Embedding a Staff Wellbeing Framework to Boost Morale, Reduce Burnout and Elevate School Performance
Adrienne Hornby
Staff Wellbeing Consultant & Strategist for Schools | Empowering Schools to Harness Vital Data and Embed Customised Staff Wellbeing Frameworks and Action Plans for Thriving Cultures
In recent years, prioritising school staff wellbeing has gained traction globally—and with good reason! More and more, education departments, offices and boards are recommending schools develop Staff Wellbeing Frameworks to formalise their approach.
A Staff Wellbeing Framework is a strategic, structured approach designed to create a supportive, healthy, and thriving school environment. As an effective tool to improve culture and staff wellbeing at your school - your school can't afford to go another year without one!?
Without high-functioning and healthy staff, the jobs rarely get done, it's harder to action our strategic goals, and our progress is less likely to be consolidated over time. This is exactly why we need a framework for our PEOPLE that runs concurrently with our school's strategic plans for our students.
This article explores:
What is a Wellbeing Framework for Schools?
A staff wellbeing framework in the context of schools is a structured approach to promoting and enhancing the wellbeing of educators and other staff members within a school community.?
A formalised approach and established principles, a framework also encompasses various policies, practices, and resources designed to support the overall wellness of staff members.?
Staff Wellbeing Frameworks are much more than a document or a hyperlink that gets added to our annual or strategic action plans to indicate that a school prioritises staff wellbeing. They are an opportunity to work with our staff to preserve and enhance our collective wellbeing so that we can achieve the best outcomes for our students.
It is essential that every school craft its own framework to target their staff's very unique needs in a way that they will ultimately find MEANINGFUL and allows them to achieve measurable improvements in staff wellbeing and school culture.
Benefits of a Staff Wellbeing Framework
A Staff Wellbeing Framework is and should be more than a tick and flick operational initiative! When effectively implemented and executed, each school’s framework should communicate a strong message - that people matter!?
Crafting an effective framework alongside your staff can lead to:
What elements should a Wellbeing Framework include?
Creating a comprehensive Staff Wellbeing Framework is essential for fostering a positive school culture, enhancing educator wellbeing and improving student outcomes. Next, we’ll explore the critical elements that form the backbone of an effective Wellbeing Framework. From establishing a foundational approach to integrating guiding principles, policies and practices, each of these components contributes to a sustainable and influential wellbeing strategy.
1. Approach to Wellbeing
Your framework should begin with the foundations and map out the approach your school is taking to address, improve, and enhance staff wellbeing. For example, which studies and approaches are you adopting and adapting to your setting.
As we craft our staff wellbeing framework, it’s crucial to draw upon wellbeing models and approaches backed by robust scientific research. I’m a firm advocate for an integrated approach in all endeavours, so I’m particularly drawn to building frameworks that encompass a diverse array of evidence-based practices.
Our Well-Led Schools approach incorporates:
2. Principles
Your framework should include the guiding principles by which you operate. These are foundational beliefs that guide the development and implementation of wellbeing initiatives at each school. Guiding principles might include a focus on staff consultation, attention to the personal wellbeing of staff, leadership approaches etc.
The 9 Guiding Principles of ‘Well-Led’ Schools
When working with schools to tailor and embed a Staff Wellbeing Framework, we guide them to adopt nine guiding principles that send a clear message to everyone in the school regarding the approach we take, what we expect of one another, and our roadmap for success.?
These principles are informed by research and the honest perspectives and experiences of the staff we work with at Adrienne Hornby Consulting.
3. Policies
Your framework should link any relevant policies and agreements related to staff wellbeing. These could be school, department, or education office-specific. Policies provide a formal structure and support system that ensures staff wellbeing is a priority, not just an afterthought.?
Effective policies are essential for creating a supportive environment that prioritises staff wellbeing.?
Key policies may include:
4. Practices and Initiatives
Implementing practical initiatives is crucial for translating policies into action. The initiatives outlined should be strategic and reflect the needs of your school’s staff rather than implementing a cookie-cutter approach that may or may not work for your school.
