Staff support and wellbeing
Last updated 3 March 2021
The University remains committed to supporting all our staff through this difficult period.
Although many University support services continue to work remotely, they are still available to support you with practical help, advice, or someone to talk to.
Support for staff who are self-isolating
If you’re a staff member, please Let us know if you are self-isolating or have tested positive for coronavirus.
Self-isolation can be a lonely time, so don’t forget that you can contact Occupational Health on email occupationalhealth@leeds.ac.uk for a confidential chat, or if you feel you may need counselling, contact Staff Counselling by email at staffcounselling@leeds.ac.uk or phone 0113 3433694.
If you’re self-isolating and you don’t have friends or family nearby to help with shopping, errands, dog walking etc, most local councils can put you in touch with volunteers who can help. See the links below or check your local Council website for more details:
- Leeds
- Bradford
- Kirklees
- Wakefield – especially the section on community hubs and ‘there isn’t anyone I can ask for support, can the council help me?’
- Harrogate
- Doncaster
- York
- Calderdale
Personal support
Workplace support for your mental wellbeing – if you are a staff member experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting your work, take advantage of confidential, one-to-one, workplace mental health support delivered by Remploy and funded by the Department of Work and Pensions. This offers nine months of virtual support including:
- Tailored work-focused mental health support
- Coping strategies
- Personal support plan to help you keep in or return to work
- Wellness Recovery Action Plan
- Face-to-face meetings (remotely by Google Meet or WhatsApp) at 1, 6 and 9 month stages, as wells fortnightly phone calls
Email a2wmhss@remploy.co.uk for an initial chat and to book a session.
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
Flu vaccination
Book an appointment for a free vaccination through the NHS. Subject to vaccine dose supply, the NHS aims to extend eligibility to people aged between 50 and 64. Staff not eligible for the NHS vaccination are also encouraged to book a private vaccination through their local pharmacy and can claim up to £14 back from the University.
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.
In addition to Government guidance on domestic abuse, other key resources include:
- Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse: help for employees when home is not a safe place
- A Safe Lives guide for victims and survivors of domestic abuse staying safe during COVID-19
- Standing Together against domestic abuse: COVID-19 specific resources
- Women’s Aid: Making a safety plan
- Guidance on economic abuse during COVID-19
General support resources
- GOV.UK Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19)
- NHS information on COVID recovery
- 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
View 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.
Keeping active and healthy
Online workouts are available at the Your Home Your Move page.
View remote support to quit or cut down smoking on the University wellbeing pages.
Need more help?
Please contact your line manager or health and safety manager.