Your Wellbeing

We know our staff value easy access, for themselves and their families, to medical advice and care. The Laurus Trust partner with BHSF to provide all our staff, a free GP helpline which gives access to a fully-qualified GP, 24/7, 365 days a year, to gain advice, reassurance and diagnosis on a range of medical matters.

We have a qualified Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) in every Laurus Trust school offering support to anyone with a developing mental health issue or in mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aiders are trained to spot the early signs of poor mental health, including warning signs of other common mental health conditions. They know how to offer and provide initial help as well as provide guidance towards appropriate treatment and other sources of support.

The Trust provide an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to all employees through the Education Support Partnership who are dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of education staff.  

Education Support provide a free 24/7 service for school staff to access a range of emotional and practical support including:  

• Financial Guidance   
• Money Management   
• Legal Information   
• Information, Signposting and Support   
• Coaching service for line managers   
• Aware: A Mindfulness Programme   
• Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy   
• Life Coaching  

We have a network of Wellbeing Champions across all of our schools, who have an interest in wellbeing. Wellbeing Champions work to reduce stigmas, dispel myths, create initiatives, and make it easier for people to seek support. 

With the help of our Menopause Champions in all our schools, our aim is to break the stigma and create a working environment where our employees feel comfortable and supported. Our Menopause Champions are a main point of contact for staff to go to if they have any worries or concerns. Having access to regular and honest conversations can help us to ensure the right support is in place enabling staff to continue to do their role effectively. 

The Occupational Health Service provides advice and support to all Trust staff focusing on the promotion of health and wellbeing and prevention of ill health at work.

Our NHS nursing colleagues undertake a programme of flu vaccinations in each school during the Autumn Term, this is available to all staff free of charge. 

All VDU (visual display unit) users are entitled to a Specsavers voucher which can be redeemed against a full eye and eyesight examination and a pair of glasses when the prescription for the glasses is required specifically and solely for VDU use. 

Our Wellbeing HUB is home to information regarding health & wellbeing support services available to all staff. The HUB includes information about signposting, Wellbeing Champions, Mental Health awareness, online learning, toolkits, workshops, guidance information and more.

All Laurus Trust employees now have a free subscription to Headspace. Headspace is a science-backed app in mindfulness and meditation, providing unique tools and resources to help reduce stress, build resilience, and aid better sleep (NHS 2022). 

All Laurus Trust staff have access to Workplace Wellbeing, an app that gives you easy access to health and wellbeing services and supportive resources. This app provides employees and managers lots of information and resources from podcasts, advice, manager toolkits and more.

When an employee has a musculoskeletal problem which is having an impact on them in their role, we can arrange a consultation and up to 6 funded physiotherapy sessions via our chosen provider. Early intervention and treatment can support employees to remain in work/return to work more quickly.

We believe it is important to encourage open and honest discussion around women’s health to tackle the taboo and to create a supportive, healthy and more equitable workplace. 

We offer mental health awareness training for all our employees, to increase the awareness of emotional health and help employees to fee confident in recognising the signs of poor emotional wellbeing, both in themselves and others. 

We aim to challenge stereotypes of masculinity that discourage men from seeking help for their physical and mental health, to create an inclusive environment where vulnerability is embraced, and wellbeing is seen as a priority. 

The Trust recognises the difficulties which staff sometimes experience in arranging to deal with personal business outside of school hours. We support employees dealing with personal and domestic matters. 

We publish an annual health and wellbeing calendar alongside ‘Valuing You’, our health and wellbeing monthly e-newsletter, which signposts our employees to our health and wellbeing support, learning and development opportunities, national campaigns, recipes and more!

The Trust encourages its employees to recycle by providing recycling facilities at each school. Confidential waste bins are also provided.