Wellbeing, Support and Fitness
This section is for employees to access CFRS policies which directly impact their employment such as Absence Management, Workplace Complaints, Mental Health, and other available support systems.
Absence and Wellbeing
Sickness Absence
If you are absent from work due to sickness, you will need to complete a Self-Cert Form and send this to your line manager.
If you have an absence that lasts longer than 7 days, you will need a Fit Note from your doctor.
Self-Referral for Counselling
The Occupational Health Service operates an employee self-referral scheme for counselling.
Please note counselling can be provided to employees as an interim measure of support while the employee seeks longer term treatment and support through their GP. Once your referral has been triaged then you will be refereed to a counsellor initially for up to four sessions.
To access the scheme please read the guidance below first and then log into the eOPAS portal.
Self-Referral for Counselling Portal Guidance
If you have any difficulties please call the Occupational Health Service on 01768 812556
Employee Passport
Bereavement 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:
- Chair - deb.lee@northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk
- Admin - Wesley.Wilson@cumbriacvs.org.uk
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
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 Matters- Useful 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.
Capability
The Capability Policy is designed to assist employees to meet and maintain a satisfactory level of performance when they fail to reach the required standard for reasons associated with skill, aptitude or physical or mental ability.
The below procedure covers all staff.
If you are going through Capability, we advise you to speak with your manager if you need any wellbeing support with this. Your Trade Union Rep can also be a key support during this process.
CFRS Capability Procedure - All Staff
Carers
Many employees have caring responsibilities outside of their working environment.
Carers Support Cumbria carers organisations across Cumbria that support unpaid Carers. Call Us On 08443 843230
Information for and about carers on the Adult Social Care website
Crimestoppers - Speak Up
Crimestoppers - Speak Up
We are pleased to confirm that with effect from 1 October 2023 CFRS will launch a new partnership arrangement with Crimestoppers in order to provide a safe space for any employee of CFRS to speak up if something isn’t right in the workplace.
The service is available online or via telephone 24/7, 365 days of the year. Staff can chose to remain anonymous or to share their details if they feel comfortable. Information will then be shared confidentially with a restricted number of staff within our HR Team for further internal action.
This is in addition to the existing policies we have available for staff to use such as grievance, bullying and harassment or whistleblowing. The key difference is that Crimestoppers are an independent charity giving people the power to report a crime with the protection of anonymity if so desired.
Some examples of when to use the Speak Up Service to report a crime are as follows:
- Discrimination, victimisation and harassment (on gender, sexual orientation, disability)
- Misogyny and violence
- Health and safety breaches
- Fraud and corruption
- Poor or unsafe working practices
Please look out for promotional information coming out to stations early October for SM’s to make accessible to staff within the workplace. Should you have any queries please contact the HR Team HR@cumbriafire.gov.uk
Disciplinary
For any member of staff that is involved with the Disciplinary procedure, both informal and formal, it can be a stressful process. If you need any wellbeing support, we advise you to contact your line manager (or a relevant manager), your Trade Union Rep, or speak with a colleague.
Whether you are a manager or an employee involved in the disciplinary procedure, it is advised that you read the documents below in full.
Domestic Abuse Support
If you or someone you know is at risk or experiencing abuse, help and support is available.
List of domestic abuse support services
Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behavior between people in a relationship. But it isn't just physical violence - domestic abuse includes emotional, physical, sexual, financial or psychological abuse.
Abusive behavior 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.
Family Support
Below are linked some of our Family policies and procedures.
This section is being reviewed by the HR Team and will be updated as and when policies, procedures and resources are reviewed.
If you have any feedback or suggestions, please contact HR@cumbriafire.gov.uk
Financial Wellbeing
Cost of Living Support
Are you struggling - do you need urgent help or to talk to someone?
If you need to talk to someone urgently - [add support number]
With the cost of living on the rise, there will be people in Cumbria who are struggling, whether that's emotionally, financially or just because they need practical help to get in touch and seek support.
It can be daunting to search through what is on offer and to find what you need.
You might feel worried or find yourself in a position you have never experienced before, but please don't wait for problems to get worse, there are many local organisations that can help.
Cost of Living Support | Westmorland and Furness Council
Cost of Living Support | Cumberland Council
Food Banks in Cumbria
If you are struggling to feed yourself or your family there are organisations that can help. They are used by hundreds of people every week in Cumbria from all walks of life.
Many food projects make use of surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, distributing it locally or turning it into hot meals.
Foodbanks can provide emergency food parcels in a crisis.
