Check-in sessions with an experienced counsellor were offered from mid-March 2020 face to face and later virtually. Sessions were promoted as a normalised check-in for either teams or individuals which was an opportunity to talk about experiences and be proactive about self-care. Sessions of 45-minutes were bookable through our online learning platform and offered in various locations across the health service before converting to a virtual video conference offering.
A self-care and wellbeing toolkit was developed with the help of our clinical psychology team and made available in April 2020 to all staff. The kit contains simple tools, strategies, and information suitable for immediate use, to build and maintain strength and put people in the best place physically, mentally, and emotionally throughout the changing situation posed by the global pandemic. The tool was distributed across Darling Downs Health and linked with our internal Resilience and Self Care training program, which during the pandemic was offered via Microsoft Teams.
Recognising that it is difficult for managers to lead effectively when they too are struggling, Darling Downs HHS was conscious that its leaders needed to be practicing and role modelling their own selfcare. Our intention was to help managers with strategies for being positive role models and actively using the practical tools in the wellbeing kit, setting a powerful example for their teams while creating a more positive culture throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wellness checkpoints were set up in our cafes and in key areas across the organisation. Each checkpoint contains resources and tips for keeping staff strong during the pandemic.
A Renewal Zone was set up online within our existing Leadership Portal and hosted within our online learning platform. The renewal zone is accessible from anywhere and equipped with a wide range of resources for renewal and wellbeing.
A self-paced resilience program was developed for our graduate nurses to allow our staff access to training anytime, anywhere.
