Pledge Action Plan
Time to Change
Activity description
Internal lead
(include contact
details)
Timescale
Resources
Performance indicator
(optional)
1. We aim to better understand the University (staff and student, including Students’ Union) context in relation to mental ill
health
1.1 Map existing staff provision and
support for mental ill health, and use to
develop and inform future actions
HR (Juice
Workplace Health
and Wellbeing)
1.2 Aim to increase disclosure rates for
HR (E&D team)
all protected characteristics for staff, and and Disabled Staff
in particular disabilities and Mental
Network
Health.
1.3 Have mental health and wellbeing
as a strategic focus within the student
wellbeing goal of the Students’ Union
Welfare Officer,
SU Amy
Coppeyard
1.4 Map support services with SU staff
consultation to establish current
SU/TH
By Sep
2015
Mapping activity undertaken and
actions developed as appropriate
Ongoing
Year on year improvements in
disclosure rates
Monitored by the EDB and Council as
part of Equality Objectives reviews
Dec-March
All front line staff trained
1
awareness of mental health support,
particularly re front-line staff.
1.5 Keep Time to Change pledge and
actions on Equality and Diversity Board
agenda
ALL
1.6 Keep Time to Change pledge and
actions on Welfare Committee agenda
2. We will take a number of actions to raise awareness of mental ill health, and encourage the opening up of conversations
2.1 Develop and distribute publicity
materials for staff e.g. posters / flyers, to
raise awareness of mental health issues
and myth-busting.
Juice Everyday
Health and
Wellbeing, and
Workplace Health
and Wellbeing
teams
By June
2015
Campaign completed and evaluated
against identified outcomes and
impact.
2.2 Develop publicity material for the
Disabled Staff Network to use
HR E&D team and
Disabled Staff
Network
By June
2015
Standard publicity materials
developed for the Disabled Staff
Network to use at events
2.3 Raise awareness across campus of
Mental Health through campaigns linked
to Juice (staff), working closely with the
Disabled Staff Network, Student
Services and the Students Union, as
appropriate. Use national and
international campaigns to provide
impetus. Develop rolling programme of
awareness raising.
HR (Juice
Everyday Health &
Wellbeing and
Workplace Health
&Wellbeing)
Rolling
programme
Annual rolling programme of
campaigns and awareness
Mental Health Promotion Activities
held through Juice Everyday Health &
Wellbeing (Tai Chi, Pilates,
Mindfulness, Meditation)
Increased awareness of the support
and counselling offered by the
University through our provider,
2
Health Assured.
2.4 Internal communications campaign
re destigmatisation. Target messages to
meet known peaks and troughs.
Debora Green +
SSW heads and
Union Welfare
Officer
TTC artwork to
create posters,
TTC advert for
intranet
X number of articles,
X number of views of articles,
Posters displayed
Student comms
team – Malcolm
Roberts
2.5 Develop a library or film of ‘case
studies’ of staff who have lived
experience of mental ill health, to
encourage openness. Launch with an
event.
HR (E&D team)
and Disabled Staff
Network
2.6 Build library (online and hard copy)
of materials relating to mental health in
the workplace
Union Welfare
Officer, Union HR
2.7 Develop suite of webpages to host
line manager resources, case studies,
information on local and national
campaigns and organisations, etc, and
what to do in a crisis
HR (Juice
Everyday Health &
Wellbeing and
Juice Workplace
Health
&Wellbeing)
By Dec
2015
The development of a portal, hosted
on the Juice website (Knowledge
Bank pages) that holds the necessary
information relating to mental health
and wellbeing for staff and their
managers
2.8 Encourage faculty E&D committees
to consider mental ill health as part of
their actions
HR (Faculty HR
managers) and
Chairs of faculty
E&D committees;
By July 16
Faculty E&D committees actively
consider Mental Health and develop
actions to address it
By October
2015
Film developed and launched
Positive feedback received internally
and externally
Request for film to be used in
departments and training events
Staff and students are more confident
3
HR (Juice
Workplace Health
and Wellbeing)
2.9 Include information about MH and
support services in staff induction portal
HR (E&D team)
in talking about mental health and
wellbeing
By July ‘15
Links to new MH webpages
embedded into university induction
portal
Set of lunch-time seminars, hosted by
the Disabled Staff Network, bringing
in experts (LEA, Council, voluntary
organisations, etc)
2.10 Include awareness of mental health Union Welfare
support services in Union staff induction Officer, Union HR
2.11 Run series of lunch time seminars
(3 times a year) hosted by the Disabled
Staff Network, bringing in expertise
HR (E&D team)
and Disabled Staff
Network
Ongoing
2.12 Running regular awareness events
around mental health, on/around but not
limited to:
 World Mental Health Day (10th
October)
 University Mental Health and
Wellbeing Day (19th February 2015)
 World Health Day (7th April 2015)
 Mental Health Awareness Week
(11th- 17th May 2015)
Healthy Campus
Events Group,
Mental Health
Matters, Welfare
Officer, SSW
Autumn –
summer
semster
Union Welfare
officer
Nov/Dec
planning;
Jan delivery


