Who can help me with my Health & Wellbeing?

Health and Wellbeing Guardian. The Trust has appointed a Wellbeing Guardian, Narinder Kaur Kooner OBE. Narinder is a Trust Non-Executive Director and has a wealth of experiences that can be used within this role to support and champion staff health and wellbeing.

The role of the Wellbeing Guardian is for someone who is passionate about health and wellbeing and is able to support the executive team implement positive changes to benefit the working experiences of staff.

“As I am new to this role I view the way forward as an assurance role in questioning the Board on decisions that may impact on the Health & Wellbeing of our staff.

Our staff are our most valuable resource, therefore it is vital that we support their health and wellbeing.  It’s important to have a Wellbeing Guardian on the Board as I will endeavor to keep staff wellbeing at the forefront of Board considerations.

I am really looking forward to meeting staff and listening to their ideas as the role progresses”.

The Trust has 130 Health & Wellbeing Champions [HWBC] every site has at least one champion the bigger sites have more. If you are not sure about who is a HWBC on your site speak to your line manager or Manjeet Malhi, Health and Wellbeing Manager, on manjeet.malhi@wmas.nhs.uk 

All HWBC have an induction of initial training and then can progress onto further development completing the Mental Health First Aiders course, Suicide Lite and many more courses. This enhances their knowledge which allows them to support our staff better.

What does the role entail?

• Being a point of contact for information a link between the HWB Steering Group and colleagues.
• Keeping colleagues updated with what is happening with Health & Wellbeing and what is available for them.
• Maintaining a Health & Wellbeing notice board.
• Distribution of literature and marketing materials.
• Caring enough to ask a colleague are they alright?
• Helping to signpost staff to the relevant support they may need.
• Being part of the bigger team of Health &Wellbeing Champions
• Maybe celebrating HWB days or organising events support is always on hand.
• This is a voluntary role that staff offer to commit too.

If you have explored the above provisions but believe a different type of support is required, or if you would like additional advice, you can book an appointment with the Trust’s Mental Wellbeing Practitioners for further advice.

The Staff Advice & Liaison Service (SALS) is a confidential peer to peer support network.

The service is co-ordinated and delivered entirely by current WMAS staff members who have volunteered their time to support their colleagues.

What we do…

When you have concerns, need advice or information, or feel alone with a problem and don’t know what to do or where to turn, SALS is there to help.

SALS trained peer advisors will listen to your concerns, provide emotional support and encouragement during difficult times, and can help you to identify the information, support providers and workplace policies relevant to your individual situation.

This confidential service is available to all members of the WMAS workforce, including students and community volunteers, by calling 01384 215 880

The Trust currently has 366 trained Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) who have completed the two day course. By the end of August this will have risen to 428 members of staff. A wide range of people have undertaken then MHFA training from operational staff, corporate and staff in support roles. You can identify a MHFA by this logo, which may be displayed on their email footer, or lanyard.

The Mental Health First Aiders training provides:

• An in-depth understanding of mental health and the factors that can affect wellbeing
• Practical skills to spot the triggers and signs of a range of mental health issues
• Confidence to step in, reassure and support a person in distress using the Mental Health First Aid action plan
• Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
• Knowledge to help someone recover their health by guiding them to further support – whether through self-help resources, internal support such as EAP, or external sources such as their GP
• An understanding of how to keep themselves safe while performing their duties

Mohammed Ramzan, Diversity & Inclusion Lead

Ramzan has over 18 years’ experience working in the Equality, Inclusion and Diversity field; having worked for, and with, a number of large statutory and community organisations. In this time, Ramzan has worked strategically to embed equality in West Mercia Police and Probation Service, Birmingham South Central CCG, Solihull CCG, and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Ramzan has led on several key health inequalities projects over the years which have resulted in better health outcomes for patients and communities, including a domestic violence project (a partnership with South Birmingham PCT and Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid; National Pacesetters Project (Uptake of Cardiac rehab for Women – working closely with University Hospitals Birmingham ((UHB)); uptake of Bowel Cancer Screening in BAME communities Project (Heart of England Foundation Trust and a community Organisation); development of the Equality Delivery System Matrix for providers in Birmingham and Solihull (member of the sub-committee of Strategic Health Authority which developed the initial EDS framework) and helped Birmingham South Central CCG staff attain the prestigious Mary Seacole award. Ramzan also co-chaired the ICS Equality group in his role as the Equality lead for Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG before joining WMAS.

