As an organisation providing specialist disability support, LSC are passionate about people's health, wellbeing and quality of life and that includes their workforce. They recognise that supporting the health and wellbeing of their team creates a happy healthy workforce that is motivated to deliver their vision.

With this in mind, LSC began working with Healthy Workplaces in December 2023, with a view to taking positive, targeted steps to improve the health and wellbeing of their staff on a sustainable level. They promoted Healthy Workplaces through team meetings, posters and social media communication before asking all employees to undertake the Workplace Health Needs Assessment (WHNA), with over 47% opting to have their say.

LSC's Wellbeing Lead, Claire Platts, then met with a member of the Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire team, to review their results report, enabling them to identify the key areas for improvement and best use of resources. They were not previously aware of some of the difficulties identified, highlighting a benefit of the Healthy Workplaces process.

January/ February 2023

As a newly accredited 'Engaged' employer, LSC have now begun their journey by agreeing key goals to be reached over the next 12 months. The goals agreed with Healthy Workplaces are bespoke to the needs of the organisation as highlighted by the WHNA and took into account the resources and budget available:

• LSC will be updating their wellbeing policy to reflect the outcome of the WHNA, increasing accessibility of wellbeing resources and information to staff via their online portal, and implementing and offering wellness action plans to all new and existing staff.

• LSC has already invested in Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) training for their whole management team and have committed to continue to invest for any newly recruited permanent members of the management team. Work will be undertaken to re-promote and update processes to increase awareness and take-up of this support.

• The majority of LSC's workforce work remotely and the WHNA highlighted an opportunity to improve health and wellbeing by introducing more frequent opportunities to meet, socialise and make connections with their colleagues, virtually and in person where possible.

• LSC will be offering free fruit at their head office and healthier food options at training and events for the wider staff team, in addition to promoting healthy eating resources and recipes. In a move to improve workplace culture, they will also be participating in national awareness campaign events to tackle highlighted issues of concern.

LSC report that the majority of employees have welcomed the investment in their health and wellbeing and are positive about the proposed changes. Staff report feeling valued and listened to.

Healthy Workplaces has given LSC's management team an increased awareness of the challenges experienced by the workforce, and how to support them, to the best of their ability. They hope to see a reduction in sickness absence and a significant improvement in employee health and wellbeing, over the next 12 months.