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.

The service is co-ordinated by Elaine Weaver, Raymond Lloyd, Teresa Bednallangell & Neil Amis. Elaine is our Lead Co-ordinator and is an Accountant in finance with WMAS with over 30 years in service. Ray is a Unison Rep and Paramedic at Hollymoor and has been with the service more than 45 years. Teresa works at Willenhall HUB as a Technician. Neil is a paramedic and works from Shrewsbury Hub with over 20 years experience.

The SALS team works independently but with reference to service polices and procedures when handling staff concerns, liaising as necessary with the Mental Wellbeing Practitioners, managers, Occupational Health and other organisations to sort out problems quickly.

The SALS team includes Confidential Advisors; members of staff across the Trust trained to listen to problems and provide confidential, on the spot advice and support to help you sort out your concerns. They are also able to facilitate Social, Emotional, Educational Support meetings (see information sheet) in the event of a number of staff being involved in large or particularly distressing incidents. If not able to help directly, the Confidential Advisors will be able to point you towards more appropriate resources for the help or information that you need.

SALS now have five trained mediators, thanks to funding from WMAS achieving the professional qualification of Interpersonal and Commercial Mediation Practitioner through over 40 hours of nationally accredited training received from Mediation UK.

This means they are able to offer mediation for workplace disputes thereby avoiding the recourse to time-consuming, costly and distressing disciplinary or grievance action. Mediation is also offered for all types of interpersonal conflict.

The SALS  team will:

• Listen to your concerns, suggestions or queries
• Treat your concerns in confidence
• Provide advice, support and information to staff members
• Provide information on Trust policies and procedures
• Help you to sort out your problems as quickly as possible
• Provide information on other agencies that may be able to help

Supporting Mental Health in WMAS

WMAS’ Staff Advice and Liaison Service (SALS) peer support is available via contacting our 24/7 line on 01384 215880 or by speaking to your local SALS Advisor or by emailing the SALS email, sals@wmas.nhs.uk 

SALS can provide signposting, advice and a listening ear to all members of the workforce, including CFRs and university students on placement with WMAS.

You can also access psychological and emotional support from the NHS Staff Support line – Call 0300 131 7000 or text FRONTLINE to 85258, and/or access online counselling via the WMAS online Employee Assistance Provider, QWELL https://www.qwell.io/

For non-urgent mental health support, NHS Talking Therapy Services welcome self-referrals. Those services can provide assessment, signposting and advice and access to psychological therapy where appropriate. You can identify your local team via this link: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/  (Please alert them to you being a WMAS employee, NHS staff are often fast-tracked) and/or you can self-refer for a non-urgent appointment with WMAS’ Mental Wellbeing Practitioners by emailing mentalwellbeing@wmas.nhs.uk for a mental health needs assessment and advice.

If you require urgent support due to a mental health crisis, we strongly recommend that you contact the Ambulance Staff Crisis Phoneline (theasc.org.uk). You can reach them at any time by calling 0300 373 0898. The TASC Crisis Line is staffed by fully qualified mental health professionals who are available 24/7 to provide immediate and ongoing suicide and mental health care for UK ambulance staff. TASC crisis support is confidential, fully funded, and completely independent from NHS services and your employer.

– Alternatively, you can seek urgent advice from your GP, NHS Mental Health Services, or by calling NHS 111. Contact details for NHS providers can be searched for here: www.nhs.uk. In the event of a life-threatening mental health crisis, please dial 999 or go to your nearest A&E department.