Ramzan has a Master’s in Public Health and Health Promotion, Diploma in Legal Practice, LL.B (Honours) and ILM4 – Managing Equality and Diversity and has completed the NHS Leadership Academy course: Stepping Up. Ramzan is also one of the founding members of the Blue Light Cricket Challenge which was set up as a result of the sacrifices made by community, staff and members of the public during COVID 19 pandemic.  This is now an annual event where the health services challenge West Mercia Police for the Blue Light trophy.  Ramzan is also part of the inter-faith dialogue group in his local area.

“I am very excited to have joined the team and I look forward to bringing my knowledge and expertise to the role, building on the good work that my predecessor started.  I have been given a warm welcome by staff.  I look forward to working with colleagues at WMAS on embedding the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda into the fabric of the organisation; where we celebrate diversity, promote inclusion and work towards equitable outcomes.”

Ramzan can be contacted via email at: mohammed.ramzan@wmas.nhs.uk

WMAS Networks

To support staff the Trust, have a number of networks, which members of staff can join. For further information please contact: –

Women’s Network – rebecca.godfrey@wmas.nhs.uk

One Network – karina.graham@wmas.nhs.uk or keeling.hutton@wmas.nhs.uk

Military Network – timothy.atherton@wmas.nhs.uk

Disability Carer and Advocates (DCA) Network – john.eames@wmas.nhs.uk

Proud Network – ash.Deakins@wmas.nhs.uk

For more information please click on Staff Networks – West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust (wmas.nhs.uk)

Vanetta Griffiths

The health and well-being of staff students and associates, is very important to me.  I hold the welfare and self esteem of those around me as a priority.  We should all be able to enjoy a quality of life and have the knowledge that when times become difficult, as they sometimes will, there is someone to turn to.  We all need to know that there is support available, whether that may be a listening ear, meeting on a regular basis, or having the opportunity of ‘signposting’ for professional help and advice.  I feel an early response to a call for help is important and unless there is a risk of safety, all conversations are kept confidential, and that is important too.

In my leisure hours I enjoy pulling on my walking boots, to walk the Shropshire Hills. I also like cycling.  I very much appreciate the great outdoors, the company of friends and family, and music.

Vanetta can be contacted via email at: vanetta.griffiths@wmas.nhs.uk or on 07498 076 897

Satnaam Kaur

My name is Satnaam Kaur and I am Amritdhari (Baptised Sikh). I am a mother of three children and have been working in the NHS for over 8 years as a Mental Heath support worker, Senior Ward Administrator and Chaplaincy Services.

I have in recent times, started to volunteer more as a Chaplain to support Staff and patients within the Sandwell and Black Country area as I am passionate of doing selfless service; help those who need help. I also help out in all Gurdwara’ s (Sikh faith place of worship) all over the UK from running camps and helping out in the community Kitchens provided in Gurdwara’ s preparing meals for all faiths attending the place of worship.

Satnaam Kaur can be contacted on the following email: satnaam.kaur@wmas.nhs.uk

Human Resources Contacts at West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Each area of the Trust has a dedicated HR Representative who can be contacted for advice and support for all aspects of health and wellbeing and employment queries. You can see which HR Representative covers your area of the Trust here:

Please click on the picture for who’s who at WMAS with contact details or on the poster to the left to access the full HR Team PDF.