RCVS recognised for excellence in staff wellbeing

The RCVS has been recognised as a centre of Excellence in Wellbeing, demonstrating its commitment to creating the best environment for staff.

The Excellence in Wellbeing recognition comes from Great Place to Work UK, an organisation that helps companies and organisations improve staff engagement and regularly benchmarks progress.

It is based on the organisation’s Trust Index survey, which measures levels of wellbeing, among other factors key to staff engagement and support.

The Trust Index survey sought the experience of employees in six key areas related to staff wellbeing: the work environment; financial security; mental and physical health; interpersonal relationships; work-life balance; and, fulfilment. The recognition means that the RCVS scored highly across all six areas.

Lizzie Lockett (pictured right), RCVS CEO and Director of the Mind Matters Initiative, said: “As someone who regularly talks about wellbeing to the veterinary profession and who is involved in running the joint Mind Matters and Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) Wellbeing Awards, it is good to be able to demonstrate that, as an organisation, we practise what we preach. So we are very proud to have received this recognition, particularly on World Mental Health Day.

“Since the launch of Mind Matters in 2014 we have looked at our own working culture and environment, as well as that of the veterinary professions, and made a number of improvements. For example, better internal and external support mechanisms for our team, mental health awareness training, destigmatising programmes, mentorship, an improved reward and recognition system, and a concerted effort to improve the workplace environment and personal wellbeing, though activities such as yoga and sports clubs.

“A great current example is the Wellbeing Box we have introduced for World Mental Health Day. Over the last few days it has been filled with items that team members feel will improve someone’s wellbeing, such as music, food, film suggestions, books and other objects, and on World Mental Health Day everyone will be encouraged to take something out and enjoy it.”

Further information about the joint Mind Matters and SPVS Wellbeing Awards are available on the project's website.