RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has been re-accredited with The Keep Well Mark by Ibec.

The Keep Well Mark is an evidence-based award programme for organisations, like RCSI, that adopt policies to make their employees' wellbeing a priority for their business. It provides a set of benchmarking standards, as well as action plans for developing strategies and plans to improve employee welfare and satisfaction.

The re-accreditation process involved auditing and benchmarking RCSI's performance against eight licensed standards in workplace health, safety and wellbeing. The scoring framework is broken down into three levels: Commitment, Achievement and Excellence.

RCSI first received The Keep Well Mark in December 2019, achieving three Excellence awards. This year, RCSI has doubled its number of Excellence awards to six, testament to the ongoing work to enhance corporate wellness at RCSI, particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shift to remote working.

RCSI's wellbeing initiatives and involvement with The Keep Well Mark are led by RCSI Inspire, a programme that aims to promote the benefits of health and wellbeing to staff of the organisation. RCSI Inspire is based on four health pillars: physical, nutritional, mental and occupational. RCSI Inspire supports a range of initiatives throughout the year to promote physical and mental wellbeing to all staff, including recipe ideas, exercise challenges, advice on health insurance options, training and volunteering opportunities.

Speaking on behalf of the RCSI Inspire team, Yvette Moffatt and Brid Mahon said: "We are delighted to receive The KeepWell mark accreditation once again, which celebrates our dedication to ensuring workplace wellbeing is prioritised. We would like to thank all colleagues who supported the application, sharing their personal experiences of health, safety and wellbeing in our University."

Commenting on the award, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI Vice Chancellor, said: "The Keep Well mark underlines our commitment to the highest standards of employee wellbeing across all aspects of our university. As health sciences educators and researchers, it is our responsibility to use our expertise to foster improvements in health and education in our communities and around the world, starting with those closest to us – our colleagues."

In further recognition of its commitment to supporting and engaging with staff, RCSI has been included on Business & Finance's 'Leading in Wellbeing – Top 100 Companies 2021' list. The index, in partnership with Ibec, highlights organisations that are leading the way in supporting employee mental health and wellbeing.

Speaking about the index, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy commented: "It is encouraging to note the diversity of industries spanning the full breadth and scope of the Irish economy that are represented in this index … We hope that through showcasing their ongoing efforts that they can further inspire and catalyse the cultural changes in workplace wellbeing that is well under way in the business community in Ireland."