Home School Services NQT Manager

Top Tips for Staff Wellbeing

Posted on 13 September 2024 by Alison Waterhouse, Circles for Learning in Schools | Wellbeing


Having worked in schools as a teacher, part of a middle management team, as a senior leader and now as a Wellbeing Adviser, I find myself in the privileged position of both seeing and understanding the importance of a whole school approach to wellbeing. Part of that whole school approach to wellbeing is the focus on looking after staff as well as equipping them to look after themselves and each other. 

Wellbeing is about our holistic health, including the physical and emotional aspects of it. When we have good levels of wellbeing we feel life is in balance and that we have the skills and psychological abilities to cope. We feel motivated and engaged and we are resilient and able to deal effectively with daily challenges and bounce back from things.

A schools ethos and environment has a huge impact on the wellbeing of staff and the wellbeing of staff has a huge impact on the academic achievement as well as the wellbeing of its students and parents. Research from the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University highlights the latest research on teacher wellbeing and suggests practical ways for schools to develop initiatives that support both teacher’s wellbeing and a thriving learning environment for children and young people. 

The research clearly shows that teacher wellbeing has a significant impact on the wellbeing and academic success of children and young people and that teacher wellbeing should be one of the first factors schools consider when looking to improve wellbeing across the school community.

“By investing in the health and happiness of educators we not only empower them to thrive but also lay the foundations for a positive ripple effect on children and young people, schools and the broader educational system.” 
Dr Laura Taylor Deputy Director of the Wellbeing Research Centre University of Oxford.

As a Wellbeing Adviser for the Shaw Trusts very successful and rigorous Wellbeing Award, I have been in the privilege position of seeing a wide variety of very successful strategies used within Primary and Secondary schools. 
The first place all schools need to start is by gather information and listening to the experiences of all the stakeholders, staff children and parents. 

A confidential questionnaire can give you the highs and lows of how each of the groups that make up school are experiencing things. Another very successful strategy that I have seen used is a SWOT analysis with staff during a staff meeting. Make sure you also do the same thing for Admin staff and Support staff. By giving each group the time and space to work together to talk and listen about the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats staff experience you can gain a lot of information about what to do and where to start. These surveys have a lot of merit but it is important that action is taken to resolve the issues that are highlighted. It is worth noting, that once a survey is completed, there will be an expectation that the findings will be addressed so make sure the survey is completed purposefully with the intent to resolve the issues that are highlighted to show staff their feedback is valued. 

Once you have asked questions this then has to be correlated. I have chosen three main headings to put things under: culture and environment, strategies and policies and Help and support for those members of staff who need more. Both culture and environment and strategies and policies I see as preventative areas.

School Culture and Environment
The culture of the school is a huge area and is often linked to history and past practices, sometimes this needs to be tweaked at other times it needs changing. The information you collect will help you to decide which is needed. 
Questions to explore:
  • Is there a place for staff to take time out and relax? Is it cared for and pleasant? How we treat and care for staff gives them a message. Are they worthy of a well looked after space? Do we care enough about their wellbeing to provide one?
  • How do you show appreciation for all the hard work staff do? Many schools have a Shout Out Board in the staff room, others use a short slot in their staff meetings. It doesn’t take a lot to notice all the hard work staff put into their working day but it does need noticing. As a school, finding ways to notice and set up a culture where people appreciate and celebrate good practice and teamwork is important.
  • Does your SLT model good working practices and self-care and encourage a good work life balance? Making sure people have breaks, that meetings are well planned and finish on time, that the school calendar has been well planned and thought about, that new staff are supported and that existing staff have a place or someone to reflect and talk to are all important in creating a culture that values and supports everybody. Staff supervision and Work Discussion Groups are now becoming priorities within schools and can really make a difference to how staff feel, manage and reflect on their work with children and young people. As a Head working in a therapeutic special school early in my career, where I first experienced supervision it was something that I found so useful that I always made sure I was able to access this no matter where I went onto work.
  • Clear communication is an essential. Does the SLT ask and listen to all parties around wellbeing on a regular basis and then act on this feedback? This might include open door strategies, drop-ins, wellbeing targets on appraisal documents, questionnaires and pupil voice as well as parent forums or drop-ins.  

Strategies and Policies
These are important to have in place; however, the process of research, talking and reflecting about what is important is as important as the end result. A whole school wellbeing strategy that includes feedback from students, staff, parents and careers and is co-created by each of the groups will reflect needs and ideas far more truthfully than one that is written by a Wellbeing Lead on their own however, it will take a lot more time and effort. 
Here are some useful resources to support the development of your own mental heath and wellbeing policies:

Schools really need clear policies and procedures around staff wellbeing that are fair and apply to all staff. They need to identify challenges, and how school will manage these, preventative work and then how to help a member of staff who is experiencing problems and distress.

Staff appraisal should reflect schools beliefs about the importance of staff wellbeing by including a wellbeing target for all staff, which ensures wellbeing is a focus and is talked about and supported.
Practical strategies school has in place that promote good staff wellbeing. These might include:
  • Sessions on how to manage stress 
  • Resilience based workshops
  • Buddy support systems
  • Creating a sense of belonging through team or staff development or social opportunities.
  • Recognition and positive noticing of staff as part of the school culture.
  • Wellbeing focus in SLT and Governors meetings.
  • Staff wellbeing Governor
  • Systems to support new teachers into post not just ECT.
  • Employee assistance programmes.
  • Access to counselling 
  • Wellbeing display board in staff room
  • Wellbeing section in staff handbook
  • Access to drop ins Supervision or Work Discussion Groups 

Help and Support
Are staff and the SLT confident and encouraged to notice and offer support early when colleagues wellbeing is under threat? Early problem solving and support can prevent things from becoming a huge challenge.
Areas that can be developed as a proactive way of supporting staff before challenges become too great:
  • Staff supervision
  • Work discussion groups
  • Employee assistance programmes
  • Counselling
  • Drop ins
  • Support programmes
  • Coaching sessions
  • Return to work support 
  • Training and development opportunities for staff at every level
  • Personal Wellbeing Action Plan
  • Staff wellbeing audit

Resources

Like any profession, teaching does have a lot of different aspects to contend with, between managing a classroom of children and young people; preparing lessons; dealing with parents; managing admin; marking and assessment; and meeting a variety of learning needs it is easy to see how important supporting teachers wellbeing is vital. While being a rewarding profession, it is clear that teachers are needed to wear many different hats and this can influence staff's mental health and sometimes by extension their young people and learning environment. 
At its worse unaddressed and unmanaged stress leads to many problems for the individual and the school. Supporting staff to manage stress and looking carefully at teacher workload and the school environment, procedures and pressure points are therefore essential. If we get staff wellbeing right, then it leads to a happier staff team, increased job satisfaction, reduction in staff turnover, and reduced staff absence and better relationships and teaching for our children and young people.

If you are interested in Wellbeing, why not read Alison's article 'Why Supporting Positive Mental Health Is Good For Learning (kent-teach.com)' or '12 Ways to Create a Mental Health Friendly Classroom (kent-teach.com)'. For more advice, visit our Wellbeing Hub or reach out to Staff Care Services, who offer a wealth of mental health and wellbeing services to schools.
Comments are closed
<