Colten Care has trained 32 team members as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) to help colleagues maintain and improve their work-life balance.
Colten Care has prioritised the training as part of a wider focus on wellbeing. Organisers say the response from participants has been highly positive and already leading to a demonstrable shift in how mental health is talked about and supported in the workplace.
With guidance from Mental Health England, Colten Care planned the training for two groups of 16 colleagues over two days.
Sessions were held in training suites at two of its dedicated dementia care homes, Linden House in Lymington and The Aldbury in Poole.
Trainees included Home Managers, Clinical Leads, Care Trainers, Healthcare Assistants, HR Managers and Maintenance and Gardening team members.
“Staff were asked if they would volunteer for the role of MHFA, and the response was great,” said wellbeing strategy lead and MHFA Barney Baxendale. “These dedicated individuals received personal certificates for their time in training and are now equipped to offer a listening ear, guidance and signposting to colleagues who may be struggling.
“The service is offered to all 2,000 of our staff completely free of charge. Now, no matter where they are located across our 21 homes or our head office, they have someone they can see in person if they need to. Phone and video calls are also an option if they prefer.
“Training session content included the many influences on mental health, what ‘first aid’ means in this context, how best to approach someone who may be struggling, the importance of listening and reassurance, and how to identify a support network.”
The sessions were delivered by external mental health training consultant Christo Hudson.
After serving in the RAF, Christo spent 12 years as a commercial pilot but found himself unemployed when the airline he worked for went into administration at the onset of the pandemic.
As well as flying, his airline career had included being a flight data monitor, a role that involved gathering insight on the behaviour of fellow pilots.
The aim was to address human factors such as stress, fatigue, relationship issues and financial worries that might affect pilots’ performance and lead to safety-critical failures.
Christo, who was in shock and questioning his role in life after redundancy, steadily found the strength to apply some of the learnings from his data monitor experience to establish a new career delivering mental health first aid and suicide prevention training to individuals and organisations.
A key focus for him is the importance of being able to share experiences, feelings and emotions.
Christo, who is based in Edinburgh, said: “I teach people about the power of human connection and that even when someone’s world may feel so dark, lonely, cold and scary, there is always hope.”
On his sessions with Colten Care specifically, he said: “It’s about equipping staff with the skills to recognise when a colleague isn’t quite themselves and confidently being able to step in with support. The uptake has been good – people are engaging, conversations are happening, and we have been seeing a real shift in how mental health is talked about and supported in the workplace.
“In a sector built on care, it’s easy to focus solely on the wellbeing of the residents, however I think that looking after those who provide that care is just as important. This initiative ensures that mental health support is woven into daily life, not just something for a crisis. By normalising these conversations, Colten Care is leading the way in making the care sector a place where staff feel valued, supported and able to ask for help when they really need it.”
As well as training and appointing MHFAs across the organisation, Colten Care’s wellbeing strategy includes encouragement for many activities at individual home level.
Initiatives so far have included dedicated ‘wellbeing weeks’ for teams, soundbath sessions, a trip to a salt-water sauna, ‘fun at work’ days and participation in February’s Time to Talk Day, a national mental health awareness campaign led by Rethink Mental Illness and Mind in partnership with the Co-op.
Colten Care team members have also received ‘wellbeing packs’ containing a guide on dealing with stress at work along with a ‘goodie bag’ of treats.
At Abbotts Barton in Winchester, Senior Nurse Joanna Sliwka welcomed receipt of her pack, saying: “It makes you feel important and shows you that the management care about their staff.”
Abbotts Barton Home Manager Dee Lovewell said: “To help embrace team wellbeing even further, we are providing a new outdoor break area and starting new slimming and walking clubs. We want all team members to feel supported and have an opportunity to contribute to their own wellbeing.”
‘Fun at work’ days, held so far at Fernhill and Brook View, have included themed lunches, party games, casual clothes days and an interactive song and dance show with visiting performer Dame Daisy that residents enjoyed too. Brook View resident Diana Pearce said after the home’s singalong with Daisy: “I’ve had the best day ever!”
Companionship Team Leader Claudia Canosa said: “It was an inclusive environment where everyone felt free to express their joy and a reminder of the power of connection among staff and residents at Brook View.”