Centring practitioner wellbeing: the difference it makes to supporting service user wellbeing and provision
Kay Louise Aldred introduces our Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach Training. This holistic, well-being focused training programme is open to neurodivergent individuals, their families and friends, as well as professionals including hospital teams, community teams, educators, third sector groups. NdWA training comprises eight online sessions, running from 30 January—26 March 2024. More information here.
Centring practitioner wellbeing is a crucial, yet often forgotten or dismissed aspect of creating a sustainable and effective service. When health care, social care or educational professionals are supported and prioritised in terms of their own physical, mental, and emotional health, it can have a profound impact on service user, client or student wellbeing and overall service provision.
Here at Neurodiverse Connection, we take the importance of practitioner wellbeing and regulation very seriously and our bespoke Neurodivergent Wellbeing Training is based on the concept of ‘experience to share’. Uniquely, it is a wellbeing programme for attendees themselves primarily, that they can then role model and share with people they work with.
Recent feedback from a multi-disciplinary NHS Trust team, made up of administrators, managers, nurse practitioners and psychologists who collectively underwent the training emphasised that it is this lens and focus which makes the programme distinctive in its application and success. Their key takeaways from the training included:
Focus on my own regulation to be co-regulating with others
Self-compassion is a take home message
Consider tolerance and capacity of self and others
Focus on self-care needs to be prioritised
Be more mindful of regulation of staff when supporting inpatient services
Self-reflection of on own wellbeing and making this a priority
So why does centring practitioner wellbeing make a difference in supporting service users and enhancing service provision?
More effective in meeting needs in an individualised way
When practitioners are physically and mentally well, they are better able to coregulate and focus on the individual needs of each patient, make tailored clinical decisions, and deliver more compassionate and empathetic care.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Practitioners who feel supported and valued are more likely to coregulate and work as a team with their colleagues. This improved communication fosters collaboration, creating a positive and supportive work environment and community. A collaborative healthcare team is better equipped to address complex patient cases and provide comprehensive and complete care.
Reduced Burnout and Staff Turnover
Prioritising practitioner wellbeing safeguards against burnout, a significant issue in the statutory services. Reduced burnout leads to lower turnover rates, ensuring continuity of care for patients. This stability is essential for building strong patient-practitioner relationships and maintaining consistent and effective service provision.
Job Satisfaction and Staff Retention
Practitioners who are satisfied with their jobs are more likely to be engaged in their work. Higher job satisfaction translates to increased motivation, productivity, and a cheerful outlook towards patient care. Patients benefit from interactions with professionals who are energised, holistically well and happy in their work.
Preventive Care
Well-supported practitioners are more likely to engage in ongoing professional development, staying updated on the latest medical research and advancements. This translates to an initiative-taking approach to service user care, with a focus on specialist, evidence based, preventive measures alongside early intervention, leading to better outcomes.
A Service-Wide ‘Well’ Culture
Systems that prioritise practitioner wellbeing fosters an organisational culture of wellbeing. This culture emphasises a commitment to the wellbeing of everyone. Such an environment promotes a person-centred approach to work and care, ensuring that services and workplace norms are tailored to meet the diverse needs the whole organisation. This fosters value and belonging and therefore commitment to providing and engaging with the service.
A Trauma-Informed Approach
Service providers are often face traumatic, challenging and emotionally demanding situations. Well-supported and regulated practitioners are better equipped to digest stress responses and process vicarious trauma and are less likely to experience compassion fatigue. This is essential for maintaining consistent, high-quality care and service even in challenging circumstances.
In summary, centring practitioner wellbeing has a ripple effect on patient wellbeing and service provision. A care and education system that values and supports its practitioners and teachers creates a positive feedback loop, where well professionals contribute to improved service user outcomes and the overall effectiveness of services.
Prioritising practitioner wellbeing is not only an ethical imperative but also a strategic investment in the long-term success and sustainability of health, social and educational systems.
