Staff support and wellbeing

Last updated 8 September 2021

The University remains committed to supporting all our staff. 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

Support is available via your line manager, HR Manager, your Health and Safety Manager (safety@leeds.ac.uk), and the University’s Occupational Health and Staff Counselling and Psychological Support teams.

Confidential wellbeing chat – whether you’re feeling a bit down, struggling with isolation or being at home with your family, or just need a general confidential chat, email occupationalhealth@leeds.ac.uk. 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.

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 externally-provided, confidential, one-to-one, workplace mental health support. 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

It is delivered by Remploy and funded by the Department of Work and Pensions. Email a2wmhss@remploy.co.uk for an initial chat and to book a session.

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

Financial difficulties

Staff Assistance Fund is available to support employees facing financial difficulties. We have made some changes to the fund to reflect the unprecedented circumstances caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Find out more on the HR website Staff Assistance Fund page

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

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.

Find out more about the free personalised support available to staff if you’d like help to cut down or to quit smoking on the quit smoking webpages.

Need more help?

Please contact your line manager or health and safety manager.