Wellbeing Champions deliver for the Directorate for the Student Experience
15 Feb 2019
Embedding wellbeing within the DSE – Action from the Staff Survey
Following the Staff Survey in 2017 one of the key themes identified in the resulting Action Plan was wellbeing. Since then actions have been taken right across the DSE to improve participation in wellbeing activities to enhance working life.
In February 2018 following a call for volunteers, the DSE established it’s very own wellbeing Champion Network to compliment the University’s network. Since the initial request the DSE Wellbeing Champion network has gone from strength to strength and now comprises of over 37 individuals across the whole Directorate.
To support this activity content has been developed for the DSE Intranet, a listserv has been created to aid communications and the group has met monthly. Regular content has been included in the Team Brief, the network has liaised closely with the University network and the group has introduced wellbeing inductions for all new starters.
Champions, working together locally and across DSE organisational boundaries have created a wealth of activity related to wellbeing. A sample of some of the things achieved includes:
- A successful summer social in August 2018
- Informal running sessions
- University-wide Bake-Off competition
- Introduction of noticeboards to carry wellbeing materials
- Wellbeing Surveys to guide activity
- A range of activity supporting Children in Need
- Walking meetings
- A bespoke in-house step challenge
- Frisbee Fridays / Pizza Tuesdays
- Wellbeing content in newsletters
- Wellbeing as agenda items in team meetings
- Creation of book clubs
- Creation of a DSE Fantasy Football League
- Away Days with wellbeing content
In addition to the work of the Champions the DSE Extended Leadership Team (comprising 37 senior leaders) has also explored wellbeing in the DSE. In a three hour workshop these colleagues spent time considering the existing approach to wellbeing and looking at ways to enhance their engagement with the staff they manage. Recognising that wellbeing means different things to different people the resulting action plan focuses on effectively preparing Managers to provide the necessary support for staff to enable their wellbeing and, helping individuals develop a better understanding of their personal drivers.
Simon Merrywest said: “The work of the DSE Wellbeing Champions has been felt right across the Directorate; this army of volunteers have used their creativity and energy to ensure wellbeing messages are delivered to all staff. I’m also delighted to be working closely with my extended Leadership Team to look at equipping managers to deal more effectively with wellbeing on a daily basis through 1-2-1’s and to equip individuals to understand their personal drivers so they can balance the demands of their roles with a positive and healthy approach.”
Staff Survey 2019
Staff Survey 2019 launches on Monday, 4 March and runs until Monday, 8 April.
You will receive an email or, if you don’t work at a computer, be given the chance to fill in the Staff Survey form. It only takes around 15 minutes to complete, and you can be sure that all the information you supply will be anonymous and treated in strictest confidence. This is because the Staff Survey 2019 is being administered on the University’s behalf by an external company, Capita.
The survey results will be published in June.