I’m very pleased to announce that Valerie Manor has been awarded a Silver Healthy Workplace Award. Since September 2008 we have been participating in the Horsham Healthy Workplace Awards facilitated by Horsham Council. The aim of the project has been to improve the health of the staff by creating a healthy workplace environment, supporting staff to make healthier choices, and boosting morale and motivation by showing that they work for an employer who values health.

Some of the areas that we have worked towards as a team have been; ensuring that health and safety policies and procedures are up to date and fit for purpose, providing and sharing health education and information amongst staff, encouraging staff to walk or cycle to work (although most are quite fit and do this already which is great to see!), introducing an exercise class following a staff meeting, promoting National Stress Awareness Day on site, and offering free Indian Head massages! Not so popular though was the change from cakes and biscuits at staff meetings to fruit!

Care assistant Steve Plant and I attended the award ceremony at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, near Horsham last Friday 6th February. The event was also attended by Councillor Bailey and a representative from the Department of Health. I would like to especially congratulate Steve who has given up smoking during this project and has also offered to be our project manager for the vegetable patch/garden that we will be introducing in the spring.

Well done to Steve and all the staff at Valerie Manor who have embraced the project and made positive inroads to a healthier life.

Read the Horsham District Council article;  http://www.horsham.gov.uk/your_area/News/news_9717.asp