Member Article

TyneMet College Recognised for Commitment to Staff Health and Wellbeing

TyneMet College is delighted to announce that in recognition of their commitment to staff health and wellbeing they have been awarded the status of ‘Continuing Excellence’ by the TUC.

Rob Brister, Health and Safety Advisor at TyneMet College, was presented with the award at the North East Better Health at Work Awards Ceremony, held at the Holiday Inn, Seaton Burn, on Thursday 6th March 2014.

The ceremony, hosted by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, gives recognition and endorsement to workplaces that motivate their employees to develop a sustainable culture of health and wellbeing.

After undergoing a recent assessment the College was thrilled to realise that it’s continuous commitment to developing a healthy working and learning environment for staff and students had helped them to upgrade from a Gold Award to Continuing Excellence status.

The North East Better Health at Work award (BHAW) has four levels - bronze, silver, gold and Continuing Excellence and is administered by a range of local NHS Trusts who provide support to local businesses across the region.

Organisations are assessed on a set of criteria to achieve the awards, including identifying ‘health advocates’ from within their staff body, providing support to help staff to stop smoking, creating a better awareness of how health can be affected by work activities, conducting a health needs assessment with employees and running health improvement campaigns. For the higher level awards organisations are required to have systems and procedures in place to monitor and improve workforce health as well as promoting health within their wider community and to families of the workforce.

Sam Haley, Director of Learner Services, TyneMet College, said:

“We are so excited to receive Continuing Excellence status, this award is testament to the specialist staff and procedures that we have put in place to ensure that we provide a safe and healthy working and learning environment for both our staff and students.

“Most people spend around 60% of their life at work so it’s often the best place to offer support and advice about healthy lifestyles. The North East Better Health at Work has given us a frame work to implement so that we can support staff to improve their health as part of their day to day job.

“We value our staff and realise that we have a commitment to them to promote ‘better health at work’ and we will continue to support healthy lifestyle options to the best of our ability.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lisa Dawson .