Staff Wellbeing

At YHT we value our staff and the wellbeing of staff is at the forefront of the school's wellbeing agenda. Positive staff can increase productivity and engagement, improve people's job satisfaction and help reduce absence from work; this in turn means that staff are better able to support their pupils.

As part of the YHT wellbeing offer we support our staff through the following activities and programmes;

Wellbeing Wednesday

Every Wednesday morning circuits in the gym, yoga classes, mindfulness sessions are available for all staff to get involved in.

Wellbeing Friday

At YHT staff have the opportunity to finish alongside pupils and students at lunchtime every other Friday.

Staff Team Building Events

Throughout the year, a range of events are planned to encourage and facilitate staff wellbeing and working relationships.

Wellbeing Challenges

This started off as a simple idea that was set up by a small group of teachers challenging themselves to do 100 press ups a day during lockdown.

It has grown into a wellbeing challenge open to all staff. The group now has over 35 members that have all set themselves personal and realistic challenges to complete over a set time frame. With staff being able to set their own challenges they have developed self motivation and can see the long term benefits of setting healthy routines.

This term as an additional incentive, there was a little prize draw for the staff that are completing the wellbeing challenge. Prize one was a cash prize and prize two was a lesson covered by SLT.

If anybody would like to join or find out more information then please get in touch with Mr A Davies.

Advantages of the wellbeing challenges:

Motivation to develop healthy routines
Employee engagement and motivation
Team building
Support amongst staff
Personal challenge
Information and goal setting

Examples of personal challenges staff have created include:

Performing yoga each morning
Getting active
Weight loss
Healthy eating
Focusing on hydration
Participating in sport or physical activity on a regular basis
Completing 10,000 steps

Useful Apps to Boost Well-being

10 mental wellbeing apps for all the familyThe COVID-19 lockdown has added many new pressures to our lives. It’s therefore no surprise that more people are currently worried about their mental wellbeing than they are about their general health

Support for School Staff

Everyone working in a school setting , can contact the Education Support Charity and/or the Educational Psychology Team for guidance and support.

Education Support charity helpline is 0800 056 2561, which all school staff can call for support. This phoneline operates 24/7 and is manned by fully trained counsellors. They support people working in any educational organisation whether nursery, primary, secondary, further or higher education. Download a poster communicating the helpline information to staff
You can also contact the Educational Psychology Service if you feel it would be helpful
Looking after each other & ourselves: A guide to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of staff at schools and colleges during periods of disruption Anna Freud Resources

Useful online resources and apps

Public Health Wales
Every Mind Matters
Carers Bucks
Sleepio – free access to a 6 week online sleep improvement programme
Action for Happiness
Coronavirus and your money
My Possible Self and Feeling Good (age 18+) are mental health apps which supports you to develop skills to manage anxiety and stress and improve your wellbeing. mypossibleself.com
Calm Harm is an app supporting those concerned about self-harm with managing emotions. co.uk
Relax your body and mind with this series of NHS audio tracks designed to help you build confidence, energy and a positive mindset. nhs.uk/apps-library/feeling-good-positive-mindset
A mindfulness course which is available online for improved mental wellbeing (£30). bemindfulonline.com
Thrive – Use games to track your mood and teach yourself methods to take control of stress
Calm – Meditate, sleep, relax
Headspace – Meditation, sleep, healthy mind
Aura – Personalised meditation

Support for Staff Members who have suffered a Bereavement

The Educational Psychology team has curated some really helpful guidance for you on how best to manage bereavement and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic. It covers different situations and the difficult emotions bereaved people may have to deal with.
Cruse, a national bereavement charity, has a dedicated helpline manned by experienced volunteers. Call 0808 808 1677 Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays), with extended hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, when they’re open until 8pm.
Cruse also has a number of easy read fact sheets on:

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