Issue - meetings

A report updating the Board on progress made since the Wellbeing for Life approach was adopted in 2020, along with plans for 2025-2027.

Members received a report from Jo Southan, Delivery Manager Public Health, which detailed the evolution of the Wellbeing for Life programme since 2020, including the plans for 2025-2027.

The report provided an update on the work undertaken so far and the activities launched.  There had been extensive partnership working across Coventry and Warwickshire, as well as with District and Borough councils and local services.  Two of the activities highlighted in the report were ‘Thrive at Work’ and the ‘Workplace Wellbeing Forum’.

Jo Southan outlined the Thrive at Work (TAW) accreditation programme that business could sign up to which promoted health and wellbeing.  There were four levels of accreditation, funded by the UK Government and managed by West Midlands Combined Authority.  The scheme was free to organisations across the West Midlands, with 111 businesses signing up during 2019.  Since then, a further 118 businesses had signed up with many going on to achieve Gold accreditation.  One example of a technology company had gone on to adopt some of the TAW best practice in other countries.

Members were signposted to section 1.8.5 of the report which gave an overview of the Workplace Wellbeing Forum and the progress this had made since its launch in 2022.  Five forums had been held across Coventry and Warwickshire, enabling local employers to network and access resources to help them develop and improve wellbeing practices in their workforce.  A variety of themes had been covered at the forums including mental health, suicide prevention, menopause and the wider determinants of health.

Jo Southan outlined the plans and next steps as detailed on page 203 which included a proposal to reconstitute the previously disbanded Steering Group as a Network.  In addition, the website was also being reviewed by the Public Health and ICT teams.  It was hoped that another festival could be held with a strong focus on prevention along with an aim to promote the accreditation across the County.  Finally, local business would be encouraged to host and lead forums with Portfolio Holder support.

The Chair thanked Jo Southan and officers for their work and recognised that the Thrive at Work scheme had been a success.

Resolved

That the Health and Wellbeing Board notes the update provided in this report and the progress made since the Wellbeing for Life approach was adopted in 2020.