Welfare tepee/”head space” in
Healthy Campus Week

“Look After Your Mate” style
campaign
Wall of Positivity and Big White
Book (to encourage students to
write positive feelings and
experiences) in prominent
positions min twice per year
 Use Student Minds research to
tackle 10 Grand Challenges
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Union Welfare
2.13 Encourage participation
in/awareness of national campaigns and officer
awareness raising/co-operation with
local groups to further educate
members in issues surrounding mental
health.
2.14 Lobby external
bodies/organisations to improve
services for students
2nd
semester
Union Welfare
officer, SSW
2.15 Posters, plasma screen and cards
relating to mental health in student
reception areas and staff offices
SSW heads, SSiD,
Tom Harrison
2.16 Encourage resilience and self-help
as valid steps towards mental health
and well-being. Make available
necessary resources and signposting.
SSW
Nov
onwards

Collaboration with The Sheffield
Arts and Wellbeing Network

CCG representation

Continued links with mental health
services locally

Continue to encourage Big White
Wall to review contract lengths.
Wider use of message that
psychological wellbeing is not
threatened by some sadness,
difficult social situations etc but is
improved by learning to survive
these.
Reduced potential for support that
is beyond reasonable.
3. We will review and develop further our service provision and support for people with mental ill health
3.1 Ensuring that the University’s
Workplace Health & Wellbeing Service
is proactive in supporting those staff
with mental ill health, including
Juice Workplace
Health and
Wellbeing
Ongoing –
to be
reviewed
June 2015.
Monthly data reporting of cases and
bi-annual evaluation of the outcomes
of the support offered by WH&W.
5
facilitating staff to access appropriate
support services, helping staff return to
work, educating line managers etc
3.2 Consideration of the use of Wellness Juice workplace
Recovery Action Plans (WRAPs) to
health and
support staff to stay well in work
wellbeing
By June
2015
3.3 Consideration of similar tools for
students, where not already in use
SSW
April 2015
3.4 Support Disabled Staff Network and
Disabled Students Committee
HR (E&D team)
3.5 Support quarterly ‘Tea and Talk’
sessions run by the Disabled Staff
Network, focussing on mental health –
specific sessions will enable staff can
talk to Disability Staff Network members
who have had similar issues
HR (E&D team)
and Disabled Staff
Network
3.6 Support ‘Tea and Talk’ events and
establishing quiet zones.
Union Welfare
Officer
3.7 Continue to update and develop
mental health strategy and related work
for students, including the Students
Union in regular meetings and
developments
SSW
3.8 Greater promotion of the University
mental health support services and the
Student Advice Centre, through posters
around the Students Union and the
Welfare Officer,
Emily Saunders
(SAC), Student
Services Comms
WRAPs are in place, and evaluation
undertaken
Union Welfare
Officer
Ongoing,
quarterly
Quarterly ‘tea and talk’ meetings
established
DSN members feel able to offer
support
Staff report feeling supported by this
initiative

