Intuition Issue 28 Summer 2017 intuition-_issue_28_summer-2017 | Seite 26

Why staff and student
wellbeing is so vital
Ian Ashman
is president of
the Association
of Colleges
(AoC)
SET members
can access
support on
mental health
and wellbeing at
goo.gl/BNFqyt
CASE
STUDIES
By Ian Ashman
Teachers and staff supporting students in colleges,
like all those in education, have a very rewarding
job, but it can be demanding and pressured. How
well staff cope with those pressures can have a
significant impact on their students.
Further education colleges in England have
recognised the importance of supporting the
wellbeing of their staff . A recent survey of its
members by the Association of Colleges (AoC)
showed that 87 per cent of those that responded
ran wellbeing sessions for staff , aimed at promoting
good mental and physical health.
By learning about wellbeing and mental health,
staff can not only support themselves, they can
help promote healthy lifestyles and help tackle
issues they see in their students.
Dealing with students who have mental
health issues can be very challenging, but a
staff member who is resilient will be able to
provide better support.
Having declared this a year of mental health, AoC
is encouraging colleges to self-assess and enhance
the wellbeing support they provide to students of
all ages and to staff .
We are also encouraging the National Health
Service to better engage with colleges and are
sharing good practice across these institutions.
AoC is collecting case studies of colleges that
demonstrate what can be achieved by supporting
the wellbeing of staff , whether that’s through raising
awareness of the topic, encouraging exercise,
healthy eating or simply taking the time to thank
members of staff for their hard work.
An AoC wellbeing self-assessment tool and good
practice resources are due to published soon.
WELLBEING CASE STUDIES
Apprenticeships can place strains on individuals
as they work, study and manage domestic responsibilities.
And, as the number of apprenticeships grows, the
role of providers in supporting apprentices with
mental health problems becomes increasingly
important.
In response, the Education and Training Foundation
(ETF) has produced three case studies to showcase good
practice in mental health and wellbeing.
For many, the stigma around mental health
means they fail to disclose valuable information about
26 ISSUE 28 • SUMMER 2017 INTUITION
themselves to their provider or their employer.
Staff awareness and training can help to alleviate
some of this fear.
Sarah Giff ord, from the Education and Training
Foundation, said: “These case studies are a great
way to showcase some of the eff ective practice
that is already out there in the sector. I hope
they will increase awareness and raise the
quality of support for those with mental health
needs. Small changes really can make a
big diff erence.”
Follow the following
links to read the case
studies:
Kirkless College
goo.gl/9MyUal
Wigan Adult Learning
goo.gl/Ei6X0H
The Construction
Industry Training
Board (CITB)
goo.gl/28fwMI