2 March 2021
We are delighted to share news of our public commitment to continue to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our colleagues – both within our Port and across the wider maritime supply chain. On behalf of Shoreham Port, Chief Executive Tom Willis has signed the Mental Health in Maritime Pledge, which states:
“We are committed to improving the quality of mental health and wellbeing through action and support, at all levels, throughout our organisation and our industry.”
Tom Willis said, “It is time for the maritime sector, through our leaders and our colleagues, to speak up and demonstrate compassion and understanding to those experiencing mental ill health by engaging in positive action.” Tom added, “Safety is at the heart of everything that we do at the Port and this starts with ensuring that we are providing an environment where colleagues are nurtured and supported”.
Nicky Brown, People, Communications & Sustainability Director at Shoreham Port added, “We have an unwavering commitment to increasing diversity within our Port and within the maritime sector. When we think about diversity this is not just the differences you see and the range of backgrounds our colleagues come from – it is about diversity of thought and diversity of the mind. We want our people to be able to bring their whole self to work and to be thriving, not simply surviving. We will do all that we can to create a culture of care that enables this.”
By signing the Mental Health in Maritime Pledge, we commit to creating an awareness that we all have a state of mental health. For those struggling with mental wellbeing, this may ultimately result in mental ill health. We all have a state of mental health, and we all have a responsibility to raise awareness of the spectrum from thriving to struggling.
We are committed to making a positive difference through listening to colleagues, acting and providing support. We will help any colleague struggling with their mental health and ensure they feel safe in the knowledge they have been heard and not judged. We equip our colleagues with the skills, knowledge, and education to promote wellbeing and protect good mental health and ensure they have access to support when it is needed, thereby fostering a thriving culture of care.
We have recently introduced a Colleague Assistance Programme, which offers our colleagues access to confidential help and personalised advice, day or night. Skilled counsellors can help with anything from mindfulness and poor sleep patterns through to anxiety or depression. We provide access to helpful factsheets and practical tools that can help prevent or manage future issues or catch problems before they get worse. Our programme is very comprehensive and includes access to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for anyone that needs it.
We take a flexible approach to compassionate leave. We’re not formulaic and instead work on a case-by-case basis, acknowledging that family dynamics are different for everyone.
By adopting this approach, we provide support at a time when a colleague’s mental health and wellbeing is most compromised. We take a holistic approach to health and everyone that returns to work, following a period of absence has a thorough return to work interview. It is important to us to ensure anyone that is struggling remains visible to others on our vast site and we can put additional measures in place to support them.
Category: Community
