Case Study: The Body Hotel: Moving Self-Compassion Employee Wellbeing Programme
Authors(s), Creator(s) and Contributors: The Body Hotel, Dr Thania Acarón The Body Hotel CIC, Dr Teresa Filipponi Research & Evaluation AssociateUSW, Prof Mary Lynch Research & Evaluation Associate RCSI, Prof Carolyn Wallace USW WSSPR
Publication Date: 03/03/2024
Categories: Case Studies
Supporter(s)/Funder(s): Arts Council of Wales, Health Education Improvement Wales
Partner(s): Referral & Engagement Partner: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. Social Return on Investment Evaluation Conducted by: Royal College of Surgeons Ireland & University of South Wales
Funder(s): Arts Council of Wales (ACW) Arts Health & Wellbeing Fund, Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW)
Introduction
The Body Hotel offered 38 movement workshops for wellbeing that addressed burnout and compassion fatigue to 83 participants across NHS Wales. Project delivered short lunchtime workshops, evening online sessions, and in-person weekend intensives, a short film and 6 video commissions by movement specialists. A Social Return on Investment evaluation was conducted by USW and RCSI, finding a £1.94-£2.32 social value added per £1 spent. Findings suggest that the programme could serve well as a model for enhancing staff wellbeing and potentially improving retention rates in the NHS. The Moving Self-Compassion programme had a positive impact on mental, physical, emotional and social well-being along with improved self-efficacy. Funded by ACW and HEIW, with partner health board: Cwm Taf Morgannwg.
The Challenge
NHS Wales faces a challenge of staff retention and high rates of compassion fatigue and burnout, with 10,000 leaving NHS bodies since 2021-22 (Audit Wales, 2023). HEIW identified their current need is to support staff sustainability and provide support for staff at risk of considering leaving or not returning to work. This prompted offering workshops to staff who are coming back from maternity/paternity, stress, medical, or compassionate leave, which aligned with our previous project evaluation findings. HEIW aimed to expand on its offerings and support a comprehensive evaluation of the service and the programme speaks to the Compassionate Leadership Principles initiative and HEIW Strategic Workforce Plan. We contribute evidence for dance/movement as it is underrepresented in the sector.
The Approach
The Moving Self-Compassion programme offered three workshop types to NHS staff. Between April and September 2023, outputs included:
- 20 ‘Movement Cwtsh Cinio’ sessions, a bi-weekly 20 minute lunchtime workshop to provide a taster of services
- 13 ‘Recharge Movement Lounge’ sessions, bi-weekly online 1 hr session to develop skills and burnout prevention practices
- 5 ‘Self-Compassion Spaces’ (Saturday workshops), 3hr in-person workshop every 6 weeks to deepen movement practice.
Attended by arts, health and wellbeing practitioners, students and wider community in addition to NHS Staff Formats were modified from online to in-site to adapt to demands for in-person services. These changes were made to accommodate nursing staff who needed cover, and reach out to more staff teams in hospitals.
- Short film documentary
- Social Return on Investment evaluation > WAHWN case-study
- 6 commissioned Body Concierge videos made by local and international movement specialists.
In total, 83 participants attended the workshops. 64 of these were NHS participants. 19 of these were non-NHS participants who attended Saturday workshops. The project had an additional reach of over 150 participants through sector-wide events (Wellbeing Teams). A sample of 8 participants opted into the SROI evaluation.
The Impact
Data was collected through a post-programme online questionnaire, focus group, and interviews. Questionnaire included validated scales (SWEMWBS & GSES) to measure mental wellbeing and self-efficacy. Focus groups and interviews with participants, managers and coordinators provided qualitative feedback. Participants reported reducing stress, anxiety and feeling refreshed after sessions. One nurse stated "I felt calmer and able to cope better at work". Others said it helped process difficult emotions from patient care. Staff on compassionate/maternity leave found it beneficial for wellbeing on returning to work. Participants felt an increase in self-confidence and self-efficacy, with one saying she could now perform under pressure at interviews after applying a movement intervention. Staff believed the relaxation techniques learnt could be revisited when stressed and connection with colleagues grew. Flexible online and in-person options allowed participation around shift patterns. SROI evaluation calculated a positive financial ratio of £1.94-£2.32 per £1 spend, indicating substantial social value and increase in participant wellbeing and team cohesion. Overall, dance/movement reduced stress and burnout and improved mental health, and social support networks for frontline NHS teams.
Lessons Learned
Challenges:
- Participants felt it was challenging to get management sign off to take part.
- In-person contact was preferred over online due to post-pandemic online fatigue.
- Difficult for participants to engage with post-workshop evaluations which resulted in a low sample for the SROI. SROI is a complex evaluation which needs more budget and time.
Going forward, we will embed evaluation processes into sessions and involve managers more in data collection. Adaptability was positive, but resulted in additional costs and admin time.
The Legacy
Being the first SROI on movement increases visibility and evidence for policymakers and future participants and stakeholders. Evaluators recommended that research in movement for employee wellbeing interventions at NHS staff should be supported, especially focusing on programmes integrated into staff development. We will showcase the project in conferences and articles to continue to establish a trajectory for movement in occupational health. ‘A fantastic, highly valuable programme that has allowed me to connect to my body again’ (Participant)
Website and Social Media Links
Links & Resources: The Body Hotel
BSL Moving Self-Compassion Film
BSL Translator: Helen Foulkes
Film by: Sam Irving
Moving Self-Compassion Information.
Body Concierge (Wellbeing Short Video Series) Tips, ideas and strategies to keep up our movement wellbeing practice.
Contact Details
Thania Acarón: thebodyhotel@gmail.com
Tags: movement, employee, wellbeing, dance movement, movement health, dance movement psychotherapy, dance movement therapy, burnout prevention, occupational health, body-based techniques, embodied practice, embodiment, compassion fatigue, arts therapies, creative health, movement for wellbeing, physical activity
