Learning at Work Week takes place between Monday 15th May to Friday 19th May this year and will provide #TeamGateshead colleagues with the opportunity to find out more across various wellbeing topics including cost of living challenges and finances, mental health, resilience, relationships and much more.

This year’s theme is ‘Create the Future’, which we’ll be marking with a week-long schedule of activities.

Below you can find the full schedule for the week – this can also be downloaded through the button at the bottom of this article and includes further details including session leads and maximum capacities.

A graphic promoting Learning at Work Week 2023

To sign up for an event, simply register through ESR – log-in and and visit ‘My Portal’, looking for the image above and click the link below it to find bookings. Please note spaces are limited in some instances and so it is encouraged to move quickly to guarantee your spot. In some instances, a dedicated sign-up form is available and in those instances, the link can be found in the list below.

Monday 15th May:

  • Mental Health in the Workplace (09:30am – 10:30am – Rooms 9 & 10 in Trust HQ/Education Centre at the QE Hospital)
    In this training session you will be able to identify the reasons for supporting the mental wellbeing of team members, as well as recognise the signs of poor mental health in others. The session will talk through how to have a conversation with a team member about their mental health and identify sources of help.
  • *How Gateshead Health Library services can support colleagues and teams (11:00am – 12:00pm – Virtual via Microsoft Teams)
    In this session, we will look at all the essential library and knowledge services and resources available to you to help you in your studies, or in any role, including support in using online tools, accessing high quality electronic resources, full text articles, research support, advice and training. We will also demonstrate how to submit requests for library services such as a literature request where a professional librarian conducts a search for information on your behalf. The session will also allow help you understand how to access the library’s physical space and resources and how to get in touch and stay in touch.
  • *Financial wellbeing and being smart with your money (2:30pm – 3:30pm – Virtual via Microsoft Teams)
    Schroders will deliver this one-hour webinar and provide you with clarity on what is financial wellbeing and why it is important. They will provide 6 practical tips to look after your financial wellbeing as well as giving you an introduction to protection, discussing the different types and why you should start to think about it.

Tuesday 16th May:

  • *Cost of Living Challenges/Day-to-Day Finances (09:00am – 10:00am – Virtual via Microsoft Teams)
    Karleen from the Money and Pension Service will deliver this session on the cost of living and what the challenges are. Throughout the session, there will be discussions on day-to-day finances such as basic budgeting, debt management and getting on the housing ladder.
  • Effective Communication (10:30am – 12:00pm in Room 1, Trust HQ/Education Centre at the QE Hospital)
    This Effective Communication session is also delivered on the Managing Well programme. Effective communication is an issue that is often challenging for many reasons, but there are real benefits to trying to get it right. Join us for this session to identify the key principles of effective communication and identify practical steps that you can take to improve communication within your team.
  • Occupational Health & Wellbeing Roadshow (12:00pm – 2:00pm at The Park Deli, Bensham Hospital)
    Pop along to this roadshow at Park Deli, Bensham, which is hosted by our very own Occupational Health and Wellbeing team. You will have the opportunity to meet the team, talk and discover the support available to you by being a colleague here at Gateshead Health. The team can help support and signpost you based on your query.
  • Develping yourself and your team (1:00pm – 2:00pm in Room 1, Trust HQ/Education Centre at the QE Hospital)
    This Effective Communication session is also delivered on the Managing Well programme. During this short session, participants will explore the following: – Benefits of supporting development – How to identify development needs effectively and support required to embed learning – Learning opportunities available to Trust colleagues.
  • Top tips for presentation skills (3:00pm – 4:00pm in Room 1, Trust HQ/Education Centre at the QE Hospital)
    If you dread having to deliver presentations, this bitesize information session is for you. We will explore top tips for preparing and delivering effective presentations in a supporting learning environment
  • Mat Work Physiotherapist-Led Pilates (3:00pm – 3:45pm in Rooms 9 & 10 at Trust HQ/Education Centre, QE Hospital)
    Qualified Pilates Instructor, Ann-Marie Ginnever, is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist working at Gateshead Health. Pilates is a form of exercise that aims to promote strength, flexibility, balance, body awareness and endurance. It focuses on precision and control of movement through a variety of exercises, including stability at the central core. The majority of the session is based around mat work although some exercises are done in standing. The exercises can be varied depending on your ability and any musculoskeletal injuries. Please note, before you attend this session you will need to sign a consent form. This session is not suitable for anyone who is pregnant or has difficulties getting on/off the floor. To sign up for this session, please complete the expression of interest form.

