Sleep project improves wellbeing for health and care staff

A wellbeing project aimed at improving sleep quality has increased wellbeing for around 100 health and care staff in South Yorkshire.

Shift workers, people with caring responsibilities, women experiencing menopause and other groups most in need of support were targeted.

The project, ‘Sleep Posture for Health Equity’ was delivered through a partnership of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, the Sleep Charity and sleep posture experts Levitex.

Around 300 staff in NHS and social care roles in South Yorkshire took part, of whom 100 received individual sleep consultations.

Disturbed sleep was one of the biggest factors impacting sleep quality, reducing efficiency and increasing the risk of fatigue-related accidents.

At the start, 65 per cent reported overall fairly bad sleep quality. After two weeks, 67 per cent reported fairly good sleep quality – a complete turnaround.

How it started

South Yorkshire ICB recognised a need to address health inequalities in the health and social care workforce and created the Health Inequality Awards, in partnership with Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, who acted as grant facilitators.

An application from the Sleep Charity and Levitex was successful in securing funding for a 12-month project, targeting women, shift workers and unpaid carers. Participants were 92 per cent women; 25 per cent shift workers and 24 per cent unpaid carers.

Setting up the project

The ICB People Experience Team used resources including a wellbeing website added to four years’ experience of working with the ICB’s Sleep School.

Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber were responsible for governance and reporting.

The Sleep Charity organised focus groups, carried out filming and were responsible for the budget and reporting to the ICB.

Sleep posture experts Levitex delivered sleep posture modules and consultations and provided pillows matching each person’s requirements.

What we did

The content offered by the ICB Sleep School was reviewed and sleep posture and the specific application to health inequalities was identified as a gap.

The Sleep Charity and Levitex held three focus groups in which participants were asked to share their experiences with sleep issues and accessing support.

The biggest gain for the groups was realising they were not alone. Peer support sessions were then added into the programme and delivered online at their preferred times – lunchtimes and evenings.

It was clear that promoting the service as a sleep posture service would be a challenge as this was not a familiar phrase to staff and so the term ‘sleep consultation’ was adopted.

Two weeks after attendees had received a consultation they were sent a follow up questionnaire and once it was completed they received a free pillow.

Evaluation results

There was an 88 per cent completion rate on the two-week questionnaire and 45 per cent completion of the six-weeks post consultation questionnaire.

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used as a validated tool at baseline and two weeks post-consultation.

After two weeks:

• 75 per cent reported improved sleep quality
• 64 per cent experienced fewer disturbances at night
• 66 per cent of those in provocative positions adopted improved sleep postures

Key factors in success:

• The ICB People Experience Team provided a ready-made target audience for recruitment and a platform for webinars
• To address inequalities, the content and timing of delivery was aimed specifically at women, shift workers and unpaid carers
• Peer support groups – both in person and online – were added to the programme
• One to one support comprised bespoke, specialist advice and the correct size and shape of specialist pillow for each participant
• Evaluation was delivered by another company, Pragmatic People Ltd, reducing bias
• An evaluation structure was created which maximised the capture of outcomes

Next steps are to:

• Use evidence to engage organisations in tackling the sleep crisis in NHS, social care and beyond
• Work with the ICB to explore opportunities to continue the programme in South Yorkshire
• Replicate the working model for delivery of Sleep Improvement Services as an employee wellbeing offer or to augment Occupational Health Services.
• Engage other partners to develop a clinical research proposal for Sleep Posture Intervention
• Continue peer support sessions with funding from Levitex and Pragmatic People Ltd.

Feedback from participants:

“It’s been interesting to discuss what may be causing sleep issues. Also trying to adopt new sleeping position and small changes in getting to sleep. I’m hopeful over time the changes will continue to improve waking in the night.”

“I am blown away by the pillow placement making such a positive impact. I did as James suggested and went up to bed an hour later, I have since timed it takes roughly 30 minutes to fall asleep. Still wake in pain but it’s less, plus although not fully rested I’m certainly less fatigued than normal.”

“Within a week I relearned my positioning and am overjoyed with the outcome… The snoring has stopped – just like that!  I keep asking husband, did I snore? I keep getting ‘no’. Brilliant!”

Feedback from partners:

Levitex Chief Executive James Leinhardt said: “The ICB Sleep School was already doing a phenomenal job and our aim was to build on that with a specific offer to people in groups with higher health risks.

“The focus was on sleep posture as that was a new approach and we found that people were incredibly stoic, managing on just three or four hours sleep a night and continuing to fulfil responsible, caring roles.

“We can’t reduce the anxieties of everyday life, relieve menopause symptoms or help with care responsibilities; but we can improve the quality of the sleep that people experience – and that is what happened.”

Dr David Crichton, Chief Medical Officer at South Yorkshire ICB said: “A good night’s sleep is a vital part of our lives and essential for our mental, physical and emotional well-being. I’m pleased to see industry experts, the charitable sector, South Yorkshire ICB and innovation partners working together in partnership and it’s fantastic that this work is being recognised.”

Christine Joy, Chief People Officer at South Yorkshire ICB who sponsored the initiative, said: “It is inspiring to see the tangible impact this initiative has delivered and to witness partners collaborating effectively to build on the foundations we’ve established at the ICB.”

The project is a finalist in the 2026 HSJ Partnership Awards Workforce and Wellbeing Initiative of the Year Category.