Introduction

Xxxx School is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of our staff and recognises that workplace stress is a health and safety issue and acknowledges the importance of identifying and reducing workplace stressors.

This policy will apply to everyone in the school and the headteacher is responsible for implementation and the school is responsible for providing the necessary resources.

Definition of stress

The Health and Safety Executive define stress as “the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them”. This makes an important distinction between pressure, which can be a positive state if managed correctly, and stress which can be detrimental to health.

Policy

• The headteacher will introduce a process whereby all workplace stressors are identified and will conduct risk assessments to eliminate stress or control the risks from stress. These risk assessments will be regularly reviewed.

• The headteacher will consult with Trade Union Representatives and Trade Union Safety Representatives as appropriate on all proposed action relating to the prevention of workplace stress.

• The school will provide training for all managers in good management practices.

• The school will provide confidential counselling for staff affected by stress caused by either work or external factors.

• The school will provide adequate resources to enable managers to implement the school’s agreed stress management strategy.

Responsibilities

Headteachers/Managers

• Attend training organized by the employer in order to become “competent” in risk assessment.

• Identify and eliminate the causes of workplace stress through consultation with those who work at the school.

• Conduct and implement recommendations of risks assessments for stress within the school.

• Ensure good communication between management and staff, particularly where there are organisational and procedural changes.

• Ensure staff are fully trained to discharge their duties.

• Ensure staff are provided with meaningful developmental opportunities.

• Monitor workloads to ensure that people are not overloaded.

• Discourage staff from working excessive hours to ensure that staff are not overworking.

• Attend training as requested in good management practice and health and safety.

• Ensure that bullying and harassment are not tolerated within their areas of responsibility.

• Be vigilant and offer additional support to a member of staff who is experiencing stress outside work e.g. bereavement or separation.

• Secure support for individuals from Occupational Health when they have been off sick with stress and adopt a planned return to work.

• Monitor and review the effectiveness of measures to reduce stress.

Teaching Staff

• Raise issues of concern with your Union Representative, line manager or headteacher.

• Accept opportunities for counselling when recommended.

Function of Union Reps

• Union Representatives must be meaningfully consulted on any changes to work practices or work design that could precipitate stress.

• Union Representatives must be able to consult with members on the issue of stress including conducting any workplace surveys.

• Union Representatives must be meaningfully involved in the risk assessment process.

• Union Representatives should allowed access to collective and anonymous data from HR.

• Union Representatives should be provided with paid time away from normal duties to attend any Trade Union training relating to workplace stress.

• Union Safety Representatives should conduct inspections of the workplace to ensure that environmental stressors are properly controlled and to examine the progress made in combating stress.

 

 

Signed by:

Headteacher:

Date:

 

Employee Representative

Date:

 

Employee Representative

Date:

 

Employee Representative

Date: