Manager guide to HSE Work PositiveCI

About HSE Work Positive^CI

HSE Work Positive^CI is a risk management process for measuring employee wellbeing and critical incident exposure, and helps prevent work-related stress.

Additional sections have been added to HSE Work Positive^CI which include workplace safety, health and health promotion and improvement to provide a comprehensive overview of our staff’s safety, health and wellbeing.

The survey is confidential. An external agency will compile the results. You will receive a report with a specific action plan based on staff responses. Your action plan will need to be implemented and monitored by you and your team.

Sections reflected in the survey:

Work stressors reviews work demands, roles, relationships, control, change and support.
Psychological wellbeing examines how you are feeling both in and out of work. Checks to see if further supports can be made available through your service. Note: this section is concerned with lifestyle and wellbeing issues and not necessarily work-related issues.
Critical incidents a critical incident is defined as an event out of the range of normal experience. It is sudden and unexpected and may make you lose control. It involves the perception of a threat to life and may include elements of physical or emotional loss (from the World Health Organisation). The survey contains critical incident questions. You can indicate the frequency and scale of critical incidents you encounter in your role, and the types of support that may be most helpful. This section may not be relevant to all employees.
Work safe as we spend so much of our time at work, it is vital to look at our staff safety behaviours and culture. This section looks at employees’ understanding of health and safety.
Stay healthy it is essential that our work environment and organisational culture supports our physical and mental health and wellbeing. This is in line with the Healthy Ireland Framework and Healthy Ireland.
Health promotion have your say on what you would like to have in your workplace, to help you in and out of work. This information influences health promotion initiatives to support staff.

Is this different to the recent staff survey?

Yes. It provides feedback to managers on how healthy our workforce is and includes safety, health and wellbeing measures. It uses international standards from the UK's Health & Safety Executive and standards from the World Health Organisation.

From the results, managers will receive a report identifying areas for improvement and a specific action plan to assist.

This is first time that specific action plans will be generated based on your input. Feedback will be provided on the whole team input as opposed to individual feedback. It is therefore important that all staff complete the survey.

Is it mandatory to risk assess Work related Stress (WRS)?

Yes, it is mandatory to risk assess work-related stress. Responses from your service are compared with Irish norms. This gives you an accurate reflection of work stressors and critical incidents relating to your service.

The survey provides you with a comprehensive understanding of your staff’s health, safety and wellbeing. This information is collated into a report with a specific action plan based on everyone’s responses. It is therefore important that all staff complete the survey.

What are the benefits to my service in completing this survey?

Implementing HSE Work Positive^CI framework can lead to the following benefits:

reduced absenteeism and turnover
reduced workplace stress and critical incident stress
reduced occupational health referrals
increased employee satisfaction, productivity and overall engagement
fewer complaints
increased risk awareness
reduced claims exposure
assist with legislative compliance

This framework has been reviewed by an expert group, ensuring it meets HSE requirements.

Is this confidential?

HSE Work PositiveCI is confidential. Data is processed by an independent service provider, in compliance with data protection legislation. To ensure confidentiality you need at least 5 respondents to access survey reports. If you have less than 5 potential respondents, you can link with another department or complete the HSE’s Stress Risk Assessment available at: https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/benefits-services/health-and-safety/managing-work-related-stress.html

What is the output of the survey?

Responses from your service are compared with Irish norms. This gives you an accurate reflection of the work stressors and safety culture within your department. This information is collated into a report, with a specific action plan based on everyone’s responses. It is therefore important that all staff complete the survey

You can also request that a report detailing potential risk areas and prevention plans is issued to your local governance group. Requests for such reports is through the NHSF helpdesk on 1800 420 420.

How long will it take to complete?

It should take your staff approximately 20 minutes to complete the survey.

What do I need to do next?

1. Create your account and get started

Go to www.hseworkpositive.com
Click on the 'Get Started/ Login' button at the top right of the screen to create a new user account.
Note: HSE Work PositiveCI is accessible to HSE and Section 38 agencies only. If you do not work for the HSE or a Section 38 agency, go to WorkPositive.

2. Consider employee profiles and roles, workforce wellbeing indicators and current support measures and resources

3. Send out survey invites and distribute your survey using the template script.

Once your survey is completed, you will receive a comprehensive report online.
This will provide you with;
- feedback to each question based on the overall responses from your employees, compared to Irish norms
- an action plan containing guidance and supports for questions requiring action from you as manager