Staff support and wellbeing

As a University community, we understand how important it is to look after our wellbeing, especially in times like this which will impact on many areas of our lives. The University is committed to supporting all our staff through this very difficult period.

Whether you’re working from home, on-site for essential work or on the frontline supporting the NHS, it’s key to look after yourself and look out for those around you.

Many University support services are now working remotely, and are still available to support staff with practical help, advice, or someone to talk to.

Working from home

• See the Health and Safety information – Tips for staff on working from home around setting up your workstation at home. We recognise that you may not be able to replicate the diagrams exactly but please do the best you can, to look after yourself. For advice contact safety@leeds.ac.uk
• If you experience any short-term discomfort working on computers at home, try the quick postural exercises shown by Sport and Physical Activity.
• See the Wellbeing guidance on homeworking and life balance and for more advice and support on this, contact occupationalhealth@leeds.ac.uk

Personal support

Confidential wellbeing chat – whether you’re feeling a bit down, struggling with isolation or being at home with your family, or just needing a general confidential chat, email occupationalhealth@leeds.ac.uk to arrange one. There is an Occupational Health Practitioner available Monday to Friday during office hours to speak to and support you in the current situation. These specialist practitioners are all nurses with extensive experience.

Staff Counselling offer free, professional and confidential advice, information and counselling by email, phone and the secure platform Zoom. Please do get in touch by email at staffcounselling@leeds.ac.uk or phone 0113 3433694 and leave a message.

Support when coping with the loss of a family member, friend or colleague – it is always a difficult time when we lose a family member, friend or colleague. It’s important to remember that our University support services are available to help you should you need them.

If you are informed that a member of your team or a close colleague has sadly passed away, please ensure that you seek the support that you need, and as soon as you can please inform your Head of School/Service.

University Chaplaincy – Chaplains can listen and offer remote pastoral and spiritual support by appointment or virtual drop-in. Please contact:

• Chaplains on chaplaincy@leeds.ac.uk with your best availability, name and contact details, or leave a message on 0113 343 5071.
• Muslim Adviser Farhat Yaqoob on 07713 707857 or email F.Yaqoob@leeds.ac.uk
• If you are a member of staff in crisis and would like out of hours chaplaincy support, please call the special out of hours number 07780 613862. They will respond to you as soon as they can. Our chaplains come from different faith backgrounds but are here for staff of all faiths and all world views.

Extra strategies, guidance and tools for dealing with the current situation can be found on the University wellbeing site and Staff Counselling Coronavirus pages.

Support in relation to domestic abuse

The University’s online guidance – Domestic Abuse: Protecting and Supporting Staff and Students – provides a first line of support for staff and students who are experiencing domestic abuse, and also enables managers, personal tutors, supervisors and colleagues to provide initial help and advice.

The guidance includes a comprehensive list giving details of further support available within the University. It also lists other external agencies and organisations offering specialist domestic abuse  support and advice, including a response to Covid-19 issued by the the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse help for employees when home is not a safe place.

The Government has also launched a new public awareness raising campaign, under the hashtag #YouAreNotAlone, aiming to reassure those affected by domestic abuse that support services remain available.

In addition to Government guidance on domestic abuse, other key resources include:

• a Safe Lives guide for victims and survivors of domestic abuse staying safe during COVID-19
• Respect’s #NoExcuseforAbuse campaign, which calls on perpetrators of domestic abuse to get help to manage and change their behaviour
• resources and posters highlighting the National Domestic Abuse Helpline from Refuge
• Standing Together against domestic abuse’s guidance during the COVID-19 outbreak
• Women’s Aid’s Making a safety plan
• guidance from the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) for housing providers on how to offer safe responses to tenants and service users
• guidance on economic abuse during COVID-19.

Other resources

• GOV.UK Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)
• MIND’s information, guidance and support
• NHS Every Mind Matters site
• University of Leeds Wellbeing Safety and Health
• Wellbeing LinkedIn Learning collection
• Big White Wall
• Crisis Card list of support organisations from Leeds.gov.uk

Keeping active and healthy

Online workouts are now available through the Your Home Your Move page and will be updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

See more options to help you stay healthy – including remote support to quit or cut down smoking on the University wellbeing pages.

Need more help?

Contact your line manager, HR Manager or Health and Safety Manager if you have questions that aren’t answered on this website or you need other help or support.

For other general support resources, see the Staff Wellbeing pages on:

• Healthy body – keeping moving in whichever way suits you.
• Mental health and wellbeing – keeping your spirits up and finding support
• Campus and community wellbeing – staying connected to people.
• Homeworking and life balance – making the best of the new ways of working.