Talking about health
Talking to people about their health and wellbeing alongside their health and social care, supports our aim to provide high quality, safe and effective person centred care.
Engaging and supporting our staff to have these conversations on a regular basis is one of the key aims of the 'Small Changes, Big Difference' campaign within NHS Borders, and it may feature as an ambition for SBC in future.
Promoting health and wellbeing
As healthcare and social care professionals we all have a responsibility to promote health and wellbeing.
Making health promoting conversations part of our everyday interactions with our clients in a time pressured working environment can be challenging. However, by starting with small changes to our practice it will make a difference to the client experience. The more we do this collectively the bigger the difference.
Even a 1 minute conversation is a good start. You can introduce health improvement by asking your clients about their health and what matters to them.
Once you have opened up the conversation you can refer your clients to a range of services for further support, including the Lifestyle Adivser Support Service. Or you can continue with a brief intervention.
Download the referral pathway to the Lifesyle Adviser Support Service. This also contains sample questions to raise the issue of health behaviour change.
Helping people thrive in the presence of ill health requires a shift in the way we work with them. Health coaching is a different way of relating to, and talking with, clients. It is person-centred and supports self-management and behaviour change.
If you want to find out more about how to raise the issue of health and wellbeing go to the training page.