Cost of Living Support - food support | Westmorland and Furness Council
Cost of Living Support - food support | Cumberland Council
Baby Basics
Baby Basics is a volunteer-led project aiming to support new mothers and families who are struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby. Baby Basics started in Sheffield in the spring of 2009, this centre continues to support families across Sheffield working with a wide range of frontline health and social care professionals. There is an ever increasing network of Baby Basics centres across the country each staffed by a committed team of volunteers. Find your nearest Baby Basics Centre
Baby Basics provides much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families who are unable to provide these items for themselves; including but not limited to teenage mums, people seeking asylum and women fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking.
Money Helper
MoneyHelper is a free service provided by the Money and Pensions Service, providing free and impartial money and pensions guidance for people all across the UK.
It includes:
- advice and guides to help improve your finances
- Tools and calculators to help keep track and plan ahead
- Help with the cost of living, dealing with debt, benefits, pensions and retirement and much more
As well as information, you can start a webchat and talk to trained staff.
There is a wealth of information available on the Government funded website. Money Helper
Gambling Support
Are gambling problems affecting you, or those close to you? GamCare is the leading UK provider of free information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling. Home - GamCare - The leading provider of support for anyone affected by problem gambling in Great Britain
Being a compulsive gambler can harm your health and relationships, and leave you in serious debt.If you have a problem with gambling and you'd like to stop, support and treatment is available. Help for problem gambling - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Money Saving Expert
Free Mental Health and Debt guide
There is a free 44-page PDF booklet supported by Mind, Rethink, CAPUK and others, for people with mental health problems and those caring for them.
It covers how to handle debts when unwell, work with banks, free debt counselling, specific tips for bipolar disorder or depression sufferers, whether to declare a condition and more.
Citizens Advice
You can contact Citizens Adviceby phone, email or online chat: Contact your nearest Citizens Advice
Chat lets you talk to a trained adviser online. You can:
Talk to us about a debt problem - we can usually help between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Friday
Talk to us about any other kind of problem - we can usually help between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday
Or you can contact an adviser through their national phone service,
Adviceline: 03444 111 444
Text relay: 03444 111 445
If you have any questions about claiming Universal Credit you can talk in complete confidence to an adviser who can support you through the process.
Credit Unions
What are Credit Unions?
Credit Unions are community savings and loans cooperatives. They offer members the chance to save regularly and to access great value, low interest loans linked to the value of their savings.
Who are Credit Unions For?
Credit unions are open to everyone who lives or work in the areas that they serve regardless of your level of personal household income. If you want to benefit from saving on a regular basis and being able to borrow money at a low interest rate then join your local credit union today.
What are the Community Benefits of Credit Unions?
Credit Unions are financial cooperatives owned and controlled by their members and are run by and for local people. Any financial surpluses from a credit union go towards developing the credit union and / or are returned to local members through a dividend. The only shareholders are therefore the local members who use its services. Credit unions are therefore local, ethical and of benefit to local residents and the wider local community that the money is retained within.
Credit unions offer an alternative to getting into financial difficulties from taking out high Annual Percentage Rate interest loans from legal doorstep lenders, payday advance services or illegal loan sharks.
Find your nearest Credit Union.
Dying Matters
It's not a subject we tend to talk about but we will all die, whether expectedly or not. When we prepare for our own death in advance, we are able to relieve the decision making burden on those whom we love and also potentially avoid some of the financial difficulties that families can experience. It is also a good time to think about some of the practical steps that you can take to ease any burden on your family. There are some simple things that you can do such as:
- Make sure that your pension information is up to date and complete a death nomination form
- Think about your funeral, have you thought about whether you would prefer to be buried or cremated? Perhaps you would like a green funeral rather than a more traditional one
- Write your will
Terminal illness
If you are a manager and have a member of staff who has been diagnosed as being terminally ill we have additional information on how the People Management and Occupational Health teams can provide additional support where time is a critical factor. Please see the Ill Health Fast Track procedure and contact People Management as soon as possible. Ill Health Fast Track Page
Funeral Plans
There are many things to think about and decide when arranging a funeral. It is often a difficult time for family and friends who are dealing with loss. A funeral is also, to some people's surprise, a lot more expensive than they thought, often costing thousands of pounds. Money Advice Service can give you a breakdown of costs and suggest a few ways to help you plan a good but affordable funeral. Funeral Plans
Making a will
A will makes it much easier for your family or friends to sort everything out when you die - without a will the process can be more time consuming and stressful. If you don't write a will, everything you own will be shared out in a standard way defined by the law - which isn't always the way you might want. A will can help reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax that might be payable on the value of the property and money you leave behind. Writing a will is especially important if you have children or other family who depend on you financially, or if you want to leave something to people outside your immediate family.
