Manager Wellbeing Conversations
Creating a Culture of Care
Tailored training that gives managers the confidence to address mental health and wellbeing in their teams
Multiple research papers show that line managers play a pivotal role in the well-being of their team – yet being a line manager is harder than ever before. Heather wrote her bestselling book “I’m a Boss, Not a Shrink” to recognise this fact.
Increasing global levels of mental ill health are leaving managers out of their depth. Many struggle with how best to have conversations with team members who are struggling with their mental health. They also struggle with how they create psychological safety in their team and to role model in a way which makes it okay for people to prioritise their health and wellbeing.
These courses can all be tailored, conducted in person or online, delivered globally and include a certification. There is also a self-paced CPD-certified eLearning option now available.
We always work with you to:
- Help your workforce before they reach crisis point and reduce sick days relating to mental health.
- Equip managers with practical strategies that build confidence to tackle wellbeing conversations.
- Tailor sessions with case studies, images and language that bring issues to life.
Which Manager Wellbeing Conversation course will work best for your organisation?
Most Popular
Half-day course
Online or in-person
4 hours
8-20 delegates
This half-day course equips managers with the essential skills and understanding to support their own mental health and how to have conversations with members of their team who are struggling.
The final part of the session is where your team get to practice. This is either with case studies or, optimally, works with actors using a script we develop with you, using the Forum Theatre technique.
Ideal for
- Office environments
- Building confidence in having wellbeing conversations
- Building a healthier culture
Includes
- Course manual
- Certificate, banners, badges for website and email signatures
One-day course
Online or in-person
6 hours
8-20 delegates
This one-day course (which is also available as a level 3 Highfield qualification)provides all the learning outcomes and practical skills from the half day course. It also places increased focus on creating psychological safety in your team and the importance of self awareness.
We also work closely with clients to add in any additional training specific to your work such as collecting organisational stress risk assessments.
This course also includes case studies or forum theatre for practice:
Ideal for
- High-risk organisations (where safety and wellbeing go hand in hand)
- Organisations with specific wellbeing issues they would like to tackle (e.g. shift work, collecting data)
- Those who value a qualification
Includes
- Course manual
- Certificate, banners, badges for website and email signatures
- Optional exam-based qualification
Instructor training
Online or in-person
Up to 12 delegates
Equip your internal trainers to sustainably deliver a global standard course, tailored initially to you.
‘Train the trainer’ is available across the one-day and half-day options, and if you are a Highfield trainer already, you can deliver the qualification version
Experience the full course content, receive comprehensive delivery materials, and gain confidence in a webinar or face-to-face training delivery.
Includes practical teaching experience with expert feedback and coaching.
It’s perfect for any global or large organisation as the slides and delivery notes can be tailored (by us or your local team) and can be translated into the language of your choice.
Includes
- Instructor manual and slide notes translated as required.
Ideal for
- Large and global organisations
- Companies with an internal training team or capacity in HR, L and D or regional managers to deliver training locally
Wellbeing Conversations (Non-manager)
Online or in-person
8-20 delegates
Give everyone in your organisation the confidence to have better wellbeing conversations.
Having a conversation with someone struggling and signposting them to further specialist support is a skill we can all get better at – and not the domain of the specialist.
This wellbeing conversations course supports you in gaining confidence in starting those conversations; in non-judgmental listening and in signposting for further support.
Optional inclusions
- Video on mental health and wellbeing
- Healthy Work Journal (face to face courses)
- Postcards (face to face courses)
Ideal for
- Those who wish to train everyone to have better wellbeing conversations instead of or as well as having wellbeing ambassadors/mental health first aiders
- Those who wish to do a train the trainer course internally which can be easily and quickly deployed
Healthy Work Academy eLearning
A digital self-serve training option which is a flexible, easy-to-use and global solution for Manager Wellbeing Conversations.
The Healthy Work Academy platform uses real-life examples and our Forum Theatre team to bring training to life with highly engaging videos, case studies, flashcards, quizzes, images and text to help keep participants’ attention and encourage deeper learning.
Ideal for
- Global and distributed teams helping train across different time zones
- A sustainable training solution for new starters and promotions
Includes
- 1 hour live session
- Course manual
- Certificate, banners, badges for website and email signatures
Can be used as part of a blended option in-person and online training.
What is Forum Theatre
We recommend using Forum Theatre as the best way of creating a safe space for managers to practise these conversations.
This approach uses actors to enable the audience to see powerfully for themselves the difference between a situation handled badly and a situation handled well.
Use our model
Learn to hold conversations with someone struggling, without fear of making it worse, being intrusive, getting it wrong or landing up in a tribunal – using our simple ABCD mnemonic.
Why manager wellbeing conversations matter
Line managers are key to reducing stress and fostering a positive workplace culture. Yet, many managers avoid having wellbeing conversations, hoping the problem will disappear on its own. This course provides practical solutions for addressing these issues head-on.
Why is this course crucial for managers?
- Greatly improves knowledge and self awareness around mental health, stress, and the impact on their team.
- For those who need a little more convincing, it will make the business case for prioritising wellbeing: why it matters for engagement and performance.
- It teaches them how to have more empathetic conversations and create all the important psychological safety within teams, which is a game changer.
- It removes the fear of making things worse; managers gain confidence in holding wellbeing conversations with struggling people using a simple ABCD mnemonic.
- They explore boundary setting, signposting to organisational support, and the importance of role-modelling resilience as a leader.
We are happy to chat about your needs and help you decide whether a half or full day is better for your organisation.