Written question WQ96554

Health Education and Improvement Wales launched a national retention programme in 2024, which outlines key principles and best practice including guidelines on the use of stay and exit interviews to better understand workforce experience.

We have a whole-system approach that combines policy, partnership, and practice to support NHS staff wellbeing.

The all-Wales flexible working policy was developed in social partnership. It enables NHS Wales organisation to offer more attractive flexible working options and patterns to support staff. This allows staff to create a healthy work-life balance and ultimately contribute to improved health and a less stressful working environment.

The broader health and wellbeing agenda, underpinned by the NHS Wales Health and Wellbeing Framework, emphasises creating supportive environments. This includes:

• Ensuring staff have access to basic needs like hydration and nutrition during shifts.

• Promoting a culture of wellbeing through policies that support physical and mental health

A targeted focus on the health and wellbeing of NHS staff is a priority. We are committed to ensuring staff can access proactive, high-quality support at the time which they need it most, and are in constant dialogue with our health boards, NHS trusts and trade unions to understand how we can provide targeted funding and services to complement the local support available for the workforce.

We work closely with our all-Wales NHS and Social Care Health and Wellbeing Network who are active in sharing best practice and solutions across organisations and workplaces in supporting staff physical and mental health. Network members have developed a Workforce Health and Wellbeing Framework for NHS Wales, which was a commitment in the A Healthier Wales: Workforce Strategy.

Funded by Welsh Government and administered by Cardiff University, the Canopi service offers access to free, non-emergency, confidential, mental health and wellbeing support to all NHS and social care staff working in Wales. More than 5,000 people from the Welsh NHS and social care workforce have accessed and received support from Canopi since April 2022.