Our purpose built Health and Wellbeing Centre at Hollins Park offers employees of the organisation free use of the facility 24 hours a day, seven days per week, following induction.
The centre is located within the grounds of the Hollins Park site and is signposted.
The full address is: Hollins Park, Hollins Lane, Winwick, Warrington WA2 8WA.
Staff access
The centre is available for employees of the Trust to access at any time, following completion of the induction process. This means completing a self referral using Civica Occupational Health (OPAS-G2) and once your form has been reviewed by a member of the service, attending the centre to complete induction with a qualified gym instructor.
The OPAS system can be accessed by clicking the link below
https://merseycare.opasg2.com/selfreferral
You will be asked to enter your email address and will then be sent a unique code, which you will need to input into the system.
OPAS will then ask for an employer code which is O86438 (letter O).
Once you have completed the self referral form, this is automatically sent to Occupational Health and Wellbeing for triaging.
A member of the team will then contact you via healthandwellbeingcentre@merseycare.nhs.uk to arrange a suitable induction time.
Service user access
Service users of our onsite mental health inpatient services can also use the facility, although this must be under the supervision of a trained member of staff from the respective inpatient service and following an individualised risk assessment.
How is the centre run?
The centre is overseen by the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service. The centre includes a fitness studio and changing facilities. Both are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The centre is not staffed for all of these hours. There is a dedicated mailbox to report any faults and to raise any queries- healthandwellbeingcentre@merseycare.nhs.uk. There is video surveillance covering the fitness studio too.
Who can use the centre?
The centre is available for employees of the Trust to access at any time, following completion of the induction process.
Service users of our onsite mental health inpatient services can also use the facility, although this must be under the supervision of a trained member of staff from the respective inpatient service and following an individualised risk assessment.
Will users need to book?
There is no requirement to book. Users are requested to sign in/out of the facility, providing details of time of entry and leaving. This process should be completed for each attendance at the facility and this includes any escort accompanying a service user.
How do users get into the gym?
The gym is accessed via a door code, which is given following induction. This code must not be shared with anyone else. Service users are not provided with the access code and it is the responsibility of the trained ward staff to facilitate service user access.
How long can I stay?
It is advised to stay a maximum of one hour in order to keep the number of users in the facility at any time manageable. However at times where it is quiet, the decision is at the user’s discretion.
Are changing facilities, showers & lockers available?
There are seperate changing facility for males and females. Both changing rooms have three showers and a toilet within. The centre also has an accessiblity room, including a shower and toilet. Lockers are located close to the front door and require a £1 coin to secure. This is then returned when the locker is emptied. The lockers can only be used during your stay in the facility.
How is the centre maintained?
The centre has a domestic team which keep the facility well maintained, though users are expected to support with this by using the cleaning wipes available on equipment before and after use. Users should return equipment to their usual position following use. Hand sanitising should also be done before entering the gym and before leaving the gym to keep users and others safe. Hand sanitising equipment is located next to both sets of gym doors.
Is there music available?
The centre has a Smart TV as well as a digital television and other audio equipment. Users should ensure the sound isn't excessively loud and they are able to maintain a normal conversation without needing to unduly raise their voice.
Is there a hydration station in the centre?
There is a water fountain located in the main gym space, which can only be used to re-fill personal water bottles or containers. There are no cups stored within the centre. Users must not drink directly from the water fountain.
Is the centre well ventiliated?
There are windows and doors which can be opened to ensure a fresh air supply to all areas of the facilities. However users are responsible to ensure all windows and doors are closed on leaving the facilities to maintain security.
Do classes run in the centre?
No classes are currently being run from the centre. We do however run a class which is exclusive to Mersey Care employees at near by facilities. Details of these can be found here.
What if I still have questions about the facility?
Please email healthandwellbeingcentre@merseycare.nhs.uk with your question.
The following rules have been developed to support the safe and effective running of the centre. All members, service users and accompanying staff, are expected to adhere to these principles. Failure to do so will result in usage being reviewed.
1. The centre is available to employees of the organisation and onsite inpatient service users. Only individuals that have undergone an induction with a qualified gym instructor arranged via the trust, can access the facility.
2. Prior to induction, all individuals must complete a medical questionnaire and disclaimer. Staff forms will be reviewed by Occupational Health, service users will have their medical history reviewed by the ward medical team. All individuals must be deemed medically suitable to use the facility, before accessing.
3. The induction process will include a demonstration of how to use each piece of equipment correctly and safely. The instructor will explain how to use the Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scales and advise accordingly to the individual. The instructor will also highlight the layout of the building and in particular the fire exits and location of first aid equipment, defibrillator, and suction machine.
4. Individuals must complete the register when accessing the facility and be aware that CCTV is in operation for safety and security purposes.
5. A personal alarm should be used if you are on your own in the centre. An alarm can be obtained from the main entrance/hospital reception team. The reception is staffed 24/7/365.
6. Drinking directly from the water machine is not permitted for hygiene reasons. Cups are not provided by the facility, so individuals need to bring their own.
7. Individuals should find and leave the centre clean and tidy. This includes putting all equipment back in their storage areas and wiping down machines after use. Windows should be closed, back doors locked, televisions, extractor fans and lights, should all be turned off when leaving.
8. Any communication will be made via email, the noticeboard in the foyer area and the whiteboard within the main gym space.
9. Be considerate and respectful to others using the facility. Reports of inappropriate behaviour will result in investigation and memberships being reviewed.
10. Individuals must not under any circumstances, share the entry code and should not bring non-members to the centre.
11. Any incidents or accidents should be recorded on the trust’s incident management system. Faulty equipment and any queries regarding the running of the facility in general, should be reported/raised using the centre’s dedicated email address: healthandwellbeingcentre
These rules were last updated: July 2023.
A copy of these rules can be downloaded here.