People & Talent

Wellbeing Support - All Staff

You are at the heart of the services we deliver and we want you to know that we value the contributions you make every day.  We can't do what we do without your support. 

We will aim to create a healthy working environment that supports your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

If you are struggling at work and need support, please go to your line manager or an appropriate manager to discuss what help is available. 

Access To Work

Access to Work is a grant scheme which supports people with health conditions or a disability. This includes all types of disabilities, including Mental Health conditions.

This grant may help beyond the Reasonable Adjustments provided.

This PDF outlines the Access to Work scheme and what it could offer for those who need it: Access to Work Presentation Nov 22

Bereavement Support

Managing an employee who has suffered a bereavement requires compassion, sensitivity, and flexibility. This guide provides some key tips on how to support employees who are dealing with a bereavement, both in the short term and in the longer term. How you respond as a manager will make a huge difference to the experience of your bereaved colleague and how supported they feel when they are able to return to work.

This guidance can provide support to Line Managers: Bereavement Guidance - Line Manager Support

Cumbria Bereavement Services Partnership 

The Cumbria Bereavement Services Partnership is a multi-organisational group that brings together all bereavement support providers alongside statutory and other voluntary organisations to help share the information and good practice for the benefits of the residents of Cumbria.  

To contact the group:

Cumbria Bereavement Services Partnership

Local Charity Every Life Matters

Who we are: Every Life Matters is a Cumbrian Suicide Prevention and Bereavement Support charity. We are dedicated to supporting those affected by suicide and reducing suicide rates in our county through campaigning, training and promoting suicide safer communities.

How we can help: Every Life Matters offers practical and emotional support during the early weeks and months following a bereavement by suicide either in person, by telephone or online.

By Your Side - Booklet that provides support after suicide in Cumbria

Covid - 19 During the global coronavirus pandemic we are facing a tragic loss of life, often under very difficult circumstances.

Bereaved people may have to deal with increased trauma, and may be cut off from some of their usual support network. Those who are already struggling with bereavement, or whose relatives or friends die through other causes will also be affected.

Below are a number of different sources of information and support which may be off help to you. 

Additional information is available under the Financial Wellbeing section. 

Cruse - Specific advice for dealing with bereavement during the Corona pandemic. 

NHS Factsheet - Bereavement fact sheet and support.  

Mind Factsheet - General advice fact sheet for dealing with grief.

Dying MattersUseful factsheets that contain practical advice particularly around talking to others about your or their wishes.

WAY - Widowed and Young Support for anyone who has lost their partner before their 51st birthday.

NHS - Supporting Children Supporting children through bereavement.  

Child Bereavement UK - Support for children and young people up to 25 when they lose a loved one.

NHS Support for young people - Supporting young people through bereavement.

Dementia Toolkit

Welcome to the Living with Dementia Toolkit for people with dementia and their carers. This set of resources is based on research, and the expert experiences of people with dementia and their carers. These resources are here to:

  • give you hope for the future
  • inspire you through examples of real-life experiences
  • offer ideas to help you live your life as you choose

University of Exeter and Innovations in Dementia have been working with people over the last 12 months to create the toolkit of advice and information that people living with or affected by dementia. It is a good resource that you can signpost both people with a diagnosis or those caring for someone with dementia to and has been supported by Alzheimer's society and NIHR. 

About us - Living with Dementia Toolkit 

 

Domestic Abuse Support

Domestic Abuse Support Services during Covid-19

If you or someone you know is at risk or experiencing abuse, help and support is available. 

Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people in a relationship. But it isn't just physical violence - domestic abuse includes emotional, physical, sexual, financial or psychological abuse.

Abusive behaviour can occur in any relationship. It can continue even after the relationship has ended. Both men and women can be abused or abusers.

Domestic abuse can seriously harm children and young people. Witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse, and teenagers can suffer domestic abuse in their relationships. 

Domestic Abuse Policy Statement

Domestic Abuse Line Manager information

Domestic and sexual abuse resources

Domestic Abuse Poster

List of Domestic Abuse Support Services

Domestic abuse support in Cumbria

On 29 April 2021 the government enacted the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. This places a duty on Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service to assess the need for support and prepare strategies to provide services for victims in safe accommodation and to provide domestic abuse survivors with community in-reach services. 

Domestic abuse includes:

  • coercive control
  • emotional abuse
  • physical or sexual abuse
  • financial abuse
  • harassment or stalking
  • online abuse

If you or someone you know is at risk or experiencing abuse, help and support is available. 

