Social and Financial Health

Social health includes our personal connections and relationships outside the workplace.

Financial health relates to our personal finances and ability to maintain a healthy standard of living.

Social isolation and financial challenges can have a dramatic impact on our physical and mental health.

As an employer, we can support the social and financial health of our staff by working with other organisations, including the third sector, to provide advice and support for a wide range of social and financial issues.

A key priority for our organisation is to provide a health and wellbeing hub that would enable partner organisations to provide outreach services to our staff. This would enable staff to access support from organisations who are often better placed to provide the required support and that staff would feel more comfortable approaching.

We will explore and develop our partnerships for social and financial health for example:

• Financial and legal advice

  • Advice on housing, money and debt, benefits and law, e.g. Citizens Advice Bureau, Money Advice Service. 

• Carer Support

  • Organisations providing advice and support to staff with caring responsibilities, e.g. Carers of West Dunbartonshire, Carers UK

• Relationship Support

  • Organisations providing relationship advice and support to staff, e.g. Relate UK, Women’s Aid

• Social connection

  • Organisations supporting social connection opportunities including volunteering,
    befriending and social clubs, e.g. Link Up West Dunbartonshire

In addition to working with other organisations, we will ensure effective promotion of existing support including:

• Credit Union

  • available to all staff for advice, savings and credit

• Staff benefits

  • A wide range of financial benefits through discount schemes for NHS staff

• Travel Card scheme

  • Access to discounted travel through employer loan.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy