Calderdale Council has received national recognition for the support it offers to employees, winning the Best Wellbeing Initiative category at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Workforce Awards.
The awards recognise best practice in the workplace, all over the country. Finalists demonstrate how projects have come together and how challenges have been overcome to make difference in their area.
At a ceremony in Liverpool, attended by more than 300 local authority professionals and over 50 organisations, Calderdale Council was named as the winner of the award for Best Wellbeing Initiative, for its Workforce Wellbeing Programme.
The programme has been developed in response to staff feedback and aims to create a working environment where colleagues truly believe their health and wellbeing is taken seriously, vitally important and valued, and where individuals can seek help and support from a variety of sources where required.
Initiatives introduced at the Council have included support for stress management, cost of living advice, menopause awareness training and initiatives to encourage active lifestyles. The Council also offers opportunities for wellbeing tasters, in areas such as mindfulness and meditation and sleep deprivation support.
The award success followed a rigorous judging process, and judges were impressed by the work that the Council has done on supporting employees and reducing absenteeism. They also commented on the Council’s innovative work around drug and alcohol support and testing policies, praising the ‘outstanding’ initiatives to offer awareness training and non-judgemental signposting to support.
They said it was clear that wellbeing is led from the top and had whole organisation reach. The judges liked the wide range of initiatives and how wellbeing linked with the corporate Health and Safety department which is managed by the Head of Human Resources.
At the awards, the Council also received commendation in two further categories:
- Best next generation employer – recognising the work of five graduates working at the Council and highlighting the Council’s commitment to nurturing talent.
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion champion – recognising one of the Council’s People Development Advisors, Nicky Everett, and her unwavering dedication to building a fair and inclusive workplace.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Silvia Dacre, said:
“As one of the biggest employers in the Calderdale area, we recognise that our staff are our most valuable asset and want everyone working at the Council to be able to achieve their full potential.
“We acknowledge that recent years have been challenging for many people, particularly with the impacts of the pandemic and cost of living crisis. We’ve listened to staff and subsequently developed a comprehensive offer of wellbeing support, focusing on both mental and physical health.
“We’re delighted that this work has been recognised by the LGC, with this prestigious award win, but even more important are the first-hand accounts from staff members who have told us how some of these initiatives have changed lives, really helped their health and wellbeing, both in and outside of work. I’m incredibly proud of what has been achieved in this area of work and the difference that this wellbeing focus continues to make for our colleagues.”
LGC editor Sarah Calkin said:
“Congratulations to Calderdale Council on winning the award for Best Wellbeing Initiative category.
“It has been genuinely inspiring to hear about all the great work going on to recruit, retain and develop the public servants that will deliver the vital services we all rely on in our places.”
A focus on wellbeing at work supports the Vision 2024 for Calderdale to be a place where talent is nurtured, and kindness and resilience support people to be able to recover from setbacks.
Calderdale reached its 50th anniversary on 1 April 2024. This is the ultimate year for the Vision 2024 for Calderdale. Find out more about it here: www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision(external link)
ENDS