbeing strategy in an organisation, practical tools to support learning skill development among managers, and examples of how other organisations have met and overcome challenges to improve health and wellbeing among their workforce.”
Health and wellbeing guidance will be developed further in the coming months and employers have been encouraged to add their views.
It comes as NHS sickness absence rates in Wales rose to more than 5%, with absence rates highest among ambulance workers, healthcare assistants and support workers.
NHS staff wellbeing may have an impact beyond cutting costs – last week a three-year study found a strong link between the mood of health workers and the quality of patient care.
