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Staff Wellbeing
High Park Social Emotional and Mental Health Provision for Staff
• Social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.
• Responding to the social, emotional and mental health needs of all our staff members is everyone’s responsibility. • Every staff member is made to feel welcome within school and treated with dignity and respect
• Staff opinions and staff voice is valued and opportunities for contributions are created where possible
• Positive and trusting relationships are implicit to support each other and our pupils
• Staff questionnaires
All staff access:
• Timely, focused CPD
• High quality induction programme and identified buddy
• A wide range of opportunities to engage in Professional Conversations threaded through their day with a range of colleagues • Informative displays linked to wellbeing and mental health
• Regular and timely emails and e-bulletins linked to strategies, resources and organisations
• Mental Health First Aiders are always available within school – who are able to Connect, Listen Assess, Support and Signpost
. Open door policy of school leaders who know how to ‘start the conversation’
• Clear pathways for accessing support
• Wellbeing focused return to work meetings
• Regular wellbeing phone calls during absence
• Scheduled in person wellbeing meetings for long term absence
• Scheduled and responsive wellbeing
• Planned and responsive CPD (after school)
• Debriefs after incidents in a preferred school environment e.g., in class, workroom, meeting room
• Dedicated First Aid space (away for pupils)
• Supportive strategies linked to Team Teach protocols, e.g., ‘help available’, change of face
• Quiet spaces available e.g., to take medical calls or telephone counselling
• A carefully selected aromatherapy blends used across the school matched to best support needs – considering time in the term, seasonal changes, new and changing situation
• Alternative spaces at lunchtimes so they have a choice about where to spend their break
• Space to pray / reflect is prioritised within staff only areas of school with a room identified as a Contemplation Room
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a common emotion that we’ve likely all experienced at some point in our lives. People living with an anxiety disorder will feel intense levels of anxiety frequently, which can deeply impact their quality of life.
Anxiety disorders affect over 8 million people in the UK – that’s a little over 1 in 10 of us – and there are lots of different types.
When we talk about anxiety, we might dismiss or invalidate it as someone “just worrying” or “just being stressed”. These common phrases can be harmful. Mental Health UK aim to challenge the notion that it’s ‘just’ anxiety and share information about the condition and helpful tips to support.
The link below has useful resources and a helpful video explaining what anxiety is and how it can affect us.
National Conversation Week (2023) is all about the simple, pleasurable, and rewarding art of simply talking to each other. The aim of this campaign is to encourage everyone in the UK to spend the week trying a little bit harder to engage with those around them be they a friend, family member, colleague, or customer.
At High Park we value the importance of Professional Conversations. Professional Conversations provide the opportunity to build positive and trusting relationships and help to create a safe and supportive learning and working environment where everyone’s voice (staff, pupils, and careers/parents) is heard and treated with respect and dignity.
Professional Conversations create meaningful opportunities to:
Every Professional Conversation counts and provides the opportunity to make a positive difference for yourself and those around you.
