Flexible Working
Improving Retention Together
Why does flexible working matter?
At NHS Wales, we’re proud to champion flexible working. Whether you're clinical, corporate, or somewhere in between, this is about making work... work for everyone. "Because when we feel better, we care better."
Every year colleagues across NHS Wales choose to leave due to suboptimal work life balance due to an absence of work flexibility, taking their valuable knowledge, experience and expertise with them. Flexible working has many benefits for both the individual, the population we serve and the organisations in which we work. Flexible working is associated with enhanced health and wellbeing, morale, satisfaction and productivity which in turn supports the provision of enhanced quality and safety of care and services. Enabling and supporting colleagues to work flexibly and achieve an adequate work life balance is key if we are to create cultures and working environments where colleagues want to stay.
Although supporting flexible working may seem daunting there is lots of help and guidance available to you, you’re not expected to have all the answers. Try the tools, read the guides, and lets take a first step towards a flexible NHS Wales.
As a manager and leader you have a part to play in making Flexible Working work within your team by:
- Championing and supporting flexible working.
- Having regular, open and supportive flexible working conversations with your team.
- Identifying and overcoming flexible working barriers to in your area.
- Adopting a ‘test and learn’ mindset where all ideas can be tried.
- Help your team to work flexibly to meet the needs of the individual seeking flexibility, the team, and the service.
- Using tools and resources to help you.
As a member of the team you also have a big part to play in making flexible working work by:
- Championing and supporting colleagues to work flexibly.
- Be compassionate towards those seeking flexibility.
- Shaping flexible working plans and requests that are clear, practical and positive, the individual guide to flexible working toolkit can help you.
- Work with your manager to develop flexible working plans that meet the needs of you, your colleagues and the service.