Visit money advice service for more information on why you should make a will and what your options might be. Money Advice Service Making a will
Trade Unions - Free will writing service
Trade unions offer a free will writing service as part of their membership. Speak to your trade union representative if you would like to find out more about this. If you are a member of a Trade Union you may also wish to contact them for support.
Contact Details
Trade Unions which are formally recognised by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service are given below:
FBU - Fire Brigades Union | The Voice Of Firefighters (fbu.org.uk)
FRSA - Contact Us – National website of the FRSA
GMB email: gmbbranchsecretary@gmail.com
Unison email: d.armstrong@unison.co.uk
Unite - Ryan Armstrong, email: ryan.Armstrong@unitetheunion.org
Fitness and Exercise
Please see below the Fitness Policy.
The Wellbeing Team are currently reviewing the section and will update as and when further resources and guidance are produced.
If you have any queries, please contact Ollie Wright - Resourcing, Talent & Wellbeing Lead, at orlanda.wright@cumbriafire.gov.uk
Menopause
The HR team have recently reviewed and created a new Menopause Policy for CFRS employees. The aim of this policy and associated guidance is to help create an environment where individual's 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.
Mental Health Support & Managing Stress
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
Every Life Matters
Promoting Suicide Safer Communities and providing Suicide Bereavement Support across Cumbria
Wellbeing & Mental Health Guide
Covid-19 has now had a far reaching impact on our nations mental health. Its more important than ever that we take positive steps to look after our ourselves, to seek help when we need it, and check-in and support people around us.
Our revised Guide to looking after yourself and others contains practical information about things you can do now to look after your mental health and wellbeing, on how you can support others, and where to find support if you or others need it. Visit our Support Directory to find out more about where you can get help.
Managing Stress
Change in the workplace can cause stress, especially when an organisation goes through a period of major change that will involve redundancies.
Stress is not an illness it is a condition. However, if stress becomes excessive and prolonged an individual may get to the stage where they feel unable to cope with the pressures they are experiencing. As a consequence they may experience mental or physical symptoms.
If you start to feel that your levels of stress are getting too much, it is important that you get the help and support you need. Work-related stress is a workplace hazard and like any other hazard it is important that you report any concerns to your Line Manager as soon as possible so they are able to take any necessary actions to help to support you at an early stage.
Where can I access further information and support?
Your own GP - Your own GP should be contacted if you are experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression. Besides being able to help address your symptoms they are a valuable source of help and information.
NHS Choices - Stress support and signposting. including specifcs for stress about covid-19.
Rethink Mental Illness - Stress - How to cope - If you are struggling to cope with life pressures, you might be stressed. This webiste explains the common symptoms and causes of stress. It also looks at some of the ways you can try to reduce stress.
You can also download their stress factsheet full of advice and resources that even has a stress diary to complete to help you identify your triggers.
The health and safety executive have listed some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate stress and a need to seek further help.
They also have a workbook aimed at Managers to support Employees with Stress
Step by Step workbook for tackling stress
Drinkaware
Be Drinkaware by visiting this useful resource on alcohol consumption and links with stress. Drinkaware
Occupational Health Service
Your manager may arrange an appointment with the Council's occupational health service so they can assess your levels of stress and provide advice and guidance on the support you need and the services available to you.
Sexual Health
Cumbria Sexual Health service provides confidential advice and support on a range of sexual health issues. They offer testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They also provide, for free, all types of contraception including emergency contraception.
Patients can now register for an appointment via online booking (July 2021) Sexual Health Services Online Booking.
Alternatively please call the central phone line on 01228 608989 Monday to Friday 9.30 to 4pm
If you need an interpreter please call the central phone line on 01228 608989.
Support is also available on the NHS website.
Find a sexual Health Clinic in Cumbria.
Substance Misuse (previously Drugs and Alcohol)
The Substance Misuse Policy is designed to safeguard the public and employees, maintain service delivery, and 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. Support for all staff is included in the policy, at Appendix A.
Our organisation reserves the right under this policy to exercise alcohol and drug testing of its employees.
This policy covers all Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service employees.
If you have any queries, please contact your line manager directly.
Workplace Complaints
The Workplace Complaints procedure applies to all employees, both operational and corporate. It replaces the previously used Grievance and Bullying and Harassment policies.
The purpose of the new procedure is to ensure that everyone has a route to raise complaints in the workplace, whether that’s in relation to working practices or working relationships. The Service recognises that issues can arise for anyone at any time during their employment, and that whatever the issue, all parties have the right to respect, support and fairness whilst being involved in a complaint’s process.
If you are an employee wishing to raise a workforce complaint it is advised that you read the document below in full.
Workplace Complaints Procedure
We also advise getting in touch with your Trade Union Rep for support.
