Good staff well-being is essential for cultivating a mentally healthy school, for retaining and motivating staff and for promoting pupil well-being and attainment.
The School as an employer has a duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees as far as reasonably practicable. It is also required to have in place measures to mitigate as far as practicable, factors that could harm employees’ physical and mental wellbeing, which includes work-related stress. This duty extends only to those factors which are work-related and within the School’s control.
Well-being is all about our holistic health, including the physical and emotional. When we have good levels of wellbeing we feel that life is in balance and that we can generally cope well. We feel motivated and engaged, we’re resilient and able to deal effectively with daily troubles, as well as ’bounce back’ from life’s challenges (see Appendix 1- the Model of Well-being, Dodge et al.).
As school staff juggle a multitude of different tasks and demands. It is important that everyone is given the right emotional and practical support so that they can in turn, support their pupils.
The COVID-19 crisis is challenging for everyone and people will respond to their experiences in different ways. The COVID-19 outbreak is creating unprecedented pressure on school staff so it becomes even more important that staff have access to the information and support they may need over the coming months and that everyone's contribution is valued and appreciated.
In addition to having a positive impact on colleagues and children, staff well-being can improve performance and job satisfaction, which can lead to reduced staff turnover. It can also help to reduce absence (both short and long term), increase -productivity and promote staff engagement. Here you will find advice and guidance on supporting staff well-being, including the Staff Charter.