Menu
A brief overview of why this topic matters for staff wellbeing in prison services.
Effective communication around wellbeing is a key responsibility for leadership in the justice sector, particularly in prisons where staff operate under high stress and complex conditions.
Leaders at both the corporate and local level play a crucial role in shaping the workplace culture by ensuring that staff feel supported, informed, and engaged regarding their wellbeing. This includes transparent messaging on mental health support, stress management resources, and work-life balance initiatives.
Strong corporate communication ensures that overarching wellbeing policies are clear and widely understood, while localised communication ensures that these policies are relevant and responsive to the specific challenges staff face in their day-to-day work. Tailoring communications to address the specific pressures of prison environments, such as trauma exposure or emotional burnout, can help create a more resilient and supported workforce.
Optional ideas informed by the EuroPris Staff Wellbeing Expert Group to help you explore the topic further and adapt approaches to your own prison service.
Ensure corporate wellbeing initiatives are clearly communicated across all levels to build trust and alignment and include regular updates from senior leadership (e.g. monthly wellbeing messages from directors outlining priorities and available support).
Tailor localised communication to reflect the specific challenges of each prison and include site-specific channels that address local needs (e.g. establishment-level wellbeing briefings or noticeboards highlighting local support options).
Use a variety of platforms to ensure wellbeing information reaches all staff, and include methods suited to different roles and shift patterns (e.g. emails, newsletters, face-to-face briefings, and digital screens in staff areas).
Be mindful of the operational environment and limited computer access for some staff and include alternative communication methods that ensure inclusivity (e.g. printed wellbeing bulletins in staff rooms, verbal updates during shift handovers, and posters in communal areas).
Promote two-way communication to build a culture of trust and transparency around wellbeing and include opportunities for staff to share concerns and feedback (e.g. anonymous surveys, wellbeing forums, and regular one-to-one check-ins).
Clearly communicate available wellbeing resources to reduce stigma and encourage uptake and include guidance on how to access support (e.g. intranet pages with contact details for counselling services and posters promoting stress management programmes).
Integrate wellbeing into broader corporate communications to reinforce its strategic importance and include wellbeing updates in organisational briefings and reports (e.g. including wellbeing metrics in quarterly performance updates).
Empower local leaders to actively promote and engage with wellbeing communications and include visible leadership support for corporate wellbeing messages (e.g. governors and managers referencing wellbeing priorities in team meetings).
Provide regular updates on wellbeing initiatives and events to maintain engagement and include clear and consistent messaging (e.g. monthly wellbeing calendars and updates on new resources or campaigns).
Share success stories to demonstrate the impact of wellbeing programmes and encourage participation and include real-life examples from staff (e.g. testimonials in newsletters or case studies shared during staff forums).
Seek ongoing feedback on wellbeing communications to ensure relevance and effectiveness and include mechanisms for continuous improvement (e.g. annual communication audits and staff surveys focused on wellbeing messaging).
"A strong wellbeing culture relies on clear, accessible and inclusive communication that reaches all staff, reflects local needs, encourages two‑way dialogue, highlights available support, and keeps wellbeing visible through consistent updates and shared successes."
Short examples from the EuroPris Staff Wellbeing Expert Group members showing how wellbeing is being supported across European prisons.
A small selection of materials identified by Expert Group members to support reflection and learning. These are optional starting points rather than endorsements.
Good Workplace Communication – simpleshow. [online] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAlY_RBWiVk
NHS Employers (2025). Seven steps to an effective health and wellbeing campaign. [online] NHS Employers. Available at:
https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/seven-steps-effective-health-and-wellbeing-campaign
HRD. (2022). 6 steps to wellbeing communication success. [online] Available at:
https://www.hrdconnect.com/2022/02/17/6-steps-to-wellbeing-communication-success/
Communicate Magazine. (2025). Elevate employee wellbeing with strategic internal communications. [online] Available at:
https://www.communicatemagazine.com/article/elevate-employee-wellbeing-with-strategic-internal-communications/
Do you have a tool, example, or suggestion related to this topic?
We’re always looking for new ideas and real-world experiences to expand and improve this handbook.
Use the form to:
