1Wellbeing Strategy 2018/19

Wellbeing Strategy2018/19

anglia.ac.uk/wellbeing

3Wellbeing Strategy 2018/192 Wellbeing Strategy 2018/19

Background

Student wellbeing and mental health is an increasing source of national concern. At a local level, our Counselling and Wellbeing service has experienced a 189% increase in student registrations between 2010/11 and 2015/16. Our Students’ Union’s Let’s Be Honest report found that over half of the respondents were worried about their own mental healthand/or a friend’s.

We are responsive to growing demand and our Counselling and Wellbeing Service has expanded the range of support beyond face to face counselling to include guided self-help, group workshops, and online support. However, there is an expectation amongst both staff and students that all forms of distress can only be addressed through one-to-one counselling and this regularly results in waiting lists.

There are, in fact, many other services within our University that can have a positive impact on student wellbeing. These include, but are not limited to, Team ARU (Sport), Estates and Facilities (accommodation, catering, space allocation, sustainability) and the Students’ Union. Until this point we have not had a joined-up strategy for student wellbeing that seeks to bring all of these teams together in collaboration.

2 Wellbeing Strategy 2018 - 2023

“This strategy broadens the focus to include the development of positive wellbeing amongst all of our students.”

4 Wellbeing Strategy 2018/19 5Wellbeing Strategy 2018/19

Adopting a Wellbeing Strategy

We remain committed to delivering high quality support for student mental health. This strategy broadens the focus to include the development of positive wellbeing amongst all of our students.

AimsTo make the delivery of a whole institution approach to student wellbeing and mental health a strategic priority.

To embed psychological capital building into our Personal Development Tutor (PDT) approach and active curriculum.

To create supportive environments that promote wellbeing.

To deliver efficient and effective support for student mental ill-health.

‘Wellbeing’ is defined as a state in which an individual realises their own potential; can cope with normal stresses of life; can work productively and fruitfully; and is able to make a contribution to their community.

The strategy will promote psychological and emotional wellbeing through measures that develop students’ understanding and application of resilience and emotional intelligence. The importance of physical and social aspects of wellbeing are also recognised. We will foster a cross-institutional understanding of wellbeing and take a broad, collaborative approach to promote and support its development in our students. We will be particularly attentive to the differing needs of taught and research student.

The strategy is informed by two recent frameworks for developing positive wellbeing within higher education: the Universities UK Step Change framework and the Framework for Promoting Student Mental Wellbeing in Universities (2016).

Achievingour aims

1. We will make the delivery of a whole institution approach to student wellbeing and mental health a major strategic priority

Key stakeholders: University Board of Governors; VCG; CMT; Students’ Union

A whole university approach will require the active engagement of all senior leaders, sustained prioritisation and shared accountability. Our university will need to actively develop, maintain and evidence a supportive culture in which the promotion of student wellbeing permeates our core missions.

To enable this we will:

• Regularly update the Board of Governors on the strategy’s progress via the Student Matters Committee.

• Ensure senior leadership engagement and accountability in the delivery of the strategy.

• Audit and measure the impact of deliverables.

6 Wellbeing Strategy 2018/19 7Wellbeing Strategy 2018/19

2. We will embed wellbeing into our PDT approach and active curriculumKey stakeholders: PDTs, Course Leaders; Anglia Learning and Teaching; HR; Student Services

Student mental health is supported when learning creates social connections, builds competences and fosters intrinsic motivation. This requires the delivery of a curriculum where students are not only able to acquire new knowledge and skills but are also supported to develop a 'Growth Mindset' which values resilience and reflective capacity (psychological capital).

To enable this we will:

• Support the academic leads for employability to embed psychological capital building within curriculum design.

• Offer a reflective practice framework and training to support the Personal Development Tutors. They will coach students via group sessions that have clear boundaries within the pastoral programme.

• Produce student facing online material to support PDT sessions.

3. We will create supportive environments that promote wellbeingKey stakeholders: Students’ Union; Team ARU; Estates and Facilities; Security

Learning flourishes in inclusive, engaging environments that build belonging, promote respectful interactions and relationships, and empower communities to take ownership and responsibility. We will lead in the creation of opportunities for students and student organisations to initiate, develop, contribute to and sustain activities which support wellbeing.

To enable this we will:

• Establish a wellbeing partnership forum (with representation from relevant university services and the SU) to identify cross university priorities and deliver wellbeing campaigns (e.g. healthy eating, exercising) and influence the provision of suitable social space for students in residence refurbishment programmes and potential new builds.

• Work with the SU to develop extra curricular opportunities which foster a sense of belonging for students, including those from diverse backgrounds and at greatest risk of feeling isolated.

• Work collaboratively to encourage social interaction and engagement amongst students by providing good quality social spaces, empowering students to participate in sports programmes and offering a balanced menu of healthy food options on campus.

• Cultivate an environment of mutual respect, and ensure effective support for those who experience offensive or intimidating behaviours.

4. We will deliver efficient and effective support for student mental ill-healthKey stakeholders: Counselling and Wellbeing; Students’ Union; HR; External Services

The strategy aims to develop positive wellbeing but it recognises the occurrence of mental ill-health as a significant and serious factor within the student population. Timely, therapeutic interventions by the Counselling and Wellbeing Service can enable students to complete their studies in the face of difficult circumstances that would otherwise result in withdrawal from their studies. Prompt access to support for emerging mental health difficulties can prevent a decline into serious ill-health. Early identification and ongoing support for enduring ill-health is necessary to minimise potential risk of self-harm or suicide.

To support students through distress or mental ill-health we need: an informed and aware staff and student community that understand how to respond to emerging ill-health and when to make prompt referral; an adequately resourced Counselling and Wellbeing Service that can deal effectively with crisis, risk and support; and access to a range of effective support including external services.

To enable this we will:

• Improve institutional awareness of mental wellbeing and ensure that staff know how to refer instances of student mental ill-health effectively.

• Promote and deliver blended learning staff development.

• Review our existing mental health support using evidence based evaluation criteria. This will include an evaluation of inclusivity.

• Extend a successful pilot of the Wellbeing Adviser role and introduce as a permanent post on each campus to manage Cause for Concern cases, administer a university wide Harassment Support Network, provide mental health information and advice, and maintain self-help provision.

• Pilot an early intervention programme using data to identify any ‘at risk’ students across all year groups and target these for referal.

• Review and develop more effective external partnerships with mental health agencies and statutory services.

• Develop a governance framework for mental health support at ARU that establishes agreed boundaries of our specialist provision; receives reports on risk and progress; and reviews related policies and procedures.

• Review our internal and student facing processes to connect to other services/ stakeholders to enable a more effective and seamless delivery within the boundaries of client confidentiality (Top Desk).

The delivery of this strategy will be overseen by a working group with sponsorship from an ARU governor (reporting to SEC and Student Matters Committee) which will meet on a quarterly basis and review progress against an annual action plan.

To view the action plan please visitanglia.ac.uk/wellbeing

Counselling and Wellbeing Service

Cambridge CampusHEL341, HelmoreCambridgeCB1 1PT

Chelmsford Campus2nd Floor, TindalChelmsford

CM1 1SQ

For more informationVisit: anglia.ac.uk/wellbeingEmail: wellbeing@anglia.ac.ukCall: 01245 68 6700

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