A solid staff wellbeing framework should include the practices you will adopt that are directly relevant to your own school. This framework is best mapped out with thorough documentation of the approach you have taken to identify these practices.
At Adrienne Hornby Consulting, we’ve developed our own staff wellbeing framework, which is adapted to each school’s unique needs.‘The 6 Steps to Becoming a Well-Led School ’ is a proven approach we are using and getting results with (as evidenced by data) across a number of Australian schools.?
The formalised and documented framework we work through with our partner schools includes documentation of the following key steps in our approach.
Step 1: Scan your school and pinpoint the wellbeing needs of your team: In this step, you’ll survey your staff and review multiple data sets to identify the wellbeing needs of your team before implementing wellbeing initiatives. Collect, review, and analyse staff voice, data, and observations to determine your priorities moving forward.
Step 2: Establish a culture of wellbeing beginning with a co-created school vision for wellbeing: As your school identifies priority areas for focus, you begin to send a message that staff wellbeing matters. The crucial next step is crafting a co-created vision that places staff wellbeing at the core. Weaving wellbeing into your daily language, actions, and identity takes your message from lip service to the conditions under which everyone operates.
Step 3: Agree on the joint responsibilities of staff wellbeing: When it comes to maintaining health and wellbeing in the workplace, there has to be a symbiotic relationship between leaders, teachers, and staff. While school leaders should establish the foundations, policies, procedures, and initiatives to promote wellbeing and ensure a positive school culture, staff need to get involved in the programs offered, contribute feedback and solutions, and support their personal wellbeing.
Step 4: Up-skill and train leaders and staff in effective ways to promote, support, and improve staff wellbeing and school culture: After identifying key priorities and co-creating a vision, the next pivotal step is up-skilling both leaders and staff to effectively champion a culture of wellbeing. Professional development tailored to the school’s strategic goals becomes vital.
Step 5: Tailor a ‘Wellbeing Action Plan’ for your school: A ‘Wellbeing Action Plan’ is an evidence-based and globally recognised system that serves as a systematic approach employed by schools, organisations, and workplaces to manage staff health and wellbeing. It is a collaborative document created in consultation with the school’s leaders and staff. To be most effective, each plan should be strategically developed to ensure relevance to the school’s unique needs.?
A key component of our work with schools is delivering a Staff Wellbeing Action Plan upon completion of our ‘Well-Led’ Schools Partnership Programs . Wellbeing Action Plans help outline the school’s vision for improvement, identify priority areas, and highlight staff-focused actions, initiatives and supports over a 1-3 year period.
Step 6: Follow through on your Wellbeing Action Plan and check in on your progress: School staff want to see consistent follow-through, action, and accountability. This is where the bulk of the work happens, including reviewing the vision, checking in on action steps, reviewing roles and responsibilities, conducting staff surveys to monitor progress, and adapting the plan to meet the school’s evolving needs.?
We build our frameworks as we go and these are finalised once all the above steps have been taken. Only here can a wellbeing framework be truly tailored to a school to become a useful document that means something to leaders and staff.
I am offering a FREE online training on our proven Staff Wellbeing Framework designed to boost morale, reduce burnout and elevate school performance. Learn more and register for a time that works best for you here! ?
5. Resources
Finally, a good staff wellbeing framework should outline and link any resources for staff to access for their personal and workplace wellbeing needs. These might include:
Conclusion
A Wellbeing Framework is a vital component of a thriving school environment. Schools can create a culture that prioritises staff wellbeing by adopting a structured approach that includes principles, policies, practices, and resources. The benefits of wellbeing frameworks transfer to a number of key strategic areas, contributing to the overall success and happiness of the entire school community.
Free Online Training
Want to learn more about our approach and the staff wellbeing framework we adapt and support schools with??
Unlock your school’s potential by making wellbeing a priority in 2024, or plan ahead for your strategic approach in 2025.
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