To report an incident or in an emergency:

Cumbria police non-emergency call 101 or Cumbria Police onlinein an emergency always call 999 

 

Emergency Accomodation - Domestic Abuse Partnerships

Copeland: Email: Housing.options@copeland.gov.uk Telephone: 01946 598300 24 hours

Allerdale: Email: homelessness@allerdale.gov.uk Telephone:  01900 702660 or 0303 123 1702 out of hours

Carlisle: Email: dutytorefer@carlisle.gov.uk Telephone: 01228 817200 office hours. Out of hours 01228 817386 (single women and families scheme) and 01228 817373 (single men's scheme)

Barrow: Email: dutytorefer@barrowbc.gov.uk office hours only Telephone: Office Hours 01229 876599 or Out of Hours 01229 833311

Eden: Email: housingoptions@edenha.org.uk Telephone: Office hours 01768 861499 or Out of Hours 0800 0614232

South Lakeland: Email: homeless@southlakeland.gov.uk  Telephonet: Office hours 01539 733 333/ 01539 793 199

Kendal and Eastern Area 0870 428 6905. Lakes, Ulverston and Western Area 0870 428 6906

 

Local Services

Gateway 4 Women (Carlisle) : 01228 212090  admin@cumbriagateway.co.uk

Women Out West (Whitehaven) : 01946 550103/07516 416040  Wowadmin@ttcwestcumbria.org

Women Community Matters (Barrow) : 01229 311102  reception@womenscommunitymatters.org

Freedom Project (West Cumbria) women and men affected by Domestic Abuse: 01900 671167/07712 117986 hope@freedom-project-west-cumbria.org.uk

Springfield (South Lakeland- refuge support takes referrals Nationwide): 01539726171 cs@springfieldsupport.orgrefuge@springfieldsupport.org

 

Cumbria Wide Services

Cumbria Victim Support : 0300 3030 157 (local) Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and 24/7 Support Line 0808 1689 111 Cumbria.Admin@victimsupport.org.uk

Safety Net for women and men affected by Domestic Abuse:  County Wide Service: 01228 515859 office@safetynet.org

The Birchall Trust for women and men affected by Domestic Abuse - County Wide Service

 

National Services

National LGBT Domestic Abuse Victims : 0800 9995428 

Mankind Initiative : 01823 334244 and Men's Advice Line 0808 8010327 

24 Hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone helpline : 01942 262 270

National Child Line : 0800 1111

The Domestic Abuse Alliance brings together organisations working on the frontline of domestic abuse across the UK with the legal sector to deliver joined-up instant legal assistance and protection.  They run the We Protect app. On this app, victims of domestic abuse can get free, legal advice. Referrals can be made online using a one page form or by telephone 0800 101 7110.

Dyslexia

This guidance aims to provide information to managers so they can support an employee who has dyslexia to achieve their full potential.

Dyslexia Guidance

Employee Passport

This Guidance aims to provide information to managers so they can support employees who require additional support to achieve their full potential.

Scope

This scheme applies to all permanent and fixed term employees.

Employee Passport Guidance

Employee Passport

Financial Wellbeing

If you or a member of your team are need some financial wellbeing support, please direct them to the For Our Staff pages, under the Wellbeing section.

Firefighters Charity

If you’re a member of the UK's fire services community and need support with your health and wellbeing, The Fire Fighters Charity is here for you. Their team will listen and signpost you to the best support for your individual need.

To get support, please go to their site and fill in the form or call us.

https://www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/enquire-about-our-services

Menopause

The aim of this guidance is to help create an environment where people feel confident enough to raise issues about their symptoms and ask for adjustments at work. We will aim to promote a greater understanding of the menopause and seek to eradicate any exclusionary or discriminatory practices.

This guidance may also be useful for employees who have family members who are going through the menopause, as this may also be affecting them.

Menopause Guidance

Mental Health Support

This guidance has been developed to provide a resource for anyone who is supporting a member of staff with a mental health problem and to promote understanding and remove stigma around mental health.

Mental Health Support Guidance

Mental Health Support

Coping with Trauma Leaflet 

Neurodiversity

The aim of this guidance is to help support managers and employees with any queries regarding neurodiversity in the workplace. We aim to promote a greater understanding of neurodiversity and seek to eradicate any discriminatory practices.

Neurodiversity is a relatively new term that many people may not yet know much about. Learning more about neurodiversity and taking steps to understand how to best support everyone in workplaces can be hugely beneficial for employers and employees.

Neurodiversity Guidance

Substance Misuse

The aims of the updated Substance Misuse policy are to are to safeguard the public and employees, maintain service delivery, and to support members of staff who are tackling substance misuse. 

This policy stresses CFRS’s commitment to creating an environment where those employees who suffer with substance misuse are supported in dealing with their disorder and can seek advice and treatment. 

This policy and associated procedure also applies in cases of conduct, unsatisfactory work performance, and poor attendance, directly related to substance misuse. 

Our organisation reserves the right under this policy to exercise alcohol and drug testing of its employees. 

Substance Misuse Policy

If you currently have a member of staff who you are concerned maybe have substance abuse issues, or an issue has been brought to your attention, please contact a member of the HR Team to discuss asap.

HR@cumbriafire.gov.uk 

 

Whistleblowing