A Stoke-on-Trent clinic has been awarded European funding to launch a pilot project to help companies support their employees’ health and wellbeing.
Torus Wellbeing Clinic, in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, has been given a £5,000 grant from Keele University to help develop an Employee Assistance Programme.
The cash will see the company team up with Allied Health consultant Sally Able to deliver three new packages in addition to the services it already offers.
They new packages focus on a variety of topics including positive mental health, stress relief and resilience and supporting those with chronic conditions.
Individuals will have access to a team and be given a series of sessions tailored to suit their needs.
Dr Nicola Brough, who set-up the Cemetery Road clinic three years ago, said: “We bid for the grant as we truly believe there’s a gap in the market around staff wellbeing.
“Many Employee Assistance Programmes focus on physical health with some on mental health but what they don’t always do is offer services that support the link between the two. “There is also a need to illuminate the fact that good health is essential for wellbeing.
“Wellbeing is when someone is feeling good and functioning well. People or employees who function well are more likely to be happier and more content and as a result perform better in their job. This can equate to improved productivity, company loyalty, and good attendance and better relationships in the workplace.
“Our new services are designed to help support that.”
Dr Brough added: “A recent study identified that more than half of employers asked, said they would like to do more to improve staff wellbeing but didn’t feel they had the right training or guidance to do so – we want to help change that and because of the current situation, it’s more important now than ever.”
Torus Wellbeing Clinic offers a wide range of holistic treatments, classes and services including counselling and psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, nutritional therapy and craniosacral therapy as well as massage, reflexology, reiki and yoga.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, some of the services and classes are now available online.
Allied Health consultant Sally Able has worked in healthcare for more than 20 years and is overseeing the research and development of the project.
She said: “We will be looking for local businesses who would like to pilot the packages to evaluate the impact of the services and to give us an employees’ perspective.
“Ideally, we would like to talk to business owners, HR consultants and occupational health professionals who would like to be one of the first local companies to try out our packages of care in what is a six-month pilot.”
The grant was secured through the Business Bridge scheme, which is accessible through Keele University. It is open to SME’s who are looking to grow their business into the healthcare and medical supply chain.
