Video tutorial: Medway NHS Foundation Trust on how to build a financial wellbeing strategy for all

Speaking at the Employee Wellbeing Congress 2018 Elizabeth Nyawade said the trust had been put in special measures in 2013 and it was realised that a better workforce strategy and focus on wellbeing had to be put into place to improve things. After looking at the organisation’s objectives it decided to implement a clearer focus on people.

She explained how the organisation looked to better support its band 1 salary staff who earnt around £15,000 PA. Around 400 staff fell into this band and the organisation realised such employees were struggling around finance.

“In November 2016 we put a moral case together for the fact that it’s really challenging to live on £15k in the local community and still be present at work. It was something that was well received by the board mainly because we articulated what living on £1,023 a month (the salary after tax) looked like in day-to-day society,” she said.

To better support the staff the organisation banished the band 1 pay band and moved them to a band 2 £17,000 salary. “It ended up being our recruitment strategy,” she said. “It was something they’d not expected,” she said.

Morale and productivity increased as a result but Nyawade said the organisation knew it needed to do more and so partnered with Neyber in 2017.

“Staff could benefit from advice from Neyber and that added to our initial initiative,” she said. “It has given so many people hope and with that hope we have increased productivity at the place of work,” she said.

This video was recorded at the Employee Wellbeing Congress 2018, held in London on 5 July.