WSA Staff Development & Wellbeing

Key question: How are staff supported in relation to their own health and wellbeing and to be able to support student wellbeing?

Staff health and wellbeing is recognised as the foundation of a WSA and staff are supported accordingly.
All staff receive training and support to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence around EHWB support for students
All staff understand that EHWB in school is 'everybody's business'.
Know how to refer students for support internally / externally as appropriate

"Teachers (and all school staff) are not - nor should they be - therapists, but their relationships with the children have enormous reparative as well as developmental potential"

Youell (2006)

Six Litmus Tests (Pooky Knightsmith)

(1) Staff at My School Are Happy and Healthy

Mentally healthy schools should not be places where children flourish at the expense of staff. Instead, they should be places where everybody’s mental health matters and steps are taken to promote the physical and emotional wellbeing of staff as well as students.

Litmus Test quick self-reflection tool

Staff Wellbeing

Staff wellbeing and resilience is the heart of a Whole School Approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health in schools.

Surveys

There are plenty of surveys to use for staff wellbeing. Some are paid for / administered for you. Others are free to access and use. Some examples include:

Anna Freud - Wellbeing Measurement for Schools Staff Survey is available as a free downloadable PDF or can be provided as an online package along with analysis (at a cost to schools).

Example Staff Wellbeing Survey (Kent Resilience Hub))

Example Staff Wellbeing Survey and guidance (based on one created by Wiltshire Healthy Schools)

Support and Advice

Education support line
www.educationsupport.org.uk/
No matter what you’re feeling, our free, confidential helpline is always here 24/7 with trained counsellors here to listen and help you find a way forward. Please do contact us if you need to. Our Helpline number is 08000 562 561.

Schools Advisory Service
This is a staff absence insurance company and there is a cost involved but we’re told by heads using them that they have an excellent staff wellbeing package.
https://schooladvice.co.uk/pastoral-and-wellbeing-resources/

Creative Education

Staff Wellbeing Webinar Series

Available free to school staff, governors and professionals supporting children in Cornwall (and the IOS) using the Headstart Kernow Account. Contact us

creative ed banner image

Anna Freud

Anna Freud have some excellent staff wellbeing resources as part of their free 'Schools in Mind' network.

Time to Rest Plan

Tina Rae's Time to Rest Plan

Take What You Need Tokens

Take What You Need To kens - Dr Karen Treisman (more great resources on her website)

Here is a lovely way one school used the tokens

Staff Development

Ensure staff receive training and support to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence around EHWB support for students.

Supervision / staff support

Many schools are realising the value of providing individual or group supervision for their staff to help them manage the emotional demands of their work.

Developing a culture of supervision in school is a positive way to build a sustainable model in school.

In the meantime if you would like to find out out about supervision the following may be of interest.

Charlie Waller: tips for setting up staff supervision groups in schools (weblink) tips for setting up staff supervision groups in schools (pdf)
Supervision in Education - Barnardo's Scotland. A report on the effectiveness of reflective supervision in trauma informed schools in Scotland
Book: Using Supervision in Schools: A guide to building safe cultures and providing emotional support in a range of school settings by Penny Sturt and Jo Rowe (excellent - readable, practical and full of great advice / resources)

Staff development / training

Wellbeing is Everybody's Business... Wellbeing training should be something for all staff appropriate to roles and responsibilities. Everyone needs to understand how important tehy are to the success of a WSA and the wellbeing of the entire school community.

Creative Education Learning Platform- School staff / governors and anyone supporting wellbeing in Cornwall's Schools can take advantage of our full and free membership of the creative education platform to access:

Short on demand courses (anytime, anywhere)
Longer in-depth learning pathways
Live webinars and access to webinar playback anytime
Resources
A wealth of content for parents and carers (give free access to your parents and carers - find out more)

Check out the Creative Education site and then head over to the Cornwall Wellbeing Hub and follow the instructions to access free membership for staff / governors / others working to support wellbeing in your school.

Great practice idea

Keep a book of one positive event, conversation, deed, or comment you observe each day.

A great resource for individuals / groups of staff to use when needing to find resilience or the reason why you're doing what you're doing!

Explore the other Principles of a Whole School Approach

#1

Leadership and management that supports and champions efforts to promote emotional health and wellbeing

Leadership and management that supports and champions efforts to promote emotional health and wellbeing

#2

An ethos and environment that promotes respect and values diversity

An ethos and environment that promotes respect and values diversity

#3

Curriculum, teaching and learning to promote resilience and support social and emotional learning

Curriculum, teaching and learning to promote resilience and support social and emotional learning