Self and collective care when working in the 3rd Sector

Team’s and Managers’ Wellbeing counts too

Listening to the sector staff and managers, here some of the many challenges facing the sector and the impact this can have on teams as well as those who manage the teams. Sometimes it’s helpful to know these are challenges shared by colleagues and we are not alone. This is why peer support in these times does matter.

  • Time constraints to meet demand, work, deadlines, reports, applications, meeting needs of team and people looking for daily support
  • Challenges of meeting funding outcomes when communities disengage as they are also overwhelmed so may ask for things but then not commit to attend
  • Too many things are a priority/competing demands and often simply just not enough resources
  • Being there for staff at a time when also feeling vulnerable yourself
  • Switching off after work
  • Team dynamics/organisational politics
  • Lack of support and someone to confide in at work
  • Neglecting body signals like move, drink, eat, rest, sleep disturbed
  • Feeling taken for granted in a broken system
  • Managing expectations and boundaries including with partners as different workplace cultural expectations between partners
  • Aware of stress and anxiety team have including around funding and job security
  • Aware of impact of Vicarious Trauma on the team who may be overworked/overstretched, not having the time to reflect or develop their practice, sheer pressure of managing caseloads at a time when teams may be smaller or cannot fill vacancies
  • Pay scales and impact of cost of living on staff salaries
  • Feeling disconnected from colleagues/communication breakdown
  • Making time for training for staff and volunteers
  • Need for clear processes to do the job
  • The increased emotional load of participants facing more and more challenges and threats in their lives – poverty, social division, racism etc

What is clear is the commitment the sector has to keep being there for people, also the steps many groups are taking to try and mitigate the impact of what are challenging times for many. What else people said would be helpful would be some ideas for supporting staff who work from home, also ideas for external support. I have included some information here which may be of use.

This link offers wellbeing tips when working from home https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/simple-tips-to-tackle-working-from-home/

In terms of external support for third sector workers these are perhaps opportunities to explore

  1. Offer people time off to go to their GP or refer themselves to a support service and offer time to attend this can include flexi time the same as for dental appointments depending on local policy re time off for appointments. If not sure about services available check out the Argyll and Bute Community Directory  https://abcd.scot/  or ALISS search engine https://www.aliss.org/  Also check out ideas on Healthy Working lives https://www.healthyworkinglives.scot/
  2. For practical support it may be time to visit a Cab https://www.cas.org.uk/ or if the person perhaps also has caring responsibilities there is the carers information and support line https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/helpline-and-other-support/ there are also local carers supports to explore.
  3. There can also be employee assistance programmes this is something may require some research to see what is available and costs e.g. https://www.healthassured.org/ You can also check out what is being offered by partners and colleagues and learn more about how to tap into this
  4. There may be possibilities with peer support, mentoring,  setting up arrangements with partner organisations

I hope people find these helpful. I am sure there are many other options could be added e.g. free mindfulness https://www.freemindfulness.org/ or grounding exercises https://capacitar.org/  or specific sites e.g. https://wellbeinghub.scot/ as well as forums to meet and connect with others to explore wellbeing at work e.g. https://healthyworkinglives.scot/keeping-people-in-work/supporting-a-mentally-healthy-workplace/mentally-healthy-workplace-learning-network-for-employers/what-is-the-learning-network/

Self and collective care matters. On Friday 21st November 11-12 during selfcare week we are offering a one hour online session to sit back, relax and make time to consider ideas to improve selfcare and how we promote wellbeing within our teams. To find out more email [email protected] Its totally free.

We know the challenges, we know the impact these challenges can have, as a sector lets work together and share ideas on how we can promote selfcare and practice collective care so we all have an enhanced sense of wellbeing, even if that is against the odds

Thanks for reading, remember you matter, what you do matters and we are all trying to do our best, being kind to each other helps

Hilda

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