Our Staff Wellbeing Offer

Wellbeing is attained by little and little, and nevertheless is no little thing itself”

Citium Zeno

The Academy is committed to providing a healthy working environment and improving the quality of working lives for all staff. The wellbeing strategy aims to support the Academy’s mission and core values and the recognition that the Academy’s staff are its greatest asset.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) define wellbeing as
 ‘Creating an environment to promote a state of contentment which allows an employee to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and their organisation.’
 

The wellbeing strategy’s ultimate goal is to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of Academy staff and to prevent work associated ill health, for the overall benefit of staff and the organisation. This encompasses the physical, mental and social health of employees and recognises that employees’ values, personal development and work within the Academy contribute to their overall wellbeing at work.

This strategy statement aims to bring together all initiatives already in place within the Academy for supporting and maximising the health and wellbeing of staff;  through the coordination of current wellbeing activities and the identification of further opportunities.  

 Aims and Objectives

The Academy’s strategy aims to represents a commitment to an integrated approach to staff wellbeing that creates:

• A sense of belonging
• An environment and culture based on shared values and trust
• An environment where staff wellbeing is integrated into day-to-day practices
• An environment that recognises skills and encourages personal development

Trust Benefits

• Comprehensive employee assistance programme - Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• £25 towards eye tests for DSE users and £50 contribution towards new glasses if required
• Flu vaccines
   

Current Wellbeing Initiatives

• The Academy has a wellbeing committee which meets every half term, there is a core committee and staff are all welcome to attend or feedback issues or ideas they wish to raise with their reps.
• The Academy has a ‘Menopause Café’ that meets monthly on different days, this provides an opportunity to share experiences and is open to both men and women. Staff come along and have a tea or coffee and a piece of cake and can recommend products or new initiatives that have helped to relieve their symptoms. These ideas are then shared anonymously in the shared area for others to view.   
• Time is allowed for family events such as graduations and children’s assemblies.
• Free breakfast daily in the Atruim – available if you eat with the students.
• Staff praise postcards and weekly briefing thanks from other staff
• Staff have access to occupational health as a supportive measure
• If staff are feeling stressed or anxious; a workplace stress risk assessment is completed by the Director of Resources in conjunction with the individual and a support plan agreed.
• A well-equipped staff room is provided for staff breaks.
• Staff are provided with refreshments for after school events such as parent’s evenings and any other events where the member of staff has not left the Academy after their normal working hours.
• Dinner provided on Open Evening for all staff.
• Breakfast and break, tea and coffee provided free of charge on all Inset days.
• The Academy has a well-being committee which meets every half term, there is a core committee and staff are all welcome to attend or feedback issues or ideas they wish to raise with their reps.
• The Academy has a Health and Safety Committee that meets termly.
• On Fridays, staff are encouraged to have break together in the staff room where cakes are provided by staff via a voluntary rota.
• Staff have will have access to a health, safety and well-being folder in the shared area where they can access information on managing stress and general well-being.
• Access to well-being, health, and safety meeting information in the staff room.
• Staff parties, summer and Christmas events organised
• Hospitality provided for meetings.
• Staff discount at the gym at Fenton Manor Leisure Centre.
• Daily free use of the on-site fitness suite.
• ECT Support programme and comprehensive CPD programme.
• Mug of appreciation - weekly handed out anonymously as a token of appreciation
• Staff room vending machine is on free vend on Mondays between 9.30am -11.30am
• EAP (employee assistance programme) offering counselling, discounts and a well-being app
• Wellbeing ‘pod’ in the staff room containing a blood pressure monitor, scales and information on healthy lifestyles.
• Staff have a reserved spot when it is their birthday with a sign saying ‘Happy Birthday’ the reserved spot is closer to the school.
• The principal gives all staff a birthday card when it is their birthday.
• Staff can ask the principal to complete a praise postcard for staff going over and above, this is linked to the school Christian core values.

Leading up to Christmas, the following initiatives are available:

• Whole staff quiz on the last Wednesday or term, staff sit in their faculties, this is led by the head of MFL as ‘Quiz Master’ and it is the staff against SLT, mince pies, soft drinks, cakes and sweets are provided on each table.
• Staff Hampers: Throughout December, staff donate an item which then goes towards making a hamper, the names of staff who donate are put into a ‘hat’ and this is drawn during the quiz. There are usually around 15 hampers with at least 7–8 items in each.
• Staff Christmas Tree: In the staff room a wooden Christmas tree is displayed and staff can write on a wooden bauble with a message for another staff member and then hang it on the tree, staff check the tree and collect their bauble on the last day of term.
• Swap a Sock: Staff who wish to participate buy a pair of Christmas/fluffy socks and fill one sock with goodies, these are laid out on a table and staff who have participated pick a sock from the table. The sock has a tag with a Christmas message inside and the other sock is folded at the top.
• Chocolate Gift: On the Wednesday of the last week, Mrs James and Mr Astley hand out a large bar of Dairy Milk to every staff member with a message on a sleeve to say ‘thank you for all of your hard work this term, have a restful break’ this is handed out from 7am as staff enter reception.    
• Most departments have a secret Santa.

New staff induction:

All staff receive a full and comprehensive induction prior to or on the or start date.

                                                “Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create”

Jana Kingsford