Experiences of staff working in a mental health trust during the COVID-19 pandemic and appraisal of staff support services
International Journal of Workplace Health Management
ISSN: 1753-8351
Article publication date: 1 February 2022
Issue publication date: 29 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The health and well-being of healthcare staff came into focus during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as already strained workforces responded to new and additional challenges. Organisational support services made efforts to adapt staff support provision. However, most literature and recommendations are centred on surveys of medical and clinical staff. The present study included staff across clinical and non-clinical workforces within a mental health trust over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic to date, and aimed to understand workforces' access to and experiences of organisational support.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study was a qualitative one using convenience and purposive sampling. Semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted using a topic guide. Reflexive thematic analysis was used in a phenomenological framework to analyse data.
Findings
35 staff, broadly representative of the trust workforce, were recruited. Six global themes summarised the experiences of staff in relation to work practices, personal well-being and support access over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: COVID-19 disease, interpersonal relationships, individual considerations, change, working environment and support.
Practical implications
The findings from the study have implications for organisational support provisions for healthcare workers and the dissemination of these services.
Originality/value
Acknowledging the multi-various experiences of different workforces within National Healthcare Service organisations and how these change over time will facilitate innovative changes to staff support provision.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Authors would like to thank all the staff members who volunteered their time for focus groups and interviews. Funding provided through departmental budgets without any external funding bodies or grants.
Citation
Jones, A., Zhang, S., Woodburn, A., Dorrington, S., Beck, A. and Winter, H. (2022), "Experiences of staff working in a mental health trust during the COVID-19 pandemic and appraisal of staff support services", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 154-173. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-08-2021-0155
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited