Health Coaching and Beyond

Episode 22 - The social determinants of team health

Summary In this episode, Ollie is joined by fellow GP Dr Ben Allen to explore what really creates healthy, high-performing teams in healthcare. Drawing on a newly published paper in BMJ Leader, co-written with Dr Natalie Jones, Ben reflects on the journey of transforming his GP practice in Sheffield over several years and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation centres around what Ben and Natalie describe as the “social determinants of team health” - the cultural, relational and behavioural foundations that allow teams to thrive. While healthcare systems often focus on targets, outputs and operational pressures, Ben argues that long-term improvement comes from investing in trust, communication, relationships and psychologically safe environments. Ollie and Ben explore practical examples from general practice, including how distributed leadership, intentional recruitment, team connection and patient engagement helped improve continuity of care, staff wellbeing and patient satisfaction. The episode also reflects on leadership, vulnerability and the importance of creating workplaces where people feel safe to speak honestly, contribute ideas and bring their full selves to work. Throughout the conversation, there are strong parallels with health coaching, person-centred care and the wider shift towards neighbourhood working and collaborative healthcare systems. Takeaways High-performing teams are built through culture and relationships, not just processes and targets. Psychological safety and trust are essential foundations for effective teamwork. Vulnerable and emotionally intelligent leadership can strengthen team culture. Distributed leadership helps teams feel more engaged, empowered and connected. Diverse perspectives improve decision-making and organisational understanding. Recruitment based on values and character can be more impactful than focusing solely on skills. Team connection and empathy are not “soft extras” - they are critical to sustainable performance. Patient engagement becomes more meaningful when organisations communicate openly and transparently. Long-term change often requires patience, intentionality and trust in the process. Investing in team wellbeing can improve continuity of care, morale and patient outcomes. Many principles of healthy teams closely align with health coaching and person-centred care. Links and resources mentioned in this episode Reimagining general practice for the NHS 10-year plan: organisational culture as the social determinant of team health:  https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/236941/1/Reimagining%20General%20Practice%20for%20the%20NHS%2010%20Year%20Plan%20.pdf [https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/236941/1/Reimagining%20General%20Practice%20for%20the%20NHS%2010%20Year%20Plan%20.pdf] Read Ben Allen’s LinkedIn blog expanding on the themes discussed in the conversation: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ben-allen-a96460207_we-rightly-talk-a-lot-about-the-social-share-7458071880348971008-V9cr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAikt9oB-kaAUGEn9eWV6xyHXtQSK86lXS4 [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ben-allen-a96460207_we-rightly-talk-a-lot-about-the-social-share-7458071880348971008-V9cr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAikt9oB-kaAUGEn9eWV6xyHXtQSK86lXS4]

Episode 21 - Healthy working lives: Reflections from the Peak Health Coaching Conference

Summary In this episode, Ollie, Tim and Caroline come together to reflect on the success of Peak Health Coaching’s fourth annual conference, which focused on health coaching for healthy working lives. They explore why bringing people together in person matters, particularly for health coaches and wellbeing professionals who can often be working in isolation. The conversation reflects on the energy, connection and sense of community created throughout the day, and why these spaces are so important for learning, reflection and shared purpose. The episode looks at the growing role of workplaces in supporting health and wellbeing, at a time when more people are out of work due to ill health and many others are struggling with presenteeism. Ollie, Tim and Caroline discuss why employers, leaders and managers need the confidence and skills to have better conversations about health, rather than relying only on reactive support. The episode also reflects on some of the key themes from the day, including mental health, chronic pain, WorkWell pilots, leadership, trust, power dynamics, storytelling and the importance of creating workplace cultures where people feel valued, heard and supported. A central message is that health coaching is not just about formal appointments or specialist roles. It is also about changing the quality of everyday conversations, building trust and creating healthier systems where people can thrive. Takeaways  Health coaches and wellbeing professionals can often feel isolated, making connection and community vital. Workplaces have a major role to play in supporting people’s health and wellbeing. A healthy workforce benefits both individuals and employers. Presenteeism is a growing challenge and can be harder to recognise than absenteeism. Employee support services only work if people feel safe, confident and able to access them. Managers and leaders need skills and confidence to have meaningful conversations about health. Storytelling can help create trust, empathy and change within organisations. Health coaching can support more proactive, preventative approaches to workplace wellbeing. Power dynamics matter, especially when health conversations happen between managers and employees. Small changes in everyday conversations can help people feel more valued and supported. Measuring workplace wellbeing means looking beyond activity and focusing on outcomes, engagement and impact. Creating healthy working lives requires culture change, not just new services.

Episode 20 - Physical activity, prevention and the role of community in health

Summary In this episode, Tim is joined by Dr Callum Leese, a GP based in the Scottish Highlands, researcher at the University of Dundee and co-founder of the community initiative Healthiest Town Aberfeldy. The conversation explores a familiar tension in healthcare - we know physical activity is one of the most powerful tools we have for preventing and managing disease, yet it remains difficult to embed meaningfully into everyday clinical practice. Callum reflects on his experience during COVID, where rising rates of non-communicable diseases highlighted a system often focused on reacting to illness rather than addressing its root causes. He describes this as a kind of “whack-a-mole medicine”, where new conditions are continually treated as they arise, rather than working upstream to prevent them. This led to the creation of Healthiest Town Aberfeldy, a community-led initiative aiming to reduce barriers to good health at a local level. The project brings together food, movement and social connection through practical, visible and locally relevant activities - from cooking groups to growing festivals - grounded in the idea that health is shaped collectively, not just individually. The discussion also explores the real-world challenges clinicians face. Time pressure, limited resources, gaps in knowledge and lack of financial incentives all play a role in why preventative conversations don’t always happen. But alongside these barriers, there are also signs of progress, including growing recognition of social prescribing and more integrated, community-based approaches. A key theme running throughout the episode is the role of health coaching. Not just in how to have better conversations, but in knowing when to have them, how to tailor them, and how to work with the complexity of people’s lives rather than reducing health to single issues. Takeaways Physical activity is one of the most effective interventions in healthcare, yet remains underused in practice Healthcare systems often prioritise treatment over prevention, leading to reactive rather than upstream care Time pressure is a major barrier, but not the only one – resources, knowledge and incentives also play a role Community-led approaches can help remove practical and social barriers to better health Health is shaped not just individually, but by the people and environments around us Rural settings bring unique challenges to health, including access, cost and opportunities for activity Seeing relatable, local examples of change can be more powerful than generic advice Health coaching is not just about what to say, but when and how to say it Tailored, personalised conversations are more effective than generic information or advice People rarely present with a single issue – health challenges are often interconnected Simple questions like “What are you doing to look after your health?” can open meaningful conversations Active healthcare professionals are more likely to have conversations about physical activity Making healthy behaviours visible can be a powerful form of advocacy

Episode 19 - Neighbourhood working and the role of activation

Summary  In this episode, Ollie and Tim explore the growing focus on neighbourhood working within the NHS and what it will take to make it meaningful in practice. They reflect on the current policy direction, which emphasises a shift from hospital-based care to community, prevention and more proactive support. While the ambition is widely supported, the conversation explores why previous attempts at neighbourhood working have struggled to deliver lasting change. They discuss how healthcare systems continue to focus on medicalised outcomes, linear change and organisational structures, rather than the relationships, behaviours and cultural shifts needed to truly transform care. A central theme of the episode is activation, supporting people, professionals and systems to build the confidence, knowledge and skills to take a more active role in health and care.  Tim and Ollie explore how health coaching and person-centred approaches can move conversations beyond advice-giving, helping people take a more active role in their own health. They also reflect on the reality of working in pressured systems, where burnout, limited capacity and competing priorities make change difficult. The conversation highlights the importance of protecting roles like health coaches, social prescribing link workers and care coordinators - as well as learning from the voluntary sector, which has long worked in this way. While the direction of travel is clear, making neighbourhood working successful will depend on sustained investment in skills, mindset and relationships. Takeaways Neighbourhood working has been a long-standing ambition but has been difficult to implement in practice. Structural change alone is not enough - relationships, culture and behaviours are key. Healthcare systems often prioritise medicalised, short-term outcomes over longer-term change. Activation is about building confidence, knowledge and skills across people, staff and communities. Person-centred conversations can change how people engage with their health and care. Workforce wellbeing and capacity are critical to enabling meaningful change. Voluntary and community sectors have long led the way in this approach. Measuring success in neighbourhoods requires looking beyond traditional clinical metrics. Long-term change requires patience, trust and investment in relationships. Small changes in conversations can have a significant impact over time. The success of neighbourhood models will depend on how they are delivered, not just how they are designed. Further Reading * The latest guidance on neighbourhood working from the Department of Health and Social Care: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neighbourhood-health-framework/neighbourhood-health-framework [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neighbourhood-health-framework/neighbourhood-health-framework] * Commentary on the neighbourhood health framework from The King's Fund: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/neighbourhood-health-framework-clarity-gaps-what-comes-next [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/neighbourhood-health-framework-clarity-gaps-what-comes-next] * A longer read from The King's Fund exploring what neighbourhood health means in practice: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/what-is-neighbourhood-health#what-is-neighbourhood-health [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/what-is-neighbourhood-health#what-is-neighbourhood-health]

Episode 18 - Exercise to Connection: GoodGym, Community and Purpose

Summary  In this episode, Ollie is joined by Ivo Gormley, social entrepreneur and founder of GoodGym, to explore a different way of thinking about exercise, community and connection. Ivo shares how GoodGym began with a simple idea: combining running with helping an older neighbour. What started as a personal solution to make exercise feel more meaningful has grown into a nationwide movement, where thousands of people run, walk or cycle to support community projects and reduce social isolation. The conversation explores why traditional approaches to exercise do not work for everyone, particularly when they are disconnected from purpose or social context. Ivo reflects on how motivation often comes not from self-improvement alone, but from feeling part of something bigger and being accountable to others. A central theme is the idea of mutual benefit. Rather than framing support as something one person gives and another receives, GoodGym positions older people as “coaches” — recognising that encouragement, connection and shared experience flow both ways. This reframing challenges more traditional models of care and highlights the value of contribution for everyone involved. Ollie and Ivo also discuss the wider societal context, including rising loneliness, particularly among younger people, and the gradual loss of everyday human interactions in modern life. The episode considers what this might mean for healthcare, public services and communities more broadly. Ivo argues that designing opportunities for people to interact, support each other and contribute should be a core part of how services operate, not an optional extra.  Takeaways Purpose and connection can be more powerful motivators for exercise than fitness goals alone. People are more likely to stay active when others are expecting them and when they feel part of a group. Small acts of helping others can create meaningful benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing. Reframing support as mutual, rather than one-directional, can strengthen relationships and reduce stigma. Older people can play an active role as contributors, not just recipients of care. Loneliness is increasingly affecting younger people, even in highly social environments. Modern systems often remove small, everyday interactions that help build connection. Shared challenges, even small or imperfect ones, can build trust and relationships. Designing services with opportunities for human interaction can improve outcomes and experience. Social prescribing and community-based approaches can play an important role in health and wellbeing. The risk of doing nothing to address isolation may be greater than the risks of trying new approaches. Creating the conditions for connection may be more important than teaching social skills directly. Links To find out more about joining GoodGym, visit their website: https://www.goodgym.org/ [https://www.goodgym.org/]