Permanent quiet zone in Union

Regularly updated posters
visible

Signposting of support
monthly
6
University departments and clear signposting (literal and otherwise) to
appropriate services
Louise Knowles
3.9 Continue effective support and
guidance for Sheffield Nightline
SSW, Union
Welfare Officer
(Jointly through
Nightline Advisory
Group)
services at information and
reception points in SU building.

Support and
Wellbeing
Champions (SU)
3.10 Collated information about mental
health services and maintaining good
mental health to be targeted at all new
students
3.11 Support student groups to access
peer-to-peer support training

Cards given to all students
who attend registration events.

Using the Meningitis
awareness as a guide,
informative leaflets and fridge
magnets to be distributed by
residential mentors.

Slides about SSW services
supplied to all academic
departments for introductory
talks.

Sign post to TNGR/WellConnected and SSiD from
departmental home pages

Link from UHS app

4. We will train and educate our managers, tutors, supervisors and others in recognising potential indicators and work-/study7
related triggers of mental ill health, and in supporting staff/students
4.1 Support managers in gaining
confidence in recognising potential
indicators of mental ill health, and
developing skills to enable appropriate
and helpful discussions with staff
HR (Juice
Workplace Health
&Wellbeing);
4.2 Train HR staff to understand the
mental health issues that they may
come across, or that may be
experienced, in their work
HR (Juice
Workplace Health
&Wellbeing);
4.3 Consider the development of
positive mental health champions
across the University to help deliver key
messages.
4.4 Continue to provide clear messages
to academic departments about services
available, destigmatisation, importance
of seeking advice.
4.5 Recommend Mental Health First Aid
training in all SU departments
By Sep
2015
A Project Initiation Document will be
produced for this action which will
identify the key outcomes and impact
against which success will be
measured.
Dec 2014
HR managers and other staff trained.
Managers are more confident talking
about mental health and wellbeing,
and in particular mental ill health, with
their staff.
HR (Juice
Workplace Health
and Wellbeing);
HR (E&D team)
By July 16
A number of champions across the
University, resulting in staff and
students being more confident in
talking about mental health and
wellbeing
DLOs, welfare
roles, Jackie
Marsh (Task and
Finish Group)
Autumn –
Summer
semester
HR (E&D team)
HR (E&D team)
Union Welfare
Officer, Union HR

Continue to offer welfare and
mental health awareness
training for all academic staff.

Clear links from Tutor Toolkit

Continue to highlight that
Student Advice Centre is a
point of support to academic
departments

Supporting the Supporters
Staff Development sessions on
this topic to be offered
By March
2015
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4.6 Mental health awareness to be
included in Union’s inclusion officer (for
working committees and societies)
training
The University of Sheffield’s vision is one of Excellence Through Inclusion.
We pledge:
1.
to continue to welcome a diverse range of staff and students to the University, and work in partnership with
them, to help us achieve this excellence.
2.
to strive to ensure everybody feels valued and is able to reach their full potential.
3.
to create an inclusive environment where mental health is discussed and addressed without fear of stigma.
4.
to focus on the needs of the individual in order to create and promote the conditions for wellness.
5.
to treat everybody as individuals, taking into account their social, physical, psychological, mental and
spiritual needs.
6.
to place health and wellbeing at the heart of making the University a great place to work.
7.
to focus on increasing awareness through national health promotion campaigns.
8.
to provide professional advice and guidance to those affected by mental health problems.
9.
to embed a positive mental health culture.
10.
to work with colleagues within and outside of the University to further identify areas for action.
11.
to help create a remarkable place to work and study.
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