NSFT named menopause employer of the year at national awards
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has been named Menopause Employer of the Year in this year's Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards.
Staff Health and Wellbeing Manager Jodie Millard and Harprit Hockley, Director of Culture and Organisational Development, received the award at a ceremony held in London.
The award recognises an accredited organisation that has truly embedded menopause awareness, education and support into its workplace culture.
The Trust's Menopause Aware programme has made a significant impact on NSFT staff, normalising conversation around menopause and providing peer-to peer-support.
Jodie said: More than 70% of NSFT's staff are women so it's vital to offer support through this time of life. The perimenopause and menopause can cause a massive disruption in many women's lives, not just the brain fog and hot flushes but crippling anxiety and depression.
She said: It was such an honour to receive this award for the work we have done at NSFT. It has been an incredible initiative, and it has been rewarding to have been able to help so many people. Thank you to everyone who has been involved.
Jodie was also nominated for The Caroline Lazarus award for an individual who has made a real and lasting impact on improving workplace support for menopause and menstruation.
NFST's menopause awareness programme has been running for three years. It was highly commended in last year's employee awards for its peer-to-peer support.
NSFT has been sharing best practice with the wider NHS system locally and is now preparing for October's menopause awareness month, which incorporates World Menopause Awareness Day on 18 October.
Jodie said: We have planned weekly webinars for staff with experts on the menopause. Staff can engage and ask questions or just come and listen. These sessions have always been popular and we're looking forward to these webinars.
Caroline Donovan, Chief Executive of NSFT, said: This is a huge accolade for our menopause awareness work and testament to the continued hard work from Jodie, the menopause advocates and our women's network.
NSFT was up against eight other organisations in the employer of the year award, including HSBC UK, including First Direct and M&S Bank, and Specsavers.
There were some really big national organisations in the finalists which makes our achievement all the more special, said Caroline.
Communications officer Gay Webster, who has been leading the initiative with Jodie, said she hoped more organisations would think about how they can support women through the menopause.
What has been the most rewarding aspect for me has been the peer-to-peer support. We have an open meeting each month for anyone to join and a running conversation alongside that. Staff have really engaged with this, offering support and advice based on their own experiences and asking for help when they need it. It's been wonderful to see.
This year's awards saw more entries than ever and an absolutely outstanding quality of work, says Deborah Garlick, CEO of Menopause Friendly by Henpicked. By combining the passion and determination of individuals with commitment from their employers, we are seeing action being taken and cultures being changed to create many more menopause and menstruation friendly workplaces. The difference they're making is truly lifechanging for colleagues today and for generations to come.
Picture: Chrissie Brooks