Volunteers and staff may encounter a full range of emotionally challenging and potentially traumatic events as part of their work. The Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub has developed a programme of training and network opportunities for all levels of people working in the NHS, VCSE or social care, including volunteers.
If you want to get involved, stay connected or learn more, contact us to book your place on one of our training courses.
We can also deliver training to whole teams. Please contact the Hub if interested in this approach.
If you want to know more about the importance and positive impact of critical incident support, these assets from our one-day conference will give you some helpful insights.
Browse the conference slide deck
This preparation includes stress management education and understanding of normal human reactions to potentially traumatic events. It also lets you know what support services are out there.
As part of the West Yorkshire Critical Incident Staff Support Pathway (crISSP), the Hub offers training, consultation and supervision in all areas to support volunteers and staff around potentially traumatic and emotionally challenges events. One short intervention is the defuse or BIG-SIPS model. This only takes 10 minutes and is designed to support staff at the end of a difficult shift or work day. Please take a look at the video and the accompanying aide memoire.
If you would like to know more about receiving free training for yourself and your team, please contact the Hub at wyicb-bdc.wyh.mentalwellbeinghub@nhs.net.
View the resources page
CrISSP facilitator resource materials have been developed for the use of West Yorkshire CrISSP facilitators and can be found here – password protected for the use of facilitators only.
Group meetings can be used following potentially traumatic incidents as a means of supporting staff. They are widely used across a range of organisations including the Police, Ambulance services and British Red Cross.
These peer support meetings are voluntary, confidential, structured and time-limited. They are designed to bring together the whole team to create a safe space to explore what you have been through as an individual and a team. It is also a chance to reflect on skills you are using to cope and understand other support options that are available.
The aim of the staff support group meeting is primarily to educate and assist you to recognise and understand normal reactions to traumatic or extremely stressful events and educate as to when it is appropriate to seek further help and support (if necessary) in the future. It also encourages the natural support that exists within teams that work together.
Critical Incident Staff Support meetings are not counselling or therapy. They are not part of any investigation process. No notes are taken or information reported back to managers. You will not be forced to say anything if you just prefer to listen.
This is an optional shorter meeting with people approximately 4-6 weeks after the first group meeting to check in again with how people are coping and to provide any additional advice or guidance required.
The group meetings have many added benefits of coming together as a team, understanding each other’s perspectives and supporting each other. However, we recognise that not everyone likes talking or even listening in groups. We can therefore offer 1:1 support. In this instance you will be matched with a trained facilitator to go through the group meeting structure on a 1:1 basis. This is not therapy or counselling.
Most people who have been through a potentially traumatic, frightening or unpleasant event recover without the need for therapy. However, if you or a colleague continue to struggle a month or so after the event or the reactions to the event are particularly distressing this is not a sign of weakness and effective help is available. Do not wait. We can refer you onto specialist therapy interventions. Please call our support line 0800 183 1488 or use our self-referral form to access that support. This is free and confidential.
Have you been impacted by distressing and potentially traumatic events at work? Are you struggling to stay at work or unable to return? Has this event affected your relationships with those around you who you care for? This series of peer support groups may be for you. Click here to find out more.
We offer three levels of training dependent on demand and interest.
5 day full facilitator training: The Hub is always looking to develop its pool of trained facilitators. We plan to offer a regular 5 day training programme for people wishing to become CrISSP facilitators. If you are interested in this as an individual or for your organisation please register your interest with us or get in touch to discuss further using our email address wyicb-bdc.wyh.mentalwellbeinghub@nhs.net.
Team Leader Training: This will equip leaders and managers with the skills to look after themselves, understand trauma and trauma reactions, support their teams in times of a crisis and understand when to signpost people for further support.
Peer Practitioner Training: This is aimed at people already embedded in teams that are seen as compassionate and supportive. This training will provide the skills needed to support team members who may be experiencing trauma reactions and the knowledge about when to refer on for more specialist support.
Want to know what our delegates thought of our conference – watch this film and hear their feedback in their own words.
Welcome from Jo Farn, Programme Director-System and Leadership Development
Current Status of Workplace Trauma Support - National and International Perspectives
Stephen Regel, Hon. Professor/Clinical Lead Centre for Trauma, Resilience and Growth & Veterans Service, University of Nottingham
A personal journey and reflections - Emma Oldham-Fox, ICS Debrief Facilitator; Professional Practice Lead – Reducing Restrictive Practice
Building the Vision – Critical Incident Staff Support Pathway (CrISSP) Dr Kerry Hinsby, Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist; Clinical Lead, Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub
Maximising and Protecting your greatest asset: A whole systems approach to employee experience - Dr Adrian Neal, Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Head of Wellbeing for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Panel discussion
Kerry Hinsby; Adrian Neal; Stephen Regel; Dr Sharon Prince, Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist, Deputy Director Psychological Professions Leeds & York NHS Partnership, Foundation Trust, Chair, Psychological Professions Network, North East & Yorkshire; Dr Nigel Wainwright, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Yorkshire Regional Spinal Injuries Centre & Occupational Health and Staff Wellbeing Service.
