Staff wellbeing
A school's staff are its most important asset and their emotional health and wellbeing is key to the school's success.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Healthy Workplace Award, administered by Rachel Faulkner of CIOSPCT's Health Promotion Service, is Cornwall's standard of good practice and quality mark of health and wellbeing in the workplace.
The award encourages employers to think about ways to improve their employees' health and wellbeing. It provides a toolkit with steps to achieve and improve in a wide range of health areas mentioned in ten criteria. Use of the toolkit enables a workforce to focus on the good practice in place within their organisation, helps them to recognise priorities for action and provides solutions enabling them to address highlighted issues.
Organisations seeking to gain the award can benefit from a wide variety of advice and support from CIOSPCT's Health Promotion Service, as well as initiatives such as health checks, training workshops on mental health and stress in the workplace, advice on healthy eating and much more.
To register, visit Be healthy at work where you can find out about all the services and information available, as well as reading about some local examples of good practice. For information or advice please email Rachel Faulkner, Workplace Health Coordinator, or call 01209 313419.
Worklife Support
Worklife Support is a social enterprise that was established in 1999 by the Teacher Support Network charity. Worklife Support works in partnership with local authorities and schools. Read more about Worklife Support and have a look at the useful resources.
BHF resources
If you'd like some ideas about setting up a mental wellbing programme for staff in your school the British Heart Foundation has some free downloads that may help you and you may also care to try their pack, Think Fit! Think Well!
Results of our brainstorming sessions
We ran brainstorming sessions on staff wellbeing at two of our training events recently and those of you who attended came up with lots of super ideas. We have researched some contact details to help you to put these ideas into practice, download this Word document.
Workforce remodelling case study
Kate found this case study of workforce remodelling at Covingham Park Infants School in Swindon. We believe you will find it interesting and helpful.
Cyberbullying
In a 2009 survey carried out by the Teacher Support Network, 15% of teachers and lecturers said they had been victims of cyberbullying. In response to this the DCSF produced Cyberbullying: supporting school staff.
Research published by the University of Plymouth confirms that online abuse of professionals (and volunteers) is a significant issue, read more. The study also found that 30% of incidents were not resolved by senior management. The UK Safer Internet Centre has set up a pilot helpline for professionals and volunteers in the south west of England who work with children and young people. Email the helpline (at any time) or telephone 0844 381 4772 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm only). Download the poster.
The path to better health and wellbeing
Results of research carried out by the Teacher Support Network are summarised in this paper, together with recommendations for the way ahead: The path to better health and wellbeing in education.
Government advice
This government leaflet contains advice, strategies and solutions for governing bodies, employers, line managers, teachers and school staff: Common mental health problems: supporting school staff.
Guidance for head teachers
The major unions collaborated to develop this guidance: Preventing work-related mental health conditions by tackling stress: guidance for head teachers.
