Workforce wellbeing implementation processes

Why the research is needed? 

The wellbeing of the healthcare workforce is critical – when staff are well, patients receive safer care and have a better experience in hospital. In fact, when staff wellbeing is prioritised, patient mortality and infection rates are lower. Despite these links, the wellbeing of the NHS healthcare workforce is poor, particularly mental wellbeing, with record rates of stress and anxiety. This also affects patients negatively through unsafe staffing, as staff with poor wellbeing are more likely to be off sick or leave.

What is already known about the subject? 

Staff wellbeing interventions (such as forms of supervision and one-to-one conversations) have been shown to improve staff’s psychological wellbeing and increase rates of compassion. However, there is a gap in understanding about how services prioritise and implement interventions. This includes the processes involved in trying to make them a success, particularly in clinical areas which are short staffed and under pressure.

What will we do? 

Through two work packages, our research aims to:

• Collate and analyse any existing research related to workforce wellbeing intervention implementation
• Explore the experiences of individuals tasked with implementing workforce wellbeing interventions
• Understand how they prioritise interventions and the barriers and enablers to the successful implementation of interventions

Work package 1

Complete a review of research literature about the implementation of workforce wellbeing interventions; the findings of this review will inform the focus of work package 2.

Work package 2

We will work with non-academic partners across two NHS organisations in the East Midlands; one large teaching hospital and one community service provider. At each site we will work with key individuals to identify wellbeing initiatives which have been implemented in practice or are in the process of being implemented. We will then work to identify who is involved with the design and delivery of these initiatives. Once we have identified key people, we will undertake interviews (number: 20 at each site). Through these interviews, we will aim to understand experiences of implementation including: the work involved in prioritising interventions; who does the work of implementation; and what ‘success’ looks like for those involved. We will also explore the barriers and enablers to implementation.

What the benefits will be? 

Our research will help to understand how wellbeing interventions might best be implemented in practice. We will mobilise study findings into clinical practice and inform policy decision making through regional and national networks. This will include sharing the findings with policy makers and other researchers who are involved in the design and planning of workforce wellbeing interventions, including the Mental Health & Wellbeing theme of ARC-EM. Our research will help to understand how to make wellbeing interventions a ‘normal’ part of practice. Improving access will help to improve staff’s experiences of work and their wellbeing, and have a positive impact on patient experience, outcomes and on broader service delivery. 

When will the findings be available?   

The findings will be available in Spring 2026.

Contact

Dr Jennifer Creese, Lecturer SAPPHIRE Research Group, University of Leicester, jlc60@leicester.ac.uk.