As schools and educational institutions strive for excellence, there is an increased focus on the health and wellbeing of the staff. School staff are expected to provide a high level of service to the students, which can be a significant source of stress. To help support teachers, SBMs (School Business Managers) and Head Teachers in their roles, it is important to recognise the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace and to provide access to resources that can help maintain mental and physical wellbeing. This blog post will discuss the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace, the benefits of implementing a health and wellness programme for school staff, the different types of programmes available, tips for successful implementation, and resources for further research.
Introduction
The importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace cannot be understated. Poor mental health has been linked to lower levels of job satisfaction, increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and higher levels of stress. This can have a significant impact on the overall performance of school staff. By providing access to resources that promote physical and mental wellbeing, school staff can feel supported in their roles and better prepared to meet the demands of their positions.
There are numerous benefits to implementing a health and wellness programme for school staff. These include improved morale, increased job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, higher levels of productivity, improved mental health, and increased engagement. Additionally, providing access to resources that promote physical and mental wellbeing can help create a healthier work environment for all staff members.
Health and Wellness Programmes
There are a variety of health and wellness programmes available to school staff. The most common type is an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). An EAP is an employee benefit programme that provides confidential counselling services and a variety of other resources to help employees manage personal problems that may be affecting their work performance. Sparta Health, who we are proud to be partnered with, is another programme that provides access to health support services such as occupational health reports, face to face consultations, work health assessments and more.
The benefits of staff health and wellbeing programmes are numerous. They provide access to resources that promote physical and mental wellbeing, which can help reduce stress levels, improve job satisfaction, and increase productivity. Additionally, school staff absence insurance can provide cover in the event of an illness or injury, which can help protect against financial losses.
Implementing a Health and Wellness Programme
Implementing a successful health and wellness programme requires careful planning. Here are some tips for successful implementation:
- Involve staff in the process: Involve staff in the planning process by asking for their input on what resources they would find most beneficial.
- Set goals: Set clear goals for what you want to achieve with your programme.
- Establish a budget: Establish a budget for the programme so you can determine what resources you can afford.
- Promote the programme: Promote the programme within your organisation so that everyone is aware of it and can take advantage of it.
Best practices for school staff wellness programmes should include access to counselling services, stress management programmes, digital coaching services, online learning modules, and other resources that promote physical and mental wellbeing. Additionally, strategies such as flexible working hours or offering additional holidays can help support staff wellbeing by providing more time for self-care or relaxation activities.
Conclusion
It is essential to recognise the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace and to provide access to resources that can help maintain mental and physical wellbeing. A health and wellness programme for school staff can provide numerous benefits such as improved morale, increased job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, higher levels of productivity, improved mental health, and increased engagement. There are various types of health and wellness programmes available such as employee assistance programmes (EAPs) and Sparta Health that provide access to resources that promote physical and mental wellbeing. When implementing a health and wellness programme, it is important to involve staff in the planning process, set clear goals, establish a budget, promote the programme within your organisation, and adopt best practices such as providing access to counselling services or offering flexible working hours.
For further research into staff health and wellbeing in schools in the UK, there are a number of resources available including Healthy Working Lives from the Health & Safety Executive; Wellbeing in Education from the Education Endowment Foundation; Educational Wellbeing from GOV UK; The Teacher Wellbeing Index from The Education Support Partnership; The Institute of School Business Leadership, and The National Education Union.
In conclusion, providing access to resources that promote physical and mental wellbeing is essential for school staff as it helps create a healthier work environment where staff feel supported in their roles. Implementing a successful health and wellness programme requires careful planning but can result in numerous benefits such as improved morale, increased job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, higher levels of productivity, improved mental health, and increased engagement amongst school staff members.