Dr Will Duffin and Dr Nathan Smith

‘The extreme challenges that will be faced by frontline workers in the coming weeks and months means that behavioural and psychological science has an important role to play in supporting their safety, performance and health’.

Research fellow Nathan Smith returns to WEMcast to chat to WEM Education Lead Dr Will Duffin about his ongoing work as coordinator of the ‘Support the Workers’ resource. At the heart of the project is the creation of briefing notes on a huge array of issues likely to impact those working on the frontline.

They define and explore the concept of ‘resilience’ in both individuals and teams, and the subtle differences between both. They consider the importance of a good leader in maintaining morale and the careful balance between positivity and realism.

Nathan explores a number of factors interlinked with resilience, from embracing vulnerability during this time, identifying networks of support and finding the intrinsic reason within that forms your motivation for each day.

The pair also discuss the impact that COVID will have on the formation and structure of teams, as clinicians are redeployed to areas in need. Nathan considers how non-technical skills are fundamental to establishing and maintaining strong team dynamics, and how a common goal can enable the swift cohesion of teams as they work towards a greater goal.

Nathan also explores operational techniques that can maintain and improve team resilience, including the purposeful inclusion of the debrief. Nathan highlights the notable 20-25% improvement in team performance when debriefs are carried out, and how we can maintain these during the COVID pandemic when both mental bandwidth and time are squeezed.

Works Referenced:

Support the Workers > https://www.supporttheworkers.org

WEM > MSc in Extreme Medicine at Exeter University Medical School