CIPD Level 5 — Optional Specialist Unit

5OS07 Wellbeing at Work

This unit explores the importance of wellbeing in the workplace and the relationship with people practices and organisation strategy. It examines the design, development and implementation of effective wellbeing programmes to meet people and organisational requirements.

6 credits10 assessment criteria60 hours total unit time

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Assessment Criteria Explained

Your 5OS07 assignment questions will closely follow these assessment criteria. Here's what the marker is looking for in each one.

Learning Outcome 1: Understand wellbeing and its relevance to workplaces

AC 1.1

Explain issues and key theories in wellbeing at work

Cover contemporary issues involving the changing nature of work: leadership styles, work patterns, culture and change, job demands, workplace relationships, work-life balance, and individual factors such as stress, mental health conditions, caring responsibilities, financial concerns, remote and hybrid working. Include theories relating to wellbeing such as positive psychology. The marker wants you to demonstrate awareness of both the practical issues and the theoretical foundations of workplace wellbeing.

AC 1.2

Discuss how wellbeing can be managed to support organisational goals

Cover the CIPD's definition of wellbeing and its importance on the people professional's agenda. Include management approaches: absence management, occupational health, employee assistance programmes, counselling, and nurturing employee voice. The marker wants a genuine discussion of how wellbeing management is not just a welfare activity but a strategic approach that directly supports organisational goals and performance.

AC 1.3

Assess the benefits of adopting wellbeing practices in organisations

Cover specific benefits: preventing stress, creating positive environments, driving high performance and motivation, improving productivity and working lives, enhancing employee engagement and retention, making the workplace more attractive, and demonstrating corporate responsibility. Include improved workplace relationships, visible mental health programmes, and leadership sponsorship. The marker wants assessment — a critical evaluation of the evidence for these benefits, not just an aspirational list.

Learning Outcome 2: Understand how wellbeing is shaped by the organisation's internal and external context

AC 2.1

Evaluate key stakeholders' contribution to improving wellbeing at work

Cover the stakeholders whose commitment determines success: the people practice function, leadership and management (including training line managers to recognise and respond to issues), mental health first aiders, wellbeing champions, trade unions, health and safety representatives, and government agendas. The marker wants evaluation — assess how much each stakeholder contributes and what happens when commitment is lacking.

AC 2.2

Discuss how wellbeing interacts with other areas of people management practice

Cover the integration of wellbeing with all aspects of people management: job design, work practices, health and safety, diversity, reward and recognition, engagement and communication, learning and development, and organisation design and development. The marker wants you to demonstrate that wellbeing is not a standalone initiative but is interconnected with every area of people practice.

AC 2.3

Analyse how organisational context shapes wellbeing

Cover how different approaches are suitable in different contexts and how wellbeing should be fully integrated rather than standalone. Link the wellbeing approach to organisational culture, people strategy, workforce needs, organisation size, sector, and workforce composition. The word 'analyse' means the marker wants you to break down the relationship between context and wellbeing approach — showing how the same initiative could work in one context but fail in another.

Learning Outcome 3: Be able to design, develop and implement a wellbeing programme

AC 3.1

Identify wellbeing initiatives in relation to an organisation's needs

Cover a range of wellbeing initiatives: health promotions, health checks and insurance, private medical insurance, cycle to work schemes, flexible hours, healthy eating and dietary advice, workplace gyms, financial health checks and debt advice, counselling, workplace risk assessment, and emotional and relationship support through specialist providers. The marker wants you to match initiatives to specific organisational needs — not just list everything available.

AC 3.2

Design a wellbeing programme relevant to the organisation

Cover the design process: identifying the area of wellbeing for attention, defining intended benefits and success criteria, identifying boundaries and constraints (stakeholder contribution, costs, resource needs, timeframes), and determining the appropriate format for dissemination. The marker wants to see a structured, evidence-based design process that demonstrates you can create something practical and measurable.

AC 3.3

Explain how you would implement a wellbeing programme suitable for the organisation

Emphasise that wellbeing programmes are not 'one size fits all' — they must reflect the characteristics of both the workforce and the organisation. Cover change management skills, research and consultancy skills, time management, leading a project, gaining senior management support, and the characteristics of an effective implementation plan. The marker wants practical, realistic implementation advice.

AC 3.4

Explain how a wellbeing programme can be evaluated and monitored

Cover continuous improvement, measuring wellbeing regularly (qualitatively and quantitatively), taking a long-term view, and ensuring staff anonymity for reliable results. Include methods: staff surveys, focus groups, interviews, benchmarking, and engagement surveys. Cover metrics: absence rates, workplace injuries, complaints, EAP take-up, staff turnover, performance, and productivity. The marker wants a comprehensive evaluation framework, not just 'we'll do a survey'.

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