A team from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists have organised a support session for Allied Healthcare Professionals to help them understand how to show compassion and support one another through allyship.
The free online event, entitled 'Allyship in times of global conflict,' will take place on Wednesday March 6, 6.30pm until 7.45pm.
Health and wellbeing
The session will see speakers from various AHP fields share their experiences and explore possible outcomes for aiding colleagues who have been affected by global events. The aim is to support AHPs’ health and wellbeing while continuing to deliver quality, personalised, centred care, aligned to service deliverables and the NHS Long Term Plan.
The session will help to design an allyship toolkit for AHPs, including managers and colleagues.
Gita Ramdharry, consultant AHP and clinical academic in the NHS, convened the event alongside Meera Sharma, radiographer and researcher, and Anita Atwal, occupational therapist and AHP researcher.
'Somebody is checking in'
Dr Ramdharry said: “There are conflicts going on around the world now, and in the past as well, that we know will affect the colleagues in our workplaces, and sometimes people can feel quite isolated if they’re personally affected by this conflict, or that it’s not safe to speak about them.
“We’ve had experiences of reaching out to people when they’ve been in that position, and we’ve seen how much they appreciate that. The ability to know somebody is checking in on them when things are stressful can really help.”
Dr Ramdharry also explained the results of the session would be used to develop a guide to ensure compassion and kindness towards colleagues in the workplace, to ensure those that feel affected by these conflicts are being properly supported.
The three said this meeting will help colleagues to demonstrate their allyship and display compassion and empathy for anyone who is affected by these conflicts, who is feeling frightened or isolated, or who is worrying about family members.
Allyship and compassion
Ms Sharma added: “We’re looking after each other and everyone’s health and wellbeing. If we can help them, we can help deliver a service better able to look after our patients, we can work better as a team and fulfil our duties.”
The event will be hosted by a panel of AHPs with lived experience of conflict past or present, with a Q&A session for people to ask questions after presentations have been completed.
Dr Atwal said: “If you feel like you don’t belong, you’re much more likely to be sick or unhappy. Quality of care and patient safety are impacted. The relationship between allyship and belonging is really important.
Anyone interested in signing up for this event can register their interest here.
(Image: Morsa Images via GettyImages)