What is a Wellness Action Plan? A Wellness Action Plan (WAP) is a practical, personalised tool designed to help individuals maintain their mental health and well-being at work or in daily life. It’s especially useful for identifying what supports someone needs, what helps them stay well, and what to do if they start to struggle.…
What They Are and Why They Matter in Occupational Health “Fitness for work assessments” is one of the most searched terms in occupational health and for good reason. These evaluations help employers and employees understand whether someone is medically and psychologically fit to perform their job safely. Yet confusion persists, because nearly all occupational health…
There is no standard human brain, and every individual has their own areas of strength and areas where they have more difficulty. This applies no more or no less to people who have diagnosis or traits of neurodiverse conditions. There is increased worldwide awareness of neurodiversity compared to a few years ago, and people who…
When we think about exercise, we do not automatically think of the benefits it can have on our brains. Exercise typically makes our bodies leaner and fitter, but it is also apparent that regular exercise goes hand in hand with good mental health. Exercise can also help with a wide range of issues including stress,…
How OH can help to address this important question? The increase in pet ownership in the UK has increased with an estimated 3.2m households now having a pet. Young people are the main drivers of this trend, with more than half of new owners aged 16 to 34. Animal welfare organisations have been warning that…
By Paul Hinckley, Occupational Health Nurse Advisor at Staywell Occupational Health – October 2020 We have all been on a challenging and difficult journey so far in 2020, we may have come to terms with the immediate urgency that coronavirus has brought, but now what? The threat of COVID-19 remains with us, and whilst research into…
By Jane Lavery, Senior Occupational Health nurse at Staywell Occupational Health – 22nd April 2020 There has been a lot of confusion about the requirement for self-isolation, social distancing and shielding. Self-isolation is required when individuals and others in their household have symptoms. Shielding is required for those who are considered extremely vulnerable and is…
By Jane Lavery, Senior Occupational Health Nurse at Staywell Occupational Health – 17th April 2020 RIDDOR was first introduced in 1980 and has seen updates since this time including new advice related to Coronavirus. RIDDOR requires employers to report any major incidents, near misses or dangerous occurrences to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). In…
By Jane Lavery, Senior Occupational Health Nurse at Staywell Occupational Health – 16th April 2020 Alongside stockpiling of toilet roll and flour, we saw a similar impact in the alcohol aisle. Maybe this behaviour was triggered by the closing of pubs and restaurants leading to a perception that alcohol would be less accessible for a…
By Jane Lavery, Senior Occupational Health Nurse at Staywell Occupational Health – 7th April 2020 I have been a home worker for the past 12 months, so I have personal experience of the impact on fitness when work moves to the remote office. In the same way that many of you may be working from…
