Supporting others is central to the role of Welfare Officers. However, this responsibility can bring emotional and psychological demands that require ongoing attention to individual wellbeing.
While organisations rightly focus on safeguarding frameworks, policies and procedures, supporting those in welfare roles also requires a proactive and sustained focus on self-care. Building awareness, understanding and practical strategies for maintaining wellbeing is essential to ensuring individuals can continue to carry out their roles effectively and sustainably.
LimeCulture was pleased to deliver a self-care webinar this week open to all Club Welfare Officers across British Triathlon, focusing on the importance of recognising and responding to personal wellbeing needs within the context of their roles.
Peach Smith, one of our Training Managers who delivered the webinar explained:
“We thoroughly enjoyed delivering our self-care webinar for British Triathlon Welfare Officers.
Wellbeing can sometimes be framed in terms of performance and productivity. However, effective self-care is not about adding another task to the list or striving for “perfect balance”. It is about creating the conditions that allow people to remain psychologically well, make sound decisions, and continue to support others effectively over time.
People working in welfare roles can often experience pressure to prioritise the needs of others while overlooking their own wellbeing. The webinar explored the importance of sustainable self-care for welfare professionals, not as another standard to meet, but as part of maintaining the capacity to support others consistently and effectively.
Recovery, boundaries, rest, connection and time away from responsibility are not distractions from effective practice; they are part of what enables it. Thank you to all the delegates who attended and contributed so thoughtfully to an important conversation about wellbeing within sport.”
As part of the session, participants were supported to develop an understanding of self-care and its key domains, including physical, emotional, psychological and professional wellbeing. Recognising self-care as an ongoing and proactive process is critical in helping individuals identify where their needs are being met and where additional support may be required.
A key focus of the webinar was supporting the Welfare Officers to identify personal needs and recognise indicators of psychological distress in themselves and others. Individuals working in supportive roles may not always recognise early signs of strain, making it important to build awareness of how distress can present and the importance of responding to these indicators at an early stage.
The session also explored the definitions, causes and impacts of burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. These are recognised risks associated with roles that involve supporting others through difficult experiences. Developing an understanding of these concepts enables individuals to recognise their potential impact and take appropriate steps to manage their wellbeing.
Alongside building awareness, the webinar focused on practical strategies and resources to support a healthy work-life balance. This included consideration of professional boundaries, accessing appropriate support, and developing realistic and sustainable self-care approaches that can be embedded into day-to-day practice.
Supporting wellbeing within welfare roles requires a holistic and proactive approach. Individuals need the knowledge, confidence and resources to prioritise their own wellbeing, alongside organisational environments that recognise and support this.
Marc Scott, Head of Sport Integrity at British Triathlon commented:
Creating opportunities for reflection, learning and discussion is an important part of this process. When individuals feel supported to understand and respond to their own needs, they are better equipped to continue supporting others effectively.
LimeCulture was pleased to support British Triathlon Welfare Officers through this webinar and contribute to ongoing efforts to promote wellbeing across the workforce.
Supporting the wellbeing of those who support others is essential across all sectors and roles. If you would like to explore how LimeCulture can support your organisation with self-care, supervision or reflective practice, please contact us for an informal conversation or browse our website for more information.
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