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The potential value of a 67 reduction in sickness absence, to the - )/ sector is

*6+,:8,9 per year 4&obertson 'ooper ;td, 0:5.

The pilot project

A )/F'/ funded pilot project was run 4>ct 0:!95 called 'reating success through wellbeingin higher education@. ;ed by the -niversity of ;eeds, in partnership with a number of other

)/Is, the aims were to identify best practice around employee wellbeing, create opportunities

to learn and share across the sector, and identify gaps in knowledge.

ey achievements include

espite increasing places by almost 87, the + project workshops were fully booked,

with large waiting lists within weeks.

08 individuals and 6 different institutions attended the project workshops

Active supportBinput from major sector associations including A)-A, -'/A, -)&, -)A

and /'-

&egular engagement with the 1 major trade unions

%hase 6 highlighted that are 0 major gaps which are currently preventing )/Is from realiCingthe business benefits associated with improved employee wellbeing and engagement$

ector specific business case for wellbeing and engagement including an

understanding of what really works

%ractical guidance and information to help institutions to learn and improve their

practice

Phase 2 project

A second bid was made to )/F'/ to continue this work over an additional 0 years 4>ctober

09!665, and help to fill these gaps. This phase of work is being led by the -niversities of;eeds and =ristol, in partnership with the -niversities of =irmingham, 'hester, Dewcastle,

Eueen (ary, ;ondon and inchester, and Grimsby Institute for Further and )igher /ducation.It is governed by a teering Group made up of representatives from key stakeholder

associations and works closely with the major trade unions.

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ey strands of activity

The project seeks to meet these aims by carrying out work across three major strands$

1. Engagement and wellbeing interventions

Feedback shows that, without clear evidence, institutions find it difficult to know what

interventions and activities have the greatest impact on areas of performance. Thisstrand will involve working with recognised e#perts &obertson 'ooper4www.robertsoncooper.co.5 to pilot 66 topic based interventions across a diverse group

of institutions. The aim is to be able to measure the impact of these interventions on

different aspects of performance, and to be able to translate the learning from thepilots into practical case studies. Interventions are as follows$

=uilding resiliencethrough goal orientation " -niversity of ;eeds

eveloping a wellbeing brand" Dewcastle -niversity

/mbedding engagement and wellbeing in change management" -niversity of =ristol

Improving leadership and management practice for improved psychological health and

wellbeing" Grimsby Institute

(easuring the impact of transformational change interventions on individual wellbeing

and engagement" -niversity of ;eeds

Dutrition, %hysical and (ental health" -niversity of 'hester

>rganisational communications and wellbeing" -niversity of inchester

-niversity =oard response to taff /ngagement urvey" -niversity of =irmingham

&e!defining the academic psychological contract " Eueen (ary, -niversity of ;ondon

&esilience training for senior managers " -niversity of Glasgow

Intervention # 6 in cotland tbc

Intervention # 6 in ales tbc

2. Wellbeing and performance mapping

Again, working with &obertson 'ooper, this part of the project will investigate the links

between employee wellbeing and performance. e will be working with 3 institutions to

collect and analyse staff wellbeing survey data against data from the &esearchAssessment /#ercise 4&A/5 and Dational tudent urvey 4D5 to identify whether

there are any correlations. >ne of the aims will be to understand which aspects ofwellbeing and engagement appear to have the greatestBleast impact on performance.

3. Dissemination and networking

A programme of communications including an interactive website, e!newsletter, bank ofpractical toolkits and case studies, will allow institutions to learn and share information.

The site will be accessible through institutional subscriptions with afree trial availablefrom (id!April!eptember 06. ee www.wellbeing.ac.uk

As a result of changes to fundingBincome arrangements, we will be unable to run the

e#tensive programme of workshops and conferences planned. Instead, a smaller

programme of H day regional workshops will begin in une 06. These will be free ofcharge.

Definitions discussion

>ne of the challenges with the wellbeing and engagement agenda is the varied definitionsused. This often leads to misunderstanding, scepticism and suspicion. It perpetuates the
http://www.robertsoncooper.co/https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542914https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542921https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542877https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542906https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542906https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542910https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542910https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542897https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542925https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542866http://www.wellbeing.ac.uk/http://www.robertsoncooper.co/https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542914https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542921https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542877https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542906https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542906https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542910https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542910https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542897https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542925https://wellbeinginhe.basecamphq.com/projects/4542866http://www.wellbeing.ac.uk/


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myth that wellbeing is all about alternative therapies and nice to have@ activities. A recentarticle about the )/F'/ ork Force &eport in the Times )igher, by -'-, highlighted this point

again.

Following discussions with )/F'/ and representatives from the trade unions, it is proposed

that a positive way forwards might be to bring together different stakeholder groups frominside and outside the sector to debate some of these terms and what they mean in a )/

conte#t eg. wellbeing, engagement, psychological contract.

The ODHE group are invited to take part in one of these discussions. This will befacilitated by Sara Corcoran (Chair of the ro!ect E"ecutive #roup$ and %ose

Cha&bers ('e&ber of the ro!ect E"ecutive #roup$.

f there are any definitions used in your institution please bring these to the

&eeting in 'ay.Contact details

im hutler!ones, %roject (anager

k.shutler!jonesJleeds.ac.uk, 661 121 +808
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

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