We believe that everyone working in education should have the opportunity to enjoy the highest possible standard of wellbeing and mental health.
Working in education often means that you focus on the needs of the children, young people and families that you work with. Whilst this is understandable, remember that you can’t look after anyone else, if you don’t look after yourself (it’s just like putting your own oxygen mask on before you help those who are more vulnerable).
This webpage lists links and resources that you can use to help manage and maintain your own wellbeing.
Urgent help
If you are in a mental health crisis, or know someone who is, visit the Solent Mind website for some ways you can get help.
Self-care
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families have shared self-care strategies aimed at young people, but they can work well for adults too. It’s up to you to decide what helps. If it works, keep doing it. If it doesn’t, stop and try something else.
Supporting positive wellbeing
Two recorded webinars (50 minutes each) delivered by Dr Emma Fitz-Gerald, Educational Psychologist at Portsmouth City Council, are available to watch online:
- Watch part one
Passcode: 46=Ga!Ut - Watch part two
Leadership: evidence-based organisational care
Three recorded sessions for heads and senior leaders delivered by Ian Hunkin. Recordings of the sessions are available on the Sigma Teaching School website.
Looking after our own wellbeing
Self-care is far from selfish and the research from neuroscience and psychology is very clear that we need to look after our own wellbeing in order to continue to be the secure-base providing the compassionate relational care that our communities need from us. The good news is that neuroscience and psychology also provide us with very clear evidence-based actions that we can take to look after our own emotional wellbeing.
This course consists of seven recordings of webinars followed by signposting to resources and other links referenced in each of the recordings. Visit the Sigma Teaching School website to find out more.
‘Every interaction matters’
‘Every interaction matters’ is a short, pre-recorded webinar for school and further education staff. It contains 20 slides, each with audio commentary. If used in an all-staff session, the webinar should take about 45-60 minutes to complete, including the suggested activity.
Watch the webinar here.
The webinar is provided by the Department for Education (DfE) as part of the wellbeing for education return programme.
Staff training for your school/college/setting
We are still able to offer training for your staff on staff wellbeing and/or supporting pupil wellbeing.
Contact [email protected] to discuss your preferred date and focus.
SEMH schools partnership
Partners across Portsmouth work in partnership to provide support to schools and colleges. This includes consultation and advice, support for individuals and strategic work.
Contact [email protected] to find out more about who can support your school/college/setting.
Support for children and young people
Information on how to support the mental health and wellbeing of a child or young person can be found on the Portsmouth City Council website.
School leaders support scheme
The DfE have launched a support scheme for school leaders to improve and promote good mental health and wellbeing. The scheme, delivered by Education Support, will provide one-to-one counselling and peer support from experts to around 2,000 school leaders, helping those at deputy head level and above in state-funded schools in England with their mental wellbeing.
School leaders can access support by visiting the Education Support website.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Your employer will be able to give you details of any support that is available to you through their EAP. This will be free and confidential.
Staff at schools that buy into Portsmouth City Council’s EAP (Vita Health Group) can access Silver Cloud Health, a website to provide you with wellbeing support (password available from subscribing schools). Their programmes are designed to help you improve and maintain your wellbeing by addressing underlying issues that can have a negative impact on how you would like to live your life.