Baptistcare

Workplace Profile

Baptistcare is one of the state's largest not-for-profit providers of residential care, home care services and retirement living. Baptistcare has been operating in the Perth metropolitan area and regional Western Australia for over 45 years and employs more than 1,400 skilled and professional employees and engages more than 300 volunteers throughout their 12 residential care facilities, 10 retirement villages and "in-the-home" service deliveries.

Health and Wellbeing Profile

Baptistcare's Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program is overseen by a Program Coordinator and Wellness Taskforce and has been running since 2017. 

Planning

Using results from an audit and staff survey, a business case was presented to gain senior management support. Further staff consultation was undertaken and a framework (action plan) outlining goals, timelines and allocated resources was developed. A Wellness Taskforce was established and Wellness Champions were recruited from each worksite and service area of the organisation. Wellness Champions undertook the HWWA Coordinator Training and are responsible for facilitating information to and from their worksites and the Wellness Taskforce.  

"We enlisted Wellness Champions at all worksites to develop the Wellness events and initiatives with their management team and employees. We hold a Wellness Taskforce quarterly meeting where we come together as a group to review our successes and plan our future events and activities," says the Program Coordinator. 

During the planning stages of the Program, the Program Coordinator also met with other Recognised Healthy Workplaces regarding their experience in implementing effective workplace health and wellbeing programs. 

"The HWWA team introduced me to others who discussed designing a wellness program that could be developed as we matured in the wellness space. That was a huge barrier breakdown moment for myself," says the Program Coordinator. 

Health and Wellbeing Program Activities

Baptistcare's Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program is comprised of a range of strategies and activities, such as:  

• Dedicated Wellness Taskforce which includes a Program Coordinator and a team of Wellness Champions, all of whom have undertaken the HWWA Coordinator Training 
• Smoke-free workplace policy with no designated smoking areas on site and smoking cessation support available to staff
• Revised Drug and Alcohol Policy and Practice Document to outline the responsible use of alcohol at staff social functions  
• Healthy Catering Policy and staff education sessions regarding nutrition and physical activity 
• Staff participation in health related community events, such as Dry July and HBF Run for a Reason
• Individual health assessments, including skin screening and flu immunisations
• Online wellness portal where staff can access health related information in regards to "MOVE-Get active; MUNCH-eat your way to a healthier you; and MIND-Mastering your mental health"
• Monthly health and wellbeing newsletter sent to all staff using the HWWA Health Works newsletter template

In addition, program activities are evaluated to measure participation and staff feedback.

"Each year Baptistcare invites our employees to participate in a survey to measure the engagement of participation for the wellness events and to identify any areas requiring further development that may change from year to year."

Three top tips from Baptistcare for other workplaces embarking on workplace health and wellbeing are:

• Gain support from your Executive and Senior Leadership teams
• Appoint a dedicated Wellness Coordinator
• Find out what health and wellbeing topics staff are interested in to maximise engagement and participation, then commence your action planning