Your Wellbeing Hub
At Bluestones Medical Complex Care, we believe that well-being is at the heart of a thriving community. Our well-being hub is designed to provide you with the resources, support, and activities that empower you to take charge of your mental and physical health. Join us in exploring various themes each month that focus on different aspects of well-being and discover how you can actively contribute to a positive environment for yourself and others.
Meet Nyarie
Role: Social and Community Development Manager
Qualifications:
- Mental Health First Aid Certification (MHFA England)
- Well-being Coaching Qualification
About Me:
I am deeply passionate about creating environments where people feel supported, valued, and able to thrive. With a background in mental health and well-being, I am committed to promoting resilience, fostering positive connections, and building inclusive communities. I value the power of genuine connection and the importance of safe, welcoming spaces where individuals can express themselves and grow. My goal is to empower others, helping them unlock their potential and embrace their strengths, so together we can build a culture of compassion and well-being.
Meet Emma
Role: Impact and Wellbeing Manager
Qualifications:
- Mental Health First Aid Certification (MHFA England)
About Me:
I am passionate about caring for young people and helping them overcome trauma through impactful experiences. My previous experience as a house manager has given me a deep understanding of the importance of building trust, relationships, and tailoring experiences to each young person’s unique interests. I also have an understanding of the difficulties faced by staff in such a challenging role from my own experience. Challenging times can a be difficult for staff working in this environment and I am driven to create transformative environments where young people and staff can grow, heal and thrive.
My compassion, patience, and commitment to supporting vulnerable youth are at the core of my work.
Key Areas of Well-being:
- Focus: Our commitment to emotional well-being involves creating an environment where staff feel safe and encouraged to express their feelings. This includes providing resources for stress management and resilience-building, recognising that emotional health is vital for overall job performance and satisfaction. We aim to destigmatise mental health discussions and promote self-care practices that empower employees to take charge of their emotional health.
- Values Alignment:
- Accountability: We take responsibility for providing necessary resources and support for emotional health, ensuring employees have access to help when needed.
- Humility: We foster openness, encouraging staff to share their experiences and vulnerabilities, which helps create a supportive and empathetic culture.
- Passion: Our dedication to uplifting and empowering our staff is reflected in initiatives that prioritise their emotional well-being.
- Focus: We emphasise the importance of physical health by promoting healthy lifestyle choices and creating an environment that encourages regular exercise and nutritious eating. This focus includes providing educational resources on health and wellness and encouraging employees to make informed choices. We understand that physical well-being contributes significantly to productivity and job satisfaction, so we strive to cultivate a culture that values and supports healthy living.
- Values Alignment:
- Accountability: We acknowledge our responsibility to foster an environment that supports physical health, offering facilities and programmes that facilitate active lifestyles.
- Innovation: We are committed to exploring new health initiatives and technologies to promote physical well-being among our staff, staying current with best practices in workplace wellness.
- Focus: Our focus on social connections is centred on building a strong sense of community within the organisation. This involves encouraging teamwork and collaboration while promoting open communication among staff. By nurturing strong interpersonal relationships, we create a supportive workplace where employees feel valued and connected. Social connection initiatives aim to enhance employee engagement and contribute to a culture of inclusivity and trust.
- Values Alignment:
- Teamwork: We leverage the collective strengths of our staff through collaboration, fostering an environment where teamwork thrives.
- Humility: By encouraging listening and valuing diverse perspectives, we strengthen interpersonal relationships and create a culture of mutual respect.
- Trust: We promote transparency in communication, which builds strong relationships among team members and reinforces our commitment to teamwork.
- Focus: Our focus on professional development is about providing pathways for continuous learning and growth. We recognise that investing in our employees’ skills and careers enhances both individual satisfaction and organisational success. This involves offering training opportunities, mentorship programmes, and resources that empower staff to pursue their career aspirations. We aim to create a culture of lifelong learning, where employees are motivated to seek new knowledge and skills.
- Values Alignment:
- Innovation: We strive to implement innovative training methods and development opportunities that keep our workforce skilled and adaptable.
- Humility: We embrace the idea that learning is an ongoing process, encouraging staff to seek out new knowledge and experiences.
- Accountability: We are committed to providing the resources necessary for professional growth, ensuring employees have the support they need to succeed.
- Focus: Our emphasis on work-life balance involves fostering a culture that respects personal time and promotes flexibility. We understand the importance of managing professional responsibilities alongside personal commitments to prevent burnout and enhance overall satisfaction. This focus includes advocating for flexible work arrangements and encouraging employees to take their full vacation entitlements, reinforcing the idea that well-being extends beyond the workplace.
- Values Alignment:
- Trust: By offering flexibility in work arrangements, we demonstrate our trust in employees to manage their time effectively and responsibly.
- Accountability: We take responsibility for ensuring workloads are manageable, contributing to a culture where employees can maintain a healthy work-life balance.
- Focus: Our focus on community engagement revolves around fostering social responsibility among staff and encouraging participation in initiatives that benefit the wider community. We believe in the importance of connecting with local organisations and promoting volunteerism as a way to enhance staff engagement and sense of purpose. This focus cultivates a culture of giving back, aligning with our organisational mission and values.
