Sources of Support
Consideration should be given to the wide range of support available to assist employees in managing their health, attendance and wellbeing. Consideration should also be given to advice and guidance that can be offered by managers and peers, including reading lists and professional sources of information and advice.
Human Resources
The relevant HR Business Managers or their team are the principal points of contact for designated Institutions. Full details of the University's HR contacts, staff policies and all other information for staff are available online.
Occupational Health
Occupational Health provides a specialist support service that focuses on the prevention of ill-health and promotion of health at work. Its services respond to the University's statutory requirements under health, safety and employment law and are designed to protect health at work and ensure that health related problems are effectively managed.
Through collaborative work with both external and internal disciplines such as the Safety Advisers and HR Business Managers, Occupational Health aims to provide an integrated service to all staff.
Some useful links include:
Staff Counselling Service
The Staff Counselling Service is available free of charge to all University employees. It provides confidential personal counselling to help employees solve personal or work-related problems away from the work environment.
Employees approach the service for help with a wide range of issues, including work issues such as stress, bullying or harassment, work block or difficult relationships with colleagues. They may also access the service for personal reasons such as bereavement, family or relationship difficulties, cultural experiences, or for support with questions relating to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The service is able to respond sensitively to a diverse range of different concerns.
Internal Mediation Service
Mediation is a well-established process for resolving disagreements in which an impartial third party (the mediator) helps two or more people in dispute to attempt to reach an agreement and find a mutually acceptable resolution. The University uses co-mediation which involves the allocation of two qualified mediators per case.
Health and Safety Office
The Health and Safety Office provides a central resource for health and safety to complement and support the work of safety officers in the University’s academic departments. Working together with colleagues in Fire Safety and Occupational Health, the Health and Safety Office ensures that the University is a safe and healthy place to work.
Dignity at Work Contacts
Dignity at Work Contacts are volunteer members of staff, drawn from a variety of backgrounds and roles throughout the University, who have received training to act as a first point of contact for members of staff who feel they are being bullied or harassed, or have been accused of bulling or harassment.
Equality and Diversity Service
Equality and Diversity seeks to help the University progress equalities policy in line with legislation, and to develop good practice in supporting under-represented groups, promoting an inclusive culture, and valuing diversity. The service also provides specialist advice and training to University departments and employees.
Disability Resource Centre (DRC)
The University’s DRC provides information and advice on disability issues, tailor-made training on all aspects of disability and advice on making reasonable adjustments and the University's obligations under the Equality Act 2010. It develops University disability policy and practice and promotes disability awareness.
External Support
- Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, medical and financial support for those living with cancer, those that care for those with cancer and employers who have staff affected by cancer.
For employees: Work it Out: The Essential Questions to Ask About Work
This toolkit aims to help individual employees find the information they need about work issues at every stage of their cancer journey e.g. dealing with absence from work to preparing to return to work.
For managers: Working Through Cancer
This toolkit may assist managers supporting employees affected by cancer. While recognising that each case will be different, it covers how to talk about cancer and strategies to support employees and their colleagues.
Macmillan’s Cancer Support line number is 0808 808 00 00 and is also available for anyone affected by cancer.
- Mind
Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. It campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. It has produced a series of free resources to help improve mental wellbeing in the workplace.
- ACAS
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) works to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. It has teamed up with the NHS's Mindful Employer initiative, a leading authority on managing mental health at work, to develop an advisory booklet called 'Promoting Positive Mental Health at Work' which is designed to help employers to tackle the stigma around mental health, focus on the practical things managers can do to help and develop solutions by listening.