Why I think RBCS is a total game changer for our HCSWs
By Liz Forster, Practice Educator Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Working as the lead practice educator for our amazing healthcare support workers (HCSWs) at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust is a bit like being part cheerleader, part coach, and part ‘shoulder to cry on’, sometimes all at the same time!
One thing I’ve learned is that a career in mental health can be as rewarding as it is challenging (cue the daily emotional rollercoaster!). That’s why I’m such a fan of restorative and Resilience-based Clinical Supervision (RBCS) or, as I sometimes call it, the best invention since sliced bread (disclaimer other forms of supervision are available and can be used but I personally just love this one).
RBCS is like giving our HCSWs a big, metaphorical hug (without getting too close if they’ve had a very long shift). It’s a dedicated space where they can offload, reflect, and process all the chaos and triumphs that come with supporting patients.
Let’s face it, some days you feel like a superhero while other days, like you’ve been hit by a bus made of paperwork and emotional baggage. RBCS helps with both.
What I love is that RBCS is not about telling people off or making them recite policies like an infection prevention and control visit. It’s about helping them feel human, celebrating the wins (big or small), unpacking the tricky moments, and reminding them that even on the toughest days, they’re making a difference.
It’s also a brilliant confidence booster. Our HCSWs walk into supervision sessions sometimes feeling like they’ve just survived a zombie apocalypse otherwise known as a late shift, and they walk out with their heads held high, ready to do it all again. It’s like the NHS equivalent of a Rocky montage minus the boxing gloves.
RBCS doesn’t just help with stress; it helps our HCSWs build real resilience like a mental health toolkit packed with positivity, support, and the occasional laugh. And the best part? It sets them up for growth, whether that’s exploring new skills, going for promotions, or even training to become nurses themselves.
Honestly, if I could bottle RBCS and put it in every break room, I would. It’s a real game-changer for staff well-being and for patient care too. Because when our HCSWs feel valued, supported, and ready to face the day (even the ones where nothing seems to go right), everyone benefits.
So, here’s to RBCS keeping us all a little more supported and well, one supervision session at a time.
If you want to know more about Resilience-based Clinical Supervision and how to book a ‘Champion and Cascade’ programme for your organisation or look at dates for the next ‘public programme’, visit the RBCS pages