Facilitating a Healthful Culture through Selfcompassion

ABSTRACT

Background COVID-19 has further highlighted that the physical and emotional wellbeing of healthcare staff must be of equal priority to that of patients. Organisations can do a lot to promote informal support. Whilst facilitating training of staff to become resilience based clinical supervisors, an organisational gap was identified - supporting wellbeing of staff. Organisations need to enable systems to facilitate and encourage reflective practice and reflection of self. High quality care requires investment in staff development and opportunities for staff to take time out to reflect on their practice. Aims 1. Explore self-awareness and how it connects to wellbeing. 2. Look at how mindful self-compassion can help our wellbeing. 3. Identify and discuss potential ways of improving wellbeing and resilience for self and others. Methods A pilot was undertaken following an identified gap in wellbeing delivered by Marie Curie. Qualitative evaluation was undertaken on completion of the course and six months post. Results Given the continued pressures of COVID-19, a high dropout was expected and on reflection worked to the advantage of the facilitators and participants. 10 staff attended, 50% of confirmed attendees. 7 non-clinical staff, 3 clinical. Participants felt the focus on self, including compassion, mindfulness, awareness, and reflection was important and identified that sessions should be kept small. Feedback reinforced the assumption that non-clinical staff needed further support opportunities. Following successful evaluation this is due to be delivered again later in 2022. Conclusion The safe, effective, efficient, and compassionate care that people look to Marie Curie for at the end of life is only possible if staff are physically and emotionally healthy. Having compassion for others entails self-compassion. Research suggests that mindfulness interventions, particularly those with an added loving kindness component, have the potential to increase self-compassion among healthcare workers.