North Tyneside Council has won a top award which recognises employers who promote health and wellbeing in the workplace.
The local authority has achieved a ‘Continuing Excellence’ award as part of the North East Better Health at Work Award.
The award is the highest level that can be achieved through the scheme. It recognises the importance of organisations sustaining the progress they have made during their participation in the award and encourages them to use their experience to support others.
Organisations must demonstrate that they are continuing to raise health awareness with the workforce, through five local, regional or national health campaigns or events, as well as providing a mentoring role to at least one other organisation taking part in the award or continuing to actively promote the award to other organisations.
Over the past year North Tyneside Council has promoted a number of national campaigns within the organisation including Alcohol Awareness Week, Stoptober, Dry January, World Mental Health Day, World Breastfeeding Week and Change4Life.
It has also implemented its own activities to promote health and wellbeing such as cycle to work schemes, an adult weight management scheme called ‘weight worries’, and ‘In-body’ roadshow and a stair challenge campaign. It has also offered flu vaccinations and trained over 40 staff as mental health first aiders.
Cllr Lesley Spillard, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Staff health and wellbeing is a priority for us and it’s great to have our work recognised in this way.
“Workplace health is an integral part of the regional public health strategy so it’s important that we set this example within our own workplace.”
Deputy Mayor Bruce Pickard, who has responsibility for human resources at the council, added: “We are delighted to achieve this level of award. Our HR and public health teams have jointly worked on this project along with the trade unions, over the past few years, and it’s an area we are extremely passionate about.
“As well as supporting national campaigns we’re always looking at ways we can promote good health amongst our employees and also share best practice to support other organisations. This is something we’ll continue to build upon in the future.”
North Tyneside Council’s partners Kier North Tyneside and Capita have also won a North East Better Health at Work Award.
The scheme is an established workplace health improvement programme. It is a partnership between the region’s local authorities, the NHS and Northern TUC. North Tyneside Council is one of 25 companies within North Tyneside that are being supported to achieve various levels of the scheme, covering 25,500 employees.
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