Wellbeing FAQs
PROVIDED BY OUR SISTER COMPANY – SCHOOLS UK HEALTH
Schools UK wellbeing FAQs explain how our staff wellbeing support works, who can access it, and what is included through Schools UK Health. The Gold wellbeing package is included with every Schools UK staff absence policy, giving schools and trusts practical support such as 24/7 GP access, cashback services and wellbeing tools for staff and eligible family members.
What is the Schools UK wellbeing programme?
Our wellbeing programme gives schools practical, everyday support for staff health and wellbeing. It is designed to help schools support their people earlier, improve access to care, and reduce the risk of smaller health concerns turning into longer and more disruptive absences. We combine fast access, simple claiming and flexible support so schools can offer meaningful wellbeing help without adding unnecessary admin. (schoolsukhealth.com)
Is the wellbeing programme provided by Schools UK or Schools UK Health?
Our wellbeing programme is provided through our sister company, Schools UK Health. This allows us to keep the wellbeing offer clearly separated from the regulated insurance product, while still giving schools one joined-up solution for protection and prevention. (schoolsukhealth.com)
Is the Gold wellbeing package included with Schools UK staff absence insurance?
Yes. We include our Gold wellbeing package with Schools UK staff absence insurance policies, giving schools and trusts added value alongside their insurance-backed absence protection. This means schools are not only protecting budgets against absence costs, but also giving staff access to practical wellbeing support. (schoolsuk.com)
Who can access the wellbeing support?
Our wellbeing support is designed to be widely accessible across the school community. Depending on the arrangement, access can extend across staff and, in some cases, beyond just those named on the insurance policy. This wider access is one of the reasons schools and trusts see the wellbeing programme as a practical staff benefit as well as a preventative support tool.
What are the red flags to watch for in school wellbeing services?
Completely in-house wellbeing services. Why is this bad? It can be extremely restrictive by designating times and locations that maybe not suitable for the client. Also, look out for group allowances to services which make it seem like the user will have X amount of sessions – when it maybe much less than that. This is why Schools UK are extremely clear with our £200 per person per year receipt cashback, which allows for flexibility in time and provider for you whilst being clear with your allowance.
Is wellbeing available to staff who are not named on the insurance policy?
Yes. Our wellbeing offer is designed to be broader than the insured staff list, so schools can support more of their people rather than limiting access only to those named on the policy. This makes the programme especially valuable for schools and MATs that want a wider wellbeing benefit across their workforce.
Are family members included in the wellbeing programme?
Yes, eligible family members can also benefit from parts of the wellbeing offer. This helps schools extend support beyond the workplace and gives staff access to a more rounded wellbeing package that recognises the wider pressures people face at home as well as at work.
What is included in the Gold wellbeing package?
Our Gold wellbeing package includes practical support such as 24/7 GP access and cashback towards everyday healthcare costs. It is designed to give schools a useful, easy-to-access level of support that staff can genuinely use, rather than a token wellbeing add-on.
Does the wellbeing programme include 24/7 GP access?
Yes. Our wellbeing programme includes 24/7 GP access, helping staff get support quickly without needing to wait for a routine appointment. Fast access to a GP can make a real difference when staff need reassurance, advice or early treatment.
Does the wellbeing programme include counselling or EAP support?
Yes. Our wellbeing offer includes access to counselling and employee assistance style support, giving staff help with emotional wellbeing, mental health and day-to-day pressures. This is an important part of our wider prevention-focused approach.
What is Direct Healthcare Cashback?
Direct Healthcare Cashback is our way of helping staff claim money back towards eligible everyday healthcare costs. It gives schools a simple, tangible wellbeing benefit that staff can see and use in real life, rather than something that feels distant or hard to access.
How much cashback is included in the Gold package?
Our Gold package includes cashback support for eligible healthcare services, including per person up to £200 towards therapies and up to £200 towards consultations and X-rays. This helps staff access support sooner and reduces some of the cost barrier that can stop people getting help early.
Can staff choose their own therapist or provider?
Yes. We allow staff to use any qualified provider, rather than restricting them to a closed in-house network. That gives people more choice, more convenience and a better chance of finding support that feels right for them.
Do staff need GP referrals or pre-approval for therapies?
No. Our wellbeing model is designed to remove unnecessary friction, so staff do not need a GP referral for therapies and do not have to go through avoidable delays before accessing support. That makes the service faster, simpler and easier to use.
Is the wellbeing programme confidential?
Yes. Our wellbeing programme is designed to protect privacy and give staff confidence to use the support available. Schools receive the value of a wellbeing benefit without needing access to individual personal health details, which helps preserve trust and encourages uptake.
Does the wellbeing programme reduce admin for schools and MATs?
Yes. We have designed the programme to be simple for schools and trusts to roll out, with a direct-to-user approach that reduces admin and removes unnecessary handling for school teams. This is especially valuable for MATs and larger settings managing support across multiple schools.
Can multi-academy trusts use the wellbeing programme?
Yes. Our wellbeing programme works well for multi-academy trusts because it offers broad staff support in a format that is easy to manage across multiple schools. It helps MAT leaders offer a more consistent wellbeing benefit while reducing administrative pressure at local school level.
Can wellbeing be bought as a stand-alone service?
Yes. Our wellbeing support can be accessed through Schools UK Health as a stand-alone service, as well as being included within Schools UK staff absence insurance policies. That gives schools flexibility depending on whether they want wellbeing on its own or as part of a wider protection package.
How do schools get started with the wellbeing programme?
Schools can get started by speaking to us about the right wellbeing option for their setting, whether that is through a Schools UK staff absence insurance policy with Gold wellbeing included or through a stand-alone Schools UK Health arrangement. We help schools choose a structure that fits their staff, budget and wider support goals.