Wednesday 17th May:

  • Citizens Advice Gateshead Drop-in (11:00am – 2:00pm in The Listening Space on-site at the QE Hospital)
    Citizens Advice Gateshead advisors are equipped to help you with a range of concerns – many of which relate to financial wellbeing, but which can also extend beyond financial concerns. Pop along to this roadshow at the Listening Space to find out how you can best use the support available.
  • *Debt – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1:00pm – 2:00pm, held virtually via Microsoft Teams)
    This session will help you to better understand the impact of borrowing, including the real cost and benefits of debt. It’ll help you be more risk aware when it comes to lending and also provide signposting to sources of help. To sign up for this session and request an invitation, please complete our sign-up form.
  • *Savvy Budgeting to Make Ends Meet (2:30pm – 3:30pm, held virtually via Microsoft Teams)
    This session will help you to get more clued up on budgets, provide information on how to shop smarter, advise on how you might be able to top up your income and signpost you to sources of support. To sign up for this session and request an invitation, please complete our sign-up form.

Thursday 18th May:

  • *Back Chat (09:00am – 10:00am in the Trust HQ/Education Centre Lecture Theatre at the QE Hospital)
    During this session, Gateshead Health’s own Occupational Health Physiotherapist, John Paul Gowland, will join us to talk about all things back pain including common myth busting as well as introducing you all to effective self-management techniques.
  • *It’s good to talk about Mental Health (10:30am – 11:30am in the Trust HQ/Education Centre Lecture Theatre at the QE Hospital)
    Talk Works will be joining us to deliver an interactive an informative health and wellbeing session. The session will cover three topics: Spotting the Signs, It’s Good to Talk About Mental Health and Self-Care followed by a Q&A.
  • Occupational Health and Wellbeing Roadshow (12:00pm – 2:00pm in The Hub at the QE Hospital)
    Pop along to this roadshow which is hosted by our very own Occupational Health and Wellbeing team. You will have the opportunity to meet the team, talk and discover the support available to you by being a colleague here at Gateshead Health. The team can help support and signpost you based on your query.
  • Application Forms (1:00pm – 2:00pm at Room 4 in Trust HQ/Education Centre at the QE Hospital)
    This session will help people understand how to find out about the different roles on offer, understand the kind of skills and experience required for the roles as well as building confidence in completing job and learning application forms. The session will help you learn hints and tips on how to complete successful application forms for NHS jobs.
  • ‘Time to Move’ – How to exercise in your workspace (2:00pm – 2:45pm in Rooms 9 & 10, Trust HQ/Education Centre at the QE Hospital)
    During this session Gateshead Health’s own Occupational Health Physiotherapist, John Paul Gowland, will join us to discuss and explore what exercises you can do at your workstation to help improve your aches and pains.
  • Interview Skills (2:30pm – 4:00pm in Room 4 at Trust HQ/Education Centre at the QE Hospital)
    This session will help prepare you for an interview, as well as being aware of the different types of interviews you may encounter. You will be prepared for difference selection methods used and recognise the value of using the STAR techniques in interviews
  • *Resilience: detoxify and break the myth (3:00pm – 4:00pm in the Trust HQ/Education Centre Lecture Theatre at the QE Hospital)
    This session will help delegates to feel empowered they can become more resilient through an understanding of what it means and the proactive steps they can take to make a difference in their lives today! The session will provide clarity regarding the definition of resilience i.e. our ability to either bounce back from adversity and cope when life throws you a curve ball. The session will de-weaponize and de-toxify the word: resilience is an output, not an input; we cant simply tell someone to be resilient and expect it to just happen, modern day culture is using the word in a way that is disempowering people. By the end of the session, we will walk through the 6 pillars that can act as your inputs to increasing your resilience.

Friday 19th May:

  • *Building a Thriving Team (09:30am – 10:30am in the Trust HQ/Education Centre Lecture Theatre at the QE Hospital)
    This session will help you understand the benefits of being part of a thriving team; to you, your colleagues and the organisation. During the session you will reflect and acknowledge what everyone has been through over the last 3 years and think about what it means to thrive personally and how we can thrive as a team. The session will go through the importance of connection in building a positive team culture (team glue) and the power of trust in a team – what behaviours will help to continue to build it (team muscle).
  • Resuscitation BLS Training (10:30am – 11:45am in the Resus Training Room at the QE Hospital)
    Basic Life Support (BLS) describes a set of basic life saving (BLS) first aid techniques. This session will comprise both Adult and Pead BLS – including the management of choking and using a defibrillator.
  • Resuscitation BLS Training (1:00pm – 2:15pm in the Resus Training Room at the QE Hospital
    Basic Life Support (BLS) describes a set of basic life saving (BLS) first aid techniques. This session will comprise both Adult and Pead BLS – including the management of choking and using a defibrillator.

More information:

All training sessions marked with an asterisk* are sessions that will be recorded. If you’re unable to make a session and would like a copy of the recording, please email [email protected].

If you have any further queries about Learning at Work Week 2023, please drop an e-mail the Gateshead OD team on [email protected] or the Learning and Development team on [email protected].