Regional public health staff workplace psychosocial risk assessment and health promotion initiative

Abstract

Abstract Psychosocial work conditions can be detrimental to worker wellbeing with 70% of healthcare workers reporting work related stress, which may lead to burnout. Despite European health and safety legislation, managers rarely assess and manage workplace psychosocial risks. The Public Health workforce in Ireland, already impacted by the pandemic, is currently experiencing major organisational change as a result of the ongoing Public Health Reform Process. This paper describes the structures, processes and outcomes involved in a Public Health staff (n = 56) workplace psychosocial risk assessment, guided by the European Framework for Psychosocial risk Management: PRIMA-EF, using the HSE Work Positive CI psychosocial risk assessment survey. The establishment of a multidisciplinary Health & Wellbeing (H&W) group, under the governance of the Area Senior Management Team, was key to guide the process, including a workplace health promotion initiative, influenced by Positive Psychology framework (PERMA). The response rate to the survey was 70% (n = 40), with half of staff reporting psychological distress. Work stressors included role clarity, demand, change and control, scoring below average compared to Irish organisational norms. Relationships and manager support scored highly. The H&W group shared results promptly with all staff and formulated iterative mitigation measures, including HSE Change Management and HSE Health & Wellbeing consultants, based on the survey action plan and staff feedback. Five months later a repeat survey revealed continuing issues around role clarity and demands, with change and control showing an improvement. Further exploration of these results, and an evaluation, informed by staff feedback is ongoing and iterative. Lessons learnt include the importance of embedding a dedicated H&W multidisciplinary group to lead the continuous process; senior management support; employee involvement and effective utilisation of existing organisational tools and supports. Key messages • It is a public health imperative to promote risk assessment and mitigation of healthcare workplace stressors to safeguard employee wellbeing and ensure health service resilience and patient safety. • Effective workplace psychosocial risk assessment and implementation of targeted mitigation measures requires management support and a continuous iterative collaborative quality improvement process.