Trade Unions
Trade Union Recognition and Facilities Agreement
Contact a Union
Link to: Trade Union Contact Details
Industrial Action
This section is currently being reviewed by the HR Team and will update it as soon as possible.
If you have any queries about Industrial Action, we advise you to get in touch with your Trade Union Rep, or line manager.
Men's Health
Men and Mental Health
In England, around one in eight men has a common mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Last updated: 1 October 2021
As with many mental health statistics, it's hard to know if the figures really represent what is happening. They can only tell us about mental health problems that have been reported - many cases may go undiagnosed. This may be especially true when it comes to men's mental health.
There are other signs that might give us a better picture of the state of men's mental health:
- Three times as many men as women die by suicide.
- Men aged 40-49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK.
- Men report lower levels of life satisfaction than women according to the Government's national wellbeing survey.
- Men are less likely to access psychological therapies than women: only 36% of referrals to NHS talking therapies are for men.
In addition, men are far more likely than women to go missing, sleep rough, become dependent on alcohol and use drugs frequently. Find out more about how mental health problems affect men and women differently on our statistics page.
Get Support
We're the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and we're taking a stand against suicide. That means standing against feeling shit, standing up to stereotypes, and standing together to show life is always worth living.
125 lives are lost every week to suicide. And 75% of all UK suicides are male. We exist to change this.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK. Globally, more than 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Know the facts and take action early.
EARLY DETECTION IS KEY.
The difference between early detection and late detection can be life and death.
Detecting prostate cancer
Not everyone experiences symptoms of prostate cancer. Many times, signs of prostate cancer are first detected by a doctor during a routine check-up.
Some men, however, will experience changes in urinary or sexual function that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer.
Signs and symptoms
- A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
- Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Painful or burning urination
- Difficulty in having an erection
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in urine or semen
- Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs
Information and Support
Prostate information | Prostate Cancer UK
Testicular Cancer
Cancer of the testicle is 1 of the less common cancers, and tends to mostly affect men between 15 and 49 years of age.
Typical symptoms are a painless swelling or lump in 1 of the testicles, or any change in shape or texture of the testicles.
It's important to be aware of what feels normal for you. Get to know your body and see a GP if you notice any changes.
Read more about the look and feel of normal testicles, the symptoms of testicular cancer and diagnosing testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Check your pair
A How to Guide Movember - Men's Health - Testicular Cancer
Trans and Non-Binary Health
This section is currently being reviewed by the HR Team, but please see some links below for healthcare support.
Trans healthcare - info for UK based trans people — TransActual
How to find an NHS gender dysphoria clinic - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Worried about your gender identity? Advice for teenagers - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Help for mental health problems if you're LGBTQ - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
About LGBTQIA+ and mental health - Mind
Women's Health
Cervical Cancer
Cervical canceris a cancer that's found anywhere in the cervix.
The cervix is the opening between the vagina and the womb (uterus).
It's part of the reproductive system and is sometimes called the neck of the womb.
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by an infection from certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
It can often be prevented by attending cervical screening, which aims to find and treat changes to cells before they turn into cancer.
Cervical cancer usually grows very slowly. How serious it is depends on how big it is, if it has spread and your general health.
Symptoms of cervical cancer include:
· vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you - including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
· changes to your vaginal discharge
· pain during sex
· pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
Cervical screening is offered to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 to check the health of cells in the cervix. It is offered every 3 years for those aged 25 to 49, and every 5 years from the ages of 50 to 64.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer.
About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There's a good chance of recovery if it's detected at an early stage.
For this reason, it's vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always have any changes examined by a GP.
Breast cancer can have several symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.
Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by a doctor.
You should also see a GP if you notice any of these symptoms:
- a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood
- a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- dimpling on the skin of your breasts
- a rash on or around your nipple
- a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
- Breast pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.
Find out more about thesymptoms of breast cancer.
Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women over 70 can self-refer.
Menopause
- Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.
- It can sometimes happen earlier naturally. Or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason. Sometimes the reason is unknown.
- Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped. You reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months.
- Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards.
- Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can have a big impact on your life, including relationships and work.
- There are things you can do to help with symptoms. There are also medicines that can replace the missing hormones and help relieve your symptoms.
A GP, nurse or pharmacist can give you advice and help with your menopause or perimenopause symptoms
Standards of Dress / Personal Appearance
The Standards of Dress/Personal Appearance policy sets out the service expectation in relation to standards of dress, uniform, personal protective equipment and personal appearance.
Every employee of CFRS should always aim to promote a positive and professional public image, in keeping with the Core code of Ethics.
This policy applies to all employees and volunteers of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.