A Behavioural Approach to Compassionate Workplaces – How best to Implement the HSC Health & Wellbeing Framework

Event: Public Engagement Networking Event

Venue: Castleview Suite, The Pavilion, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3TA

There has long been recognition of the contribution of workplace and population health outcomes and the role of staff wellbeing in patient care. 

Recognising the impact of one of the largest workforces in Northern Ireland, the 'HSC Workforce Strategy 2026 - Delivering for Our People' (second action plan) aims to ensure that Health and Social Care (HSC) is a fulfilling and rewarding place to work were people feel valued and supported. 

To further this, the Department of Health is preparing to launch a new Framework to improve health and wellbeing in the HSC workplace. 

Members of our networks, led by our Division of Health Psychology in Northern Ireland, feel this is an exciting and opportune time to highlight the important and significant role of psychology, which can serve to identify the behaviour change skills to support the successful implementation of the framework.

Eminent Health Psychologists, Professor Lucie Byrne-Davies and Professor Jo Hart, who lead the Health Workforce Group in the Division of Medical Education at the University of Manchester will be among our Keynote speakers at this event.

Their research and practice are about translating health psychology to support behaviour change, with a focus on health worker behaviours.  They will be joined on the programme by local Health, Clinical and Occupational Psychologists.

We envisage our target audience to be our psychology colleagues across the region, as well as HSC staff and academics working in this area. Ideally, we would be keen that participants leave the day with something of a 'Toolkit' that they can then consider and apply when implementing change within their own unique area/contexts (e.g. within their own work, within a department, or across an organisation).