inDEPTH


which supports manager and staff autonomy, and engagement.


“Heads of department engage their staff in writing these [budget] plans. It allows us to be creative and reflective, and promotes a bottom-up approach to working,” she says. The Government’s 2017 Thriving at Work report


urged the public sector, including education, to lead the way in improving mental health in the workplace. The report set out core mental health standards for


employers, including: producing and implementing a mental health at work plan; encouraging open conversations about mental health; supporting struggling employees and promoting effective people management through line managers. The Association of Colleges’ (AoC) Mental Health


and Wellbeing Charter has 126 college signatories to date. Among other things, the charter commits colleges to appointing a senior manager to lead on mental health and wellbeing, implementing a wellbeing and mental health policy, and providing mental health training for staff. Richard Caulfield, the AoC national lead on mental health and wellbeing, says that support for change must come from the top in any organisation and, whilst initial progress was slow, staff and student mental health and wellbeing are now priorities for many employers. “Colleges recruit significantly more students from


disadvantaged areas than schools, and there is a direct correlation between poverty and poor mental health which creates an extra challenge for colleges and their staff,” Caulfield says. “Colleges are responding positively within the


resources they possess, but evidence suggests that there continues to be additional challenges


around job security and workload in some areas.” In Greater Manchester the AoC has been working with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy to train staff in local colleges to provide non-managerial supervision. Work is also ongoing with Salford University, which sends postgraduate counselling students on placement to local colleges to provide additional support. The initiatives are part of a wider FE


RESOURCES


• The Education and Training Foundation offers a wide range of support around mental health and wellbeing. To find out more visit et-foundation.co.uk/supporting/mental_health


Alan Thomson is editor of inTuition


• The Education Support helpline is free and confidential. 08000 562 561. www.educationsupport.org.uk • There are many useful resources at www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk • The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust offers support for students, teachers, trainers and families. www.cwmt.org.uk • To find out more about the AoC Mental Health and Wellbeing Charter email Richard Caulfield: Richard.Caulfield@aoc.co.uk • Read the Government’s 2017 Thriving At Work report at bit.ly/ThrivingAtWorkRept • For information and support for leaders and aspiring leaders visit the ETF’s Leadership Hub at leadershiphub.etfoundation.co.uk


14 ISSUE 39 • SPRING 2020 inTUITION


CASE STUDY – EAST COAST COLLEGE East Coast College places staff wellbeing at the core of its operational and strategic activity, including a governance committee dedicated to the welfare of people at the college. Principal Stuart Rimmer says that wellbeing has become


part of the college’s DNA in recent years. He holds regular principal listening groups where he meets


with around six members of staff, in different college locations, to hear issues of concern. Following concerns raised about workloads, Rimmer has set himself a target of reducing the administrative workload for teaching and support staff. Other activities are used to foster communication and


support between staff and managers, including: staff groups such as a book group and a running club; an end of year celebration for all staff; monthly staff recognition with prizes; and the popular curry and chaat evenings. And, if that wasn’t enough, the college can also call on the services of Murphy, the college labrador, who not only acts as a calming influence but also helps employees and students get to know each other as they stop and chat.


programme of work funded by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership. A similar approach has been taken at Fareham College, a signatory to the AoC Charter, which has employed an educational psychologist to train and support its 11-strong health and wellbeing team. The team will be running supervision surgeries for all staff after Easter, providing safe spaces in which employees can discuss concerns and problems. Louise Davis, assistant principal for students and


improvement, says: “We recognised that the health and wellbeing team staff needed support as they will experience high levels of impact. The educational psychologist provides clinical input and also brings external ideas into college.” Further education has more than its fair share


of pressures which impact on staff wellbeing and mental health. But, while there is still a way to go, there is evidence of a growing determination among practitioners and sector leaders to take positive and pre-emptive action to ensure the health, both mental and physical, of staff and students.


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