In 2017, the management team all took part in the ‘Promoting Excellence’ leadership training which involved everyone completing an action research project. The Head of Department for Media, Sport and Public Services chose to do her project on promoting staff wellbeing. She recognised the importance of individual wellbeing inside the workplace as not only making economic sense, but it also improves the learner experience. After pitching her ideas to the senior executive team, she was awarded an annual budget to help realise her vision and she quickly recruited staff to the wellbeing committee and appointed a chairperson.
During the early stages, the committee focused on raising staff morale and worked on establishing an end of year wellbeing day where everyone was released from their normal work commitments. People chose from a range of activities including canal boating, hill walking, pamper treatments, cinema day and sporting activities, and according to the evaluation analysis, the day was really appreciated.
We are now planning our third wellbeing day with new activities including a trip to the seaside, yoga, horse riding, golfing as well as all the old favourites. To help maintain moral during the year, other smaller initiatives have been run, such as providing pizza for staff during parent consultation evenings, and Easter eggs were given to everyone before the holiday. To celebrate the achievements of staff, the Principal ran a ‘Secret Superhero’s Event’. During the run up to the end of the first term, everyone wrote out citation cards, nominating other people for their hard work and support during the year. Everyone got together for breakfast on the last day before the Christmas holidays and nominee’s citations were drawn from a box and read out by the Principal who then gave out prizes, which was a lovely way to end the year on a positive note. Every year, on the last day of the summer term, staff also get together for breakfast and to hear leaving speeches before teaming up for the famed College quiz.
It is impossible to quantify the impact of these initiatives on staff wellbeing as there are so many other factors that also contribute significantly to this. Managers work closely with their teams, we have trained mediators in HR, Occupational Health can refer staff for counselling or CBT as well as signposting them to other health care professionals (when applicable) and we have clear guidelines and policies on supporting staff returning to work after illness. But the wellbeing committee is never complacent and meets regularly to look at what more can be done to promote a healthy workforce. Suggestions for next year’s work include looking externally for professionals to deliver talks on a range of topics such as flexible working, mindfulness and stress management, amongst other things.
I remember reading a slightly cynical article in the TES a little while ago that stated staff wellbeing is more than just compulsory yoga classes. Whilst that is true, I have experienced first-hand the positive impact on the college climate of wellbeing days and getting together to recognize and celebrate the excellent work staff do day in day out.
Su's blog 