Dear Vida

I acknowledge receipt of your email received by this office on 9 November 2018 in which you requested information regarding staff support and wellbeing.

Your request will now be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and has been allocated reference FOI18-388 which should be quoted in all correspondence. We will respond to your request within 20 working days starting the next working day after receipt, therefore you can expect to receive a response no later than 10 December 2018.

Where we consider that we will not be able to meet this deadline or if further time is required to consider the public interest test we will contact you as soon as possible and give you a revised date for response.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and, if that is the case, we will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.

Yours sincerely

Gail Thomas
Swyddog Sicrwydd
Adran Cynllunio Strategol a Llywodraethu
Prifysgol Caerdydd
2il Lawr, Friary House
Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
Ffôn: +44 (029) 2087 5327
Ebost : [email address]  

Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhwy oedi.
Gail Thomas
Assurance Officer
Strategic Planning and Governance
Cardiff University
2nd Floor, Friary House
Greyfriars Road
Cardiff
CF10 3AE
Tel: +44 (029) 2087 5327
Email: [email address] 

The University welcomes correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.

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Dear Vida

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request dated 9 November 2018 in which you requested information regarding staff support and wellbeing.

For ease of reference, I have reproduced your questions below and set out our corresponding responses.

I would like to request the following information, covering the last 12 months:

1. The job title of the senior manager with lead responsibility for staff wellbeing in the University

Sue Midha, Director of Human Resources

2. The number of mental health specialist staff available within the university to support staff wellbeing

3.2 FTE staff

3. A copy of the University's Policy (procedures)/other relevant document(s) to support the wellbeing of staff.

Cardiff University has an Occupational Safety, Health, Environment and Wellbeing Policy Statement signed by the Chair of Council and the Vice-Chancellor, a copy of this is attached.

4. The type of services offered to support staff wellbeing in the University

Staff can turn to line managers for support, who can access tools such as the Flexible Working Policy, stress risk assessments and Workload Modelling Framework for academics according to the requirements of each case. Line managers can direct staff to the Employee Assistance Programme and staff workshops and also refer staff to the Occupational Health Service where appropriate.

Employee Assistance Programme

Staff can readily access crisis support for themselves or for a colleague via the Employee Assistance Programme provided by Care first and information on this service is available on the staff intranet.

Other services available under the Employee Assistance Programme include a free confidential 24/7 telephone service which provides access to both telephone and face to face counselling. It is also possible to access online counselling. Managers are able to ring the service for support and advice. Additionally, the telephone service provides access to information specialists who can provide information on subjects such as caring responsibilities, debt, workplace issues.

Care first also have a Lifestyle online resource containing information, advice and articles on a wide variety of issues including relationships, family, bereavement, change, stress, conflict, depression, stress, smoking and diet. There is also the Zest website which provides an interactive health, wellbeing and fitness management programme.

Occupational Health Service

The University has an Occupational Health service to which staff may be referred. The service provides access to an Occupational Health Nurse and an Occupational Health Physician. They can provide advice and support to staff experiencing mental health issues as well as advice for their managers on workplace adjustments to support staff.

Staff Wellbeing Workshops

The University has a dedicated Staff Wellbeing team consisting of 3.2 FTE staff whose role is to proactively promote and support staff wellbeing including promoting good mental and physical health throughout the University. The University also runs accredited courses which enable staff to qualify as Mental Health First Aiders and has recently enabled an additional member of staff to qualify as a trainer in this area in order to increase the University's capacity to deliver these courses.

The Staff Wellbeing team run a number of wellbeing workshops. Subjects covered in the workshops include grief, improving sleep, managing stress, improving resilience, change and mindfulness. A further workshop for managers about mental health is also being developed. In February the University also held a week long campaign to raise the profile of the employee voice and encourage staff to share their views. A theme of the campaign was staff wellbeing and the importance of taking a break. The campaign included panel sessions, stands, information and workshops on subjects such as mindfulness and workshops for managers about talking about mental health

5. The number of referrals to services offered where staff wellbeing was a primary reason for the referral

When appropriate, line managers refer staff via the Occupational Health Service. These referrals can be for physical or mental health reasons. The referrals are not specifically recorded as being related to wellbeing.

6. Staff take up (number) by each service offered to support staff wellbeing.

For the period 1 September 2017 to 31 July 2018 189 members of staff accessed the staff counselling service, (figures not yet available yet for August 2018).

I trust this information satisfies your enquiry. The University has a Freedom of Information Complaints Procedure should you feel dissatisfied with this response or the way in which your request was handled. Complaints must be made in writing and must set out why you believe the University has not met its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act. You may email your complaint to [email address] where it will be forwarded to the Director of Strategic Planning and Governance who will be responsible for overseeing the review.

If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of your complaint, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for consideration. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at the following address: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Cardiff University. If you require further assistance please feel free to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Gail Thomas
Swyddog Sicrwydd
Adran Cynllunio Strategol a Llywodraethu
Prifysgol Caerdydd
2il Lawr, Friary House
Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
Ffôn: +44 (029) 2087 5327
Ebost : [email address]

Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n Saesneg. Ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn creu unrhwy oedi.
Gail Thomas
Assurance Officer
Strategic Planning and Governance
Cardiff University
2nd Floor, Friary House
Greyfriars Road
Cardiff
CF10 3AE
Tel: +44 (029) 2087 5327
Email: [email address]

The University welcomes correspondence in Welsh or English. Corresponding in Welsh will not lead to any delay.

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