- Values Alignment:
- Passion: Our commitment to uplifting our community is driven by our passion for making a positive impact beyond the workplace.
- Accountability: We hold ourselves responsible for contributing to community welfare, ensuring that our engagement efforts align with our values and mission.
- Teamwork: Community initiatives encourage collaboration among staff, enhancing their teamwork skills and fostering a sense of collective purpose.
Theme of the month
🌟 Celebrate Gratitude Together! 🌟
Welcome to November, a month dedicated to appreciating all the good around us! This is a time to reflect on the positive aspects of our lives and express appreciation for them. Let’s focus on gratitude and make it a fun and engaging experience for both our staff and the young people in our care! 🎉
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is more than just saying “thank you”; it’s an intentional practice that involves recognising and appreciating the positives in our lives, no matter how small they may seem. 🙏 It’s about taking the time to acknowledge the people, experiences, and even challenges that contribute to our growth and well-being. Practising gratitude can profoundly shift our perspective, helping us to cultivate a more positive outlook on life. 🌈
Gratitude encourages us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and appreciate the richness of our experiences. It can take many forms, such as keeping a gratitude journal 📓, sharing thank-you notes ✉️, or engaging in conversations that highlight our appreciation for one another. This practice not only enhances our personal well-being but also strengthens our connections with others. 🤝
Why Practice Gratitude?
Gratitude is a powerful tool for enhancing our emotional landscape. By consciously shifting our focus from what’s lacking to what’s abundant, we can elevate our mood and cultivate a more optimistic outlook. 😊 This shift in perspective allows us to experience joy in our everyday lives, making it easier to navigate challenges with a positive mindset. 🌼
Expressing gratitude fosters deeper relationships, creating a sense of belonging and community. ❤️ When we acknowledge the contributions of others, we reinforce our bonds and promote an atmosphere of appreciation and respect. Gratitude can lead to stronger teamwork among staff and create a more supportive environment for the young people in our care. 👩👩👧👦
Research shows that regularly practising gratitude can significantly reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. 🧠 By focusing on the positives, we can cultivate resilience and develop healthier coping strategies when faced with difficulties. This practice promotes emotional stability and encourages a proactive approach to mental well-being. 💪
Gratitude encourages us to be present and fully engage with our daily experiences. 🌟 By recognising the beauty in small moments—whether it’s a kind gesture from a colleague or a peaceful moment in nature—we can enhance our mindfulness. This awareness allows us to savour life’s simple pleasures and appreciate the richness of our surroundings. 🍃
How to celebrate gratitude together
Start a habit of daily gratitude journaling. Encourage each staff member and young person to jot down one thing they’re genuinely thankful for each day. 📝 This practice can be personal or shared in group settings—it builds resilience and gives everyone a positive focus.
Launch a “Gratitude Wall” as a central place for everyone to post their moments of appreciation. 🌈 This simple display keeps positivity front and center and reinforces the value of community. It’s a strong, daily reminder that we’re all in this together.
Create a thank-you note exchange where everyone can express appreciation to one another. 💌 This kind gesture does more than just boost morale—it strengthens connections and builds a support network that benefits everyone.
Implement weekly gratitude challenges to encourage everyone to think outside the box about how they express thanks. 🎯 Whether it’s sharing a sincere compliment, performing an act of kindness, or simply spotlighting a colleague’s good work, these challenges amplify positivity and creativity.
Host a weekly gathering dedicated to gratitude reflections. 🤔 These sessions provide a powerful platform for everyone to share what they’re thankful for, building empathy and a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives.
Incorporate mindfulness activities that center on gratitude, like guided meditation or gratitude-centered breathing exercises. 🧘♀️ These practices help everyone to pause, reflect, and gain clarity on the things they value most.
Looking ahead to Christmas
As we embrace the theme of gratitude this November, let’s also look forward to the spirit of Christmas 🎄 that is just around the corner. The holiday season is a wonderful time to deepen our appreciation for one another and reflect on the positive impacts we can have in each other’s lives.
During this festive period, gratitude can take on new dimensions as we celebrate the joy of giving and sharing. 🎁 By practising gratitude now, we can carry this spirit into Christmas, creating a warm, supportive atmosphere that uplifts both staff and the young people in our care.
We can build upon our gratitude practices by incorporating elements of kindness and generosity, making it a collective effort to spread joy and appreciation as we approach the holidays. 🌟 Whether through community service, gift-giving, or simple acts of kindness, let’s embrace the festive spirit by celebrating the good in our lives and in each other.
Let’s Get Grateful! 🎉
This November let’s embrace gratitude as a community! Share your gratitude experiences with the hashtag #GratitudeMonth. Together, we are better and together we can create a positive and appreciative environment! We will put all our gratitude experiences on this page.
Support resources
Medicash Benefits Overview:
- mProve YOURSELF
- 24/7 Mental Health Support
- Easy Access via the Medicash App
Get in touch
If you want to get in touch with our Wellbeing Team, please fill in the form